Q: What is VoIP?

A: Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an Internet technology that captures voice via a hard phone or soft phone (see definitions below), digitizes it into data packets, transfers those data packets over the Internet or other IP network, and converts the data back into sound at the receiving end of the transmission.

Q: Can Orator VoIP answer calls from standard telephones (PSTN) or cell phones?

A: Yes, but an account with a VoIP provider that offers "PSTN to VoIP bridging" is needed (see next question).  With PSTN bridging, standard analog phone calls are converted to VoIP.

Q: How can Orator VoIP save me money?

A: Orator VoIP does not require voice boards or telephone lines.  Only the software and a broadband Internet connection is needed.  Many "PSTN to VoIP bridging" providers offer free incoming calls with each account.  Accounts are generally less expensive than standard telephone lines.

Q: Which VoIP service provider should I use?

A: There are a growing number of VoIP providers, each offering a variety of service plans with varying qualities of service in regard to sound and data transfer.  It is important to select a provider that utilizes one of the supported coders mentioned above.  It is also imperative that the service provider offer multiple channels (lines) in accordance with the number of Orator/HMP ports to be purchased.   Bytescribe suggests Vonage or BroadVoice.  Vonage offers multiple lines with a single account.  If using Vonage, you must subscribe to the "Vonage Softphone" service which is an add-on product.  Broadvoice offers the "Bring Your Own Device™" plan which supports 2-lines per account.

Q: Can Orator VoIP use lines from multiple service providers?

A: Yes, Orator VoIP support multiple SIP registrations.

Q: Can I use a dial-up connection to the Internet?

A: No, VoIP is a broadband technology (DSL, Cable modem, T1) and is not supported through a dial-up connection?

Q: How many calls will my Orator VoIP support?

A: The number of calls that can be supported depends on the bandwidth of your Internet connection and the number of licenses purchased.  Bytescribe sells the software in 4-line licenses.  

Q: How many calls will my broadband Internet connection support?

A: The number of calls that can be supported depends on the bandwidth of your Internet connection.  A single call uses 64kb/s upload and download.  So a broadband connection with 256kb upload/download will support 4 lines.  A T1 line with 1.5MB upload/download will support 24 lines.  This assumes no other Internet bandwidth is used for other applications.  Below is a chart showing how many lines a broadband connection will support.

Use the speed test on Vonage's web site to determine your broadband speed.

Q: Will Orator VoIP work behind a firewall router using NAT?

A: Orator VoIP will work behind most firewall routers if configured properly.  The correct UDP ports must be opened on the router.

Q: What is a “hard phone” vs. a “soft phone”?

A: A VoIP hard phone is a tangible device that sits on your desktop.  It looks similar in many ways to a conventional analog telephone.  The exception is that it plugs into your home or company IP network as opposed to an analog telephone line.  A VoIP soft phone is an application that installs on your desktop or laptop computer.  The window that appears on your display will most likely have a dial pad and a window similar to that of a cell phone.  Both the hard phone and soft phone work identically to connect you via VoIP and your VoIP provider to other VoIP users or to conventional telephone numbers, dependants on the type of service you purchase from the VoIP provider.

Q: What is a VoIP codec?  Which coders are supported by Intel HMP?

A: A codec is a sound compression algorithm used by digital sound reproduction devices to compress and decompress digital sound packets over a data network.  Of the many sound coders in use, Intel Host Media Processing (HMP) supports the following:

Most VoIP service providers use the G.711 codec.

Q: What is the storage capacity of the Orator Digital Dictation System?
A: The storage capacity of the Orator system is dependent upon the size of the system hard drive. Since Bytescribe continually uses new hardware and components, the hard drives often increase in capacity. A 20 GB hard drive is capable of storing up to 1800 hours of dictation.

Q: What settings do I need to use Orator VoIP with a Vonage account?

A: To user Orator VoIP with Vonage, you need an "add-on" service called "Vonage SoftPhone Line Plan".  They will not provide the user name and password necessary without this plan.  Replace the user name and password shown with your settings.  Vonage provides unlimited number of simultaneous incoming calls per account.

If you are behind a router using NAT, you may need to add the following setting under the advanced tab:

SipServerPort1=5061

Q: What settings do I need to use Orator VoIP with a Broadvoice account?

A: You will need to sign up for the "Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)" plan.  Once your account has been set up, you will be provided with a user name and password.  Replace the user name and password shown with your settings.  Broadvoice provides 2 simultaneous incoming calls per account (if call-waiting is turned on).

Q: What settings do I need to use Orator VoIP with an Inphonex account?

A: Sign up for an Inphonex account with an incoming phone number.  Then set the settings as shown below.  Replace the user name and password shown with your settings.  Inphonex provides 2 simultaneous incoming calls per account (if call-waiting is turned on).

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