Can You Run a VoIP Phone out of The TP-Link Deco M5 Mesh?

Sunnyoz on 09/02/2022 - 19:22
Last edited 09/02/2022 - 22:45 by 2 other users

I have got TPG NBN and have connected my TP-Link Deco M5 to my NBN NTD directly with no phone line or modem involved and it was working fine however I was not able to use the phone connection as I never installed the modem.

Now due to new work requirement I will need to have a land phone connection and I am sort of looking for a workaround if anything could be done rather then having to run the router cable to the modem and then from modem will have to run it through to the TP-Link Deco mesh system as this effect all the connected device and I may have to input the password again into every individual devices.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Internet Mesh Network TP-Link Wireless Router

Comments

  • Twix on 09/02/2022 - 20:09

    Nah you don't need to type in the Wi-Fi password again.

    NBN don't make routers. Are you referring to the NBN connection box or a router given to you from TPG?

    • ESEMCE on 09/02/2022 - 20:55

      They do for all NBN connection technologies excluding FttN/FttB.

      • Twix on 09/02/2022 - 21:01
        +2

        NBN NTD for FTTP and Fixed Wireless is a network termination device.

        NBN NTD for HFC is a DOCIS 3.1 modem.

        NBN NCD for FTTC is a modem with a reverse power feed.

        None of them are routers.

        • ESEMCE on 09/02/2022 - 21:16

          Dunno what happened to my correction but yeah, NBN supply modems for all technologies excluding FttN.
          Most people don't know the difference between a router and modem.
          The fact OP references both an NBN "router" and a TPG one indicates to me that they do not have FttN.

          • Twix on 09/02/2022 - 21:35

            @ESEMCE: NBN NTD for FTTP isn't a modem at all.

            NBN NTD for HFC and NCD for FTTC is a modem.

            You are right in saying that most don't know the difference.

            • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 08:24

              @Twix: Sounds like a Modem to me.
              It changes (modulates) the optical light signal into an electrical one and (demodulates) the electrical one back into an optical one.

            • jv on 10/02/2022 - 12:53

              @Twix:

              You are right in saying that most don't know the difference.

              You can't win an argument with Einstein…

    • Sunnyoz on 09/02/2022 - 22:10

      NBN connection box is the one I have connected my TP LINK deco to directly too..but can use the phone line without connecting a modem ..

      • Twix on 09/02/2022 - 22:35

        In no particular order without using the Huawei modem from TPG.

        1. A VoIP softphone program called Linphone, 3CX or Zoiper.
        2. Plug in a IP-DECT phone with base station into the TP-Link Deco.
        3. Plug in a Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) into the TP-Link Deco.
        • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 12:12

          Yep this is another option assuming TPG provide the SIP details (unlike say Telstra)

          I run this setup for my mum on an old iPhone 5 connecting to the Aussie Broadband SIP server.
          It's not 100% reliable though. Periodically the app stops registering to the SIP server, so no calls come through.
          She only uses it for incoming calls.
          If you're using it for outgoing calls, then it would probably be more reliable as you're continually renewing the registration.

          EDIT: On further investigation, TPG (like Telstra) do lock down their SIP details. You have to buy a business VoIP plan with them to use third party ATAs, or for home plans use the supplied router as the ATA.

  • ESEMCE on 09/02/2022 - 20:57
    +1

    Just connect your VoIP capable router's WAN port to a LAN port on the M5.
    Then plug in your phone to the VoIP port on the router.
    (Turn off the wifi on the VoIP router)

    • Sunnyoz on 09/02/2022 - 22:12

      Thanks nice advice will give it a go, you reckon it will bring back the VOIP/dial tone in the phone ?

      • Twix on 09/02/2022 - 22:41

        Plugging in the Huawei modem into the NBN NTD will get a dial tone for the phone from TPG. If you do this go and configure the TP-Link Deco as the Wi-Fi access point.

        • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 08:31

          This is another option, but requires way more fiddling.
          My option should be plug and play, plus you can put the phone anywhere in the house (provided it's next to one of the M5 APs)

      • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 08:27

        The VoIP router just needs internet to make the VoIP work.
        The IP part of VoIP stands for Internet Protocol, ie Internet

        You can give it internet by plugging it's WAN port into your existing network setup.
        It might care that it's double NAT in this configuration but I doubt it.
        Certainly worth trying out to see that it's working reliably (or at least as reliably as consumer grade VoIP works)

        • Sunnyoz on 10/02/2022 - 11:49

          I have tried your above steps mate but unfortunately it didn’t work so what I did was attached the Ethernet cable into the VOIP ROUTER(HUAWEI)wan port and then plugged it in the DECO M5 LAN port(existing setup) but it’s currently showing busy dial Tone and not able to make any calls

          • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 12:08
            +1

            @Sunnyoz: It should be possible to run VoIP double NAT, I did it many years ago, but different equipment can have different traits.

            Definitely worth checking out if a VoIP App on your mobile phone (or even an old one, if you don't want work to be able to call you wherever/whenever) can be a suitable substitute for a dedicated landline. It looks like TPG lock down their SIP details so you can't use third party apps to connect to their VoIP.

            Otherwise as Twix suggested
            Change the M5 into AP only mode.
            Connect WAN Port of Huawei router to the NBN box and connect the Master M5 to one of the Huawei LAN ports.

            The Huawei will perform all of the routing duties, the M5 just becomes a WiFi transmitter.

            • Sunnyoz on 10/02/2022 - 12:50

              @ESEMCE: Will this effect the wifi speed as currently I am in 50/20 speed and do I know to reset the wifi passwords in every single devices connected to the existing setup if I was to choose the above options as suggested by TWIX

              • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 12:56

                @Sunnyoz: The M5 would still provide the WiFi, so no changes there. (again you'd probably want to turn off the WiFi on the Huawei)

                The only thing that would change is that the routing logic (ie which machine in your local network each particular packet of data should go to) would be managed by the Huawei instead of the router chip built into the Master M5.
                To be honest, they've both probably got similar routing capabilities, so I wouldn't expect any noticeable difference.

                • Sunnyoz on 10/02/2022 - 13:05

                  @ESEMCE: So currently in my deco app it’s showing like this
                  https://imgur.com/a/W5ctZlq
                  Do I need to any changes to the app(change from router to access point ) or will it do it automatically once I plug the Deco through the modem ?

                  • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 15:09
                    +1

                    @Sunnyoz: You should change it to AP mode if it's sitting behind the Huawei. It wont change itself automatically. AP mode just turns off the inbuilt router in the M5.

                    (note that everything will likely still work if you leave it in Router Mode, but some things wont like sitting Double NAT (ie router connected to another router)

              • Twix on 06/03/2022 - 11:07

                @Sunnyoz: Turning the Deco into a Wi-Fi access point doesn't slow down your Wi-Fi speed.

                • Sunnyoz on 06/03/2022 - 11:43
                  +1

                  @Twix: Thanks mate , already did the adjustment and it seems to be working fine ..cheers for your help Ta

    • Sunnyoz on 09/02/2022 - 22:13

      Any instructions in how to turn off the wifi in the modem/router ?

      • ESEMCE on 10/02/2022 - 08:29

        Connect to the VoIP router WiFi and go into its settings page, find the WiFi section and disable it.

        You don't HAVE to turn it off, but you shouldn't use it and when it's on it's just creating more WiFi noise for you and your neighbors.

  • AndyC1 on 09/02/2022 - 20:59
    +1

    First what NBN technology do you have? What brand is the 'NBN router" that you are referring to as NBN does not supply a router.
    What network connection type(s) does your VOIP phone require?

    The different NBN network technology info is on the following page:
    https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn/network-technology

  • Sunnyoz on 09/02/2022 - 22:35

    Here is the link to the set up as you can see the black box is from. NBN and modem/router is from Huawei

    https://imgur.com/a/Y837VsP

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