• Computer: While not necessary, a computer will allow
you to access the online BroadVoice Account Portal, with which you can manage your
account, including accessing voicemail.
• Router:
If you also use a home computer with your BroadVoice Service, you will
need a routing device. If you do not already own a router, BroadVoice can supply
an integrated router with your Phone Adapter. The Router/Phone Adapter allows your
phone and one computer to use your Internet connection at the same time. If want
to connect more than one computer to the Internet, then you can either buy your
own router, or have one installed by a local computer services company.
BroadVoice recommends that you purchase a DSL/cable web-safe router that provides
Network Address Translation (NAT) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
for your network. Although BroadVoice service will work with most routers available
for purchase today, we do not recommend a specific brand. If you are having trouble
with your BroadVoice service on an older model router, BroadVoice recommends that
you download and install the router's latest firmware from the manufacturer's web
site.
Note: If you are using a DSL for Internet service, your router
typically should be configured for PPPoE. Some cable modem services require that
the MAC address of the computer is cloned in the router configurations. Check your
router's setup guide or the manufacturer's web site for more information.
• Web browser: either a Microsoft Internet Explorer
(version 4.x or higher), Netscape Navigator (version 4.x or higher) or Safari (version
2.x or higher) web browser with cookies enabled. You can use the web browser to
manage your account, including accessing voice mail.
• Home networking: BroadVoice service requires a dynamically-assigned
IP address; in your networking equipment this may be called DHCP. Though not required,
BroadVoice works easily with your existing home network if it supports DHCP and
NAT. NAT is the translation of an Internet Protocol (IP) address in one network
to a known but different IP address in another network.
• Port Connections and Firewall Support: most customers
just plug and play because BroadVoice has designed the service to work behind simple
NATs. No ports have to be opened up for BroadVoice to work properly if the phone
is behind a simple NAT and the BroadVoice-issued Phone Adapter has a private IP
address. BroadVoice uses NAT to keep the Phone Adapter available at all times. If
you have a firewall, you must give the Phone Adapter rights to access certain ports
on the Internet, including 69-69 UDP, 5060-5063 UDP, and 10,000-20,000 UDP. If you
plan to connect your PC to the Internet as well, the IP address for the Phone Adapter
can either be provided by your ISP or your network router (when the router is set
to DHCP).
*BroadVoice does not support the following services:
