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Linksys Analog Telephone Adapter Comparison
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Linksys has several models of analog telephone adapters in their product line. From the wildly popular “PAP2” to the lesser known SPA2102, Linksys provides quality products with several FXS, FXO and Ethernet port configurations. This article will review the different models, model number changes and what the difference between a locked and an unlocked adapter is.
The part numbers reviewed here are as follows: What is an analog adpater? An analog adapter lets you use an analog telephone on a
VoIP network because it has one or more FXS ports that you plug an analog phone
into and one or more Ethernet ports that connect to a data network. Because VoIP
runs over a data network, the analog adapter connects (adapts) the analog signal
from an analog phone to VoIP which runs over the data network.
An unlocked adapter is not locked to any service provider
and can be used with any provider that supports the adapter. This does not mean
that it will work with every provider, only that the adapter has not been locked
to a specific service provider. It is always a good idea to call a service
provider before signing up with them to see if they support the adapter you want
to use.
With Linksys this is pretty easy, on the packaging if the model number above the barcode has an “-NA” then it is unlocked. As shown in the picture below, there are several places on the packaging that show the model number, but only the one above the barcode will have the –NA if it is unlocked. This difference between locked and unlocked adapters has caused some of confusion for people, hopefully this article clears it up. If you still have more questions please contact a customer service representative at 866-987-8647. What analog adapters does Linksys sell? Linksys SPA1001
Linksys SPA2002 The Linksys SPA2002 has been renamed by Linksys to the
“Linksys PAP2” see below for more information.
The Linksys PAP2 is the model that Vonage uses for its
service. It is identical to the PAP2 (below) except that it is locked to
Vonage’s service. Linksys PAP2
Linksys PAP2T The Linksys PAP2T is the most recent revision of the
PAP2, it has twice as much memory as the PAP2 which makes the device very
stable and it also supports two G.729 concurrent calls. The PAP2T has the same
port configuration of the PAP2 and SPA2002 (two FXS ports and a single Ethernet
port).
Linksys SPA2100 The SPA2100 does require more technical knowledge than
the previous adapters, but if you find you need its extra functionalities it
might be worth learning more about data networking. The SPA2100 has been revised, the new model number is
the SPA2102. Most if not all SPA2100’s shipped will now be the SPA2102. Linksys SPA2102 The Linksys SPA2102 has the same port and router configuration as the SPA2100 but it has more memory and the Ethernet ports have been upgraded from 10Mbits to 100Mbits. This provides more bandwidth for the device which is useful especially if other devices are using it as the gateway. The router functionality of the SPA2102 is the same as the SPA2100, so it provides the same benefits as the SPA2100 for separating or creating networks.
Linksys SPA3000 The SPA3000 has been officially discontinued by Linksys,
but at the time of this writing (01-09-07) they can still be found in the
distribution channel. The replacement model of the SPA3000 is the SPA3102
(described below), orders for the SPA3000 may be shipped the SPA3000 or the
SPA3102.
Linksys SPA3102 The Linksys SPA3102 is the replacement model for the SPA3000. The SPA3102 is similar to the SPA3000 except that it has a built in router and extra memory for storage. It has one FXS port for connecting to analog telephones, one FXO port for a failover analog connection, and two Ethernet ports. The two Ethernet ports – one for the internal network (LAN) and one for the external network (WAN) allows you to put the device on the edge of the network or section it off from other devices so they do not interfere with telephone calls. This is handy if you have a lot of other devices on your data network or you do not have a data network at all, because the SPA3102 will create its own network or a sub network inside of your existing network. Conclusion Since it’s acquisition of Sipura in 2005, Linksys has
become a leader in the VoIP analog adapter market. Linksys has an impressive
model line up that covers just about every need for the residential / soho
buyer. It has released new products, upgraded existing products and added
features on a consistent and timely basis. Their adapters are well documented on
the Internet and most service providers support at least one model from Linksys. What adapter is best for you depends on your application,
but it’s a pretty sure bet that Linksys have a model that will fit your needs. As always - talk to the service provider before signing up to see if they support your adapter! /voip-hardware/hardware-companies/linksys/linksys-analog-telephone-adapter-comparison.htmlAbout the Author Paul McNeal Rating: Not yet rated Comments No comments posted. Add Comment You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment. |
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