Yesterday I posted my review of the ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard with Skype. Ironically, four days earlier I received an email tip about a very similar device called rapidBox from RapidVoIP, which retails for $49.99 and is ~$20 cheaper than the ActionTec device.
I have not tested the rapidBox, but like the ActionTec device, it supports Skype and can ring analog phones. In addition, according to its specs, unlike the ActionTec, it has an 3 RJ11 ports (ActionTec has 2 RJ11 ports), so you can actually have 2 persons on the same line talking to the caller. Of course you could just use a phone splitter.
My main complaint with the ActionTec device (see my review) was that the simulated dialtone interfered with my ability to use it with other third-party softphones other than Skype. Supposedly, the rapidBox DOES work with other VoIP softclients other than just Skype.
There is one other notable difference between the ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard and rapidBox - the rapidBox does not have a ring voltage generator whereas the ActionTec device does. So although your analog phone connected to rapidBox will ring on an incoming PSTN call (simply passes the tip and ring voltage from the Central Office (CO) through), on an incoming Skype call, the rapidBox device rings instead - your phone does NOT ring. While this is fine if you are near the rapidBox device, if you are out in the yard with your analog cordless phone, you will have no idea that there is an incoming Skype call since the ringing rapidBox is too far away. My guess is that a ring voltage generator added too much to the cost of the unit. One final note, RapidVoIP has an affiliate program if your interested in reselling these units for commission.
Update: A few people pointed out to me that there is another model called the rapidBox-R-Type which does ring your phone line on both Skype and regular phone calls. Seems to me the RapidBox-R-Type is the obvious choice over the rapidBox. The only advantage of the rapidBox is it has 3 ports, two of which let you connect 2 phones to so that two people can speak simulatneously. I'm not sure if that includes both PSTN calls and Skype calls - the website doesn't say, but I would assume it does. In my opinion an RJ-11 splitter can just as easily be used on the rapidBox-R-Type to add an additional port. Maybe I'm missing the need for the rapidBox when the rapidBox-R-Type has the most important feature - the ability to send ring voltage to your analog phones. Comments?
rapidBox vs. ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard
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rapidBox vs. ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard TrackBack URL : http://blog.tmcnet.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2034
Tom, ineen [built on Xten's eyeBeam SDK] www.ineen.com also supports the ActionTec device. I am not sure what you mean but the simulated dialtone problem. eyeBeam and ineen both work fine with the ActionTec unit, I use it regularly.
P.S. I have added a link to your blog at www.sipthat.com
Did you check out my Action Tec review? Is it possible we're talking about two different models? I had the Skype version, but I don't see any other Internet Phone Wizard model on their website. Could have sworn they had Internet Phone Wizard before Skype even existed. Anyway...
Here's the review where I talk about the dialtone issue:
http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/voip-blog/actiontec-internet-phone-wizard-with-skype-review.asp
Here's an excerpt from the above link that explains my simulated dialtone issue:
>>Although the ActionTec USB device is advertised as working with Skype only, I did try it out with other VoIP softclients. Since it’s simply a USB audio device, in theory it should work just fine, right? Well, yes and no. I was able to configure my Xten softclient to use the ActionTec as my audio device and also set it as my default microphone. Next, I was able to dial from the Xten softclient to a PSTN number and talk using the phone connected to the ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard. The problem was that the ActionTec provides simulated "Skype" dialtone, essentially waiting for you to dial a Skype user or make a SkypeOut phone call. So while I was in my Xten call, I could hear the ActionTec simulated dialtone (continuous tone). I was able to get it to stop simply by pressing one of the touchtones (to make it think I was going to dial a Skype number), however after a few seconds it thinks you misdialed and starts to play a series of tones indicating a dialing error. I think the ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard should offer a touchtone override mechanism (i.e. press # followed by *) that lets you use the phone as an audio device with microphone capability, so you can use it with any application, not just Skype.
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So basically there was this "continuous tone" anytime I picked up the analog phone connected to the ActionTec device. I couldn't get it to stop unless I pressed a DTMF key - which then caused a series of beeps indicating a "misdial".
Might be a simple fix. If so, let me know.
p.s. I'll add your blog to my nav bar in just a bit.
Yep, they did have this device out long before Skype appeared on the scene. We have been working with ActionTec since the early days of Xten. The new unit does look the same apart from the blue wave on the back half of the unit, which was green before. I can tell you that retail Xten software does not work with ActionTec, there is a specific build for X-PRO and eyeBeam that you will need. I have just found out that the current build of ineen does not support ActionTec, there will be a build out in the next week or so that will.
I will get you a copy of eyeBeam that does support ActionTec, I would like to hear your feedback.
At the same time we will be relasing the ineen beta for Pocket PC.
The rapidBox has another type called rapidBox-R-Type which RINGS on skype. Apparently there are 2 rapidBox model. I found it on the site www.rapidvoip.com/products2.html
The FAQ on their site does mention about the suitability of the boxes http://www.rapidvoip.com/download.html#G8
Erik,
I am interested getting Actiontec IPW to work w/ eyebeam or ineen. Could you please let me know where can I download from?
TIA
Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard does have a dial tone override mechanism (at least the one I have, blue and white). Just dial "*" after you get the skype dialtone, and it will silence it, letting you use your phone as a regular sound card.
I tried many devices that connect your PC to your phone, and found that IPW is the best one. It's the only one I tested which won't keep your regular phone line busy while you talk on skype. It even has ring back and hold features. Pretty good.
Hi all,
Be careful when ordering the rapidbox from www.rapidbox.com, I paid them thru paypal 10 days back and I am yet to get the units. When I send emails to the support, sales and general email addresses given no one replies.
Now I have logged a settlement claim with paypal. Please do not buy any stuff from these guys, and get duped.
regards.