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Top Five VoIP Adapters for VoIP Providers

Posted: April 20th, 2009 | Author: | Filed under: VoIP Hardware | 5 Comments »

For the more advanced reader a post on VoIP adapters might be a bore.

When compared to other types of VoIP equipment, VoIP adapters are simple. But for some, especially those who are getting ready to launch a VoIP service, VoIP adapters are a critical component of their service offering.

Inspired by a half dozen or so soon-to-be launched VoIP service providers that I’ve been working with lately, I thought I’d write up something about the top VoIP adapters for a VoIP service provider. This isn’t anything scientific – it’s just based on six years of experience working with all of the VoIP adpaters on the market and hundreds of VoIP providers.

With that out of the way, let’s take a closer look…

  1. linksys pap2tLinksys PAP2T – The Linksys PAP2T is the standard. It combines affordability with a robust feature set and the ability to provision units in mass. It provides two FXS ports for connecting home telephones and or a fax machine and a single Ethernet port. I wouldn’t recommend any other VoIP adpater, except an extra Ethernet port is needed by some who lack a switch (or free port).
  2. linksys spa2102Linksys SPA2102 – The Linksys SPA2102 is the second choice in VoIP adapters. In all honesty, it’s really 1A as the SPA2102 brings the same benefits of the PAP2T (dual FXS, bluk provisioning, popular voice codec support), but with that second Ethernet port (allowing for LAN/WAN connectivity). The Linksys SPA2102 is a bit more expensive then the Linksys PAP2T due to the extra Ethernet port.
  3. grandstream ht502Grandstream HT502 – Grandstream has gotten flack throughout the years for their build quality, but this is really more fiction than fact today. Grandstream has continued to improve their build quality and today, the HT502 enjoys a very low return/defect rate. With dual FXS ports and dual Ethernet ports the HT502 is perfect for residential use. The low price tag as makes it an attractive option if you’re planning on subsidizing the hardware costs.
  4. linksys spa3102Linksys SPA3102 – If you’re a family member or friend of mine (and you asked me to “get you VoIP”) the Linksys SPA3102 is what you’d get. The reason? The existence of an FXO port for PSTN connectivity. As a big proponent of keeping a PSTN line “just in case” the Linksys SPA3102 should be something VoIP providers at least consider offering. In addition to the FXO port, it comes with a single FXS port and dual Ethernet ports.
  5. grandstream ht503Grandstream HT503 – Along the same vein as the SPA3102, the Grandstream HT503 features an FXO port for PSTN connectivity. Like the HT502, it is also much more cost effective option then the Linksys SPA3102

Other options in VoIP Adapters do exist, but these are the tried and true performers. After reading this, if you’ve got more questions about VoIP adapters (whether you’re a VoIP provider or an end user), feel free to contact me. I’f be more then happy to answer any questions you might have.

Additionally, if you’ve got suggestions as to great VoIP adapters for VoIP service providers, please add them below via the comments.

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5 Comments on “Top Five VoIP Adapters for VoIP Providers”

  1. 1 Frank said at 11:44 am on April 21st, 2009:

    I can speak to the Grandstream HT503s, as I have two of them (one at my home, the other at my in-laws down in Brazil). And they’ve been absolutely rock-solid for the past year. They replaced two SIPPhone Call-In-One adapters (OEM’d Leadtek BVA8051 units) which had run solid for years.

    [My reason for swapping out the Call-In-Ones was mostly due to an issue at my in-laws'. They turn off their entire computer setup (including broadband router) each night via a stabilizer (think UPS without the battery), and turn it on in the morning. A quirk of the Call-In-Ones is that they would try to register with SIPPHone, but simply quit if not able to for a certain amount of time.

    Since the whole setup was turned on each morning in Brazil, the Call-In-One would time out before the broadband router was fully up, forcing me to teach my mother-in-law to unplug/replug the power cord to the Call-In-One (it has no on/off switch). But if she forgot, my wife could not call her mother and would have to resort to an international toll call to tell her, "Hey, mom, unplug/replug the adapter" so they could then switch to VoIP.

    The Grandstreams, on the other hand, keep trying until they register. So with a simple replacement, that who issue ended.]

    I also had a Grandstream HT488, which is currently at my parents’, and has been running solid for over 2 years now. And just to finish things off, I started with a Grandstream GXP2000 handset when I began doing some basic VoIP testing, and it still sits on my work desk and is used to reach me when I’m out of the office (especially if I’m down in Brazil. :-) )

    So my personal experience thus far with Grandstream equipment is that it has been a solid performer.

  2. 2 db said at 3:54 pm on April 21st, 2009:

    what about t.38? isnt that why people buy ATA’s :)

  3. 3 Garrett Smith said at 7:27 pm on April 21st, 2009:

    @ Frank

    Thanks for the reinforcement.

    @ DB

    I’ve learned to not talk about that T.38 faxing ;)

  4. 4 VoIP News » Blog Archive » Wednesday Links: Monit, Does Free Work?, Open Platform VoIP said at 7:16 am on April 22nd, 2009:

    [...] Smith on VoIP names the Top Five VoIP Adaptors for VoIP Providers. [...]

  5. 5 VoIP Analog Adapters « VoIP Adapters said at 9:52 am on June 25th, 2009:

    [...] your hands on a VoIP adapter is easy. The two most popular ways to purchase a one are through your service provider (during [...]

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