Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls via the Internet instead of traditional phone lines.
VoIP offers many benefits, such as lower costs, better sound quality, and more features. But what happens if the internet goes down? Can you still use VoIP without an internet connection? How can you ensure that your VoIP phone system is reliable and resilient in case of an outage?
In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more. We will explain how VoIP works, what are the challenges and solutions for using VoIP without the internet, and how to connect a VoIP phone to an Ethernet connection. By the end of this post, you will have a better understanding of how to use VoIP effectively and efficiently, even when the internet is not available.
Does VoIP Work if The Internet Is Down?
VoIP calls cannot function without an internet connection. VoIP phone calls are transmitted over the Internet rather than traditional phone lines. This means that if the internet connection is lost or breaks down, so will the ability to make phone calls.
Will a VoIP Phone System Work Without the Internet?
However, with the additional functionality provided by certain Hosted PBX via VoIP you can have a disaster recovery plan in place that allows all phone calls to be routed to an alternate number, such as a cell phone or an alternative office location. This would aid in the event of a power outage as well as a loss of internet connectivity.
It can be set up as an automatic fail-over if you wish, or you may not need to set it up ahead of time. It all depends on your current business needs.
While the only true prerequisite for VoIP to remain operational is a high-speed internet connection, one of the most frequently asked issues by potential VoIP users is whether VoIP can function without the Internet.
Will VoIP Work Well with Satellite Internet?
You may have heard people claim that satellite internet does not operate with an internet phone system (VoIP) owing to latency, however, this is not always the case.
When compared to a traditional landline, VoIP over satellite will result in a little delay because the signal must travel up to the satellite and back (known as latency). This is similar to the delay you may perceive on a cellphone, and most people say they get used to it quickly.
How Can I Connect a VoIP Phone to an Ethernet Connection?
Here’s how to connect an Ethernet wire to your VoIP phone and your modem or router.
1. Turn off the modem and router. Before you install a VoIP phone service, unplug the modem, router, and any other connected devices.
2. Connect your VoIP phone handset to the base station. (If your handset is already connected to your phone, skip this step.) If the handset has a cord, connect it to the RJ-11 phone jack on the phone’s back. There may be two jacks: one for a handset and one for a headset. If the phone is cordless, place the handset in the base station to charge. Also, if the handset requires batteries, put them in it.
3. Connect an Ethernet wire to your desktop phone. Look for the Ethernet connector on your phone’s base station and plug in the Ethernet cable that came with it. This ethernet port is labeled with either a “internet” or a network icon. Nevertheless, it can be labeled sometimes as LAN, WAN, LINE, or SW. Check the correct term according to the phone’s manual.
Most VoIP phones include an Ethernet pass-through option. This allows you to connect another device, such as a computer, to your VoIP phone call, requiring only one port on your router to connect both devices. If you want to use this option, connect your computer’s Ethernet cable to the port on the base station labeled “PC” or similar.
4. Connect the Ethernet cable to your router or modem. Most household routers and modems have four Ethernet connections on the rear, these are also numbered from 1 to 4. So, connect your phone’s Ethernet wire to any of the ports on the router’s rear. Also, if you have a network switch with additional Ethernet ports, connect the phone’s ethernet connection to an accessible port on the ethernet switch.
5. Power on the modem and router. If you have a separate modem and router, connect the modem first and wait 30 seconds for it to resync with the network. Then, plug in the router and wait 30 seconds.
6. Connect the AC adaptor to your VoIP phone. The AC adapter is the cord that you use to connect to an electrical outlet or power strip. Look for a port on the back of the phone that is the same size and shape as the AC adapter input connector. If your home network supports Power over Ethernet, you will not require a power supply because the network cable serves as the power source.
7. Finally, check for an outbound call. When you see the screen, navigate to the usual home screen, pick up the phone, and try making a call. Also, ask a friend to call you to check if you are receiving inbound calls as well.
Can I Use VoIP Services with a Slower Internet Connection?
Naturally, the faster your connection, the higher the call quality will be. You may also discover that a faster connection allows you to do more while chatting. For example, if you’re on a VoIP call and your connection is slow, we recommend shutting down any other programs that may be consuming bandwidth. Otherwise, you may hear delays and noise on the line.
How Much Bandwidth Do I Need to Have a VoIP Connection?
Our advice is to always use a high-quality Internet connection when using VoIP phones. There should be at least 100 Kbps of upload bandwidth available for each call that is running concurrently.
If you have three or four phones and want to run your system on a basic broadband service that also handles email and Internet browsing, we strongly advise you to test your VoIP phone service in Mississauga before going live and be prepared to install a separate phone line and broadband service if necessary.
Summing Up
VoIP is a great way to communicate with your customers, partners, and colleagues over the Internet. It offers many advantages over traditional phone systems, such as lower costs, better sound quality, and more features.
However, VoIP also depends on the internet connection, which can sometimes be unreliable or unavailable, it is important to take the necessary precautions to keep your service always available.
We hope you have learned something useful and interesting from this post. If you have any questions or need any assistance with setting up or maintaining your VoIP phone system, please do not hesitate to contact us! At Wingman Solutions, we are ready to help you with all your VoIP needs. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day!
