As a piece of hardware, the Engin Voice Box is entirely unremarkable -- it's a tiny silver plastic box with inputs for power, network cable and phone lines. It's not the hardware side of the equation that makes the Voice Box interesting, however -- it's the inbuilt VOIP capabilities of the device. So, what's VOIP? VOIP is Voice Over Internet Protocol -- put simply, a way to use your broadband Internet connection to make phone calls. The amount of bandwidth needed for voice is actually surprisingly low, mainly because most people don't expect crystal clear sound quality out of a phone, although as we discovered, you can still get bitten by the quality bug -- but more on that later.
Setting up the Voice Box is a simple enough affair. Plug your existing phone (analog, cordless or DECT) into the box, plug the other end into a router -- a simple broadband connection won't do here, and if you don't have a router, you'd need to include the cost of getting one into your purchase decision -- and power the unit up. Then call Engin and activate the service -- presumably providing them with credit card details along the way, although the sample box we were provided with was pre-activated for us. Engin offers a variety of calling plans on their web site. Rates vary depending on your calling patterns, but they're typically cheaper than you'd get with a standard land line.
Features
Aside from calling out, the Voice Box also offers a host of additional phone-based features, from voice mail to caller ID and conference calling, although whether you'll be able to access every function is more dependent upon the features of your eventual phone than the box itself; caller ID, for example, is only available if you've already got caller ID features on your phone.
While it'll happily call out to any number without the need for a prefix, you will have to get used to having yet another phone number; you can't match the Engin service to your existing number.
Performance
We tested the Engin Voice Box on a 512K ADSL connection, and were generally pleased with the results -- as long as we weren't otherwise heavily taxing the broadband connection. This will be a sticking point for many consumers, especially those on cheaper, lower speed broadband connections, as if you're concurrently downloading a lot, or using bandwidth intensive services -- we hit noticeable dropouts and poor voice quality when using Xbox Live at the same time, for example -- then your call quality will suffer. As could be expected, calls to mobiles sounded worst, although it's obviously much harder to call one side or the other the culprit in that case.
Aside from the need for a router, there's a secondary catch to the Voice Box's value equation. The majority of broadband users are currently using ADSL; it's only if you're in selected areas that the cable or wireless broadband option is open to you, and if you've got ADSL, you're already paying for a line rental that's capable of perfectly good phone calls -- and one that shouldn't fall over if your ISP does, which could be important in emergency cases. Once you add in the cost of the Voice Box and ongoing usage charges, and the cost of your existing line rental and broadband fees, you've got to be at least a moderate home phone user to make the Voice Box really compelling; if you're only a light phone user it'll take much longer for the unit to pay itself off.
konmanos
22/06/2008, 10:19 AM
rating
10/10
This is now an outdated device and Engin have a more reliabe network and service that cannot be faulted. A series of tuning on your home network will be required - and this will replace your home phone any day. The savings are also there. Look at the LinkSys SPA3102 that is being provided by Engin and you will never go back to your home phone again.
Pros: Savings and Quality of Service
Cons: Need to change number
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KT (BRIS VEGAS)
24/05/2008, 08:47 PM
rating
8/10
I have been using the service for around 18 months. Awesome savings. I am on the basic plan plus a 'bolt-on' so around $20pm. My bills are always under $23pm. ALL local and national and engin calls are FREE. You guys on the $10 plan - UPGRADE - when I was on basic my bills were around $35-$40pm. I upgraded to the $20 plan and the bills nearly halved!!!
Pros: Awesome savings.
Cons: These are just to be COMPLETELY HONEST. They really dont outweigh the benefits though as I am on cable.
1. Cable internet works best - slower the connection less the quality.
2. If you are calling somewhere that has background noise and/or hold music no good.
3. Some 1300 type numbers dont work.
4. Calls to mobiles not cheap.
5. Engin wont volunteer cheapest plan for you - you gotta figure that bit out for yourself.
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whateva!
20/06/2007, 08:16 PM
rating
6/10
why do i get the feeling this comment section is more a war between rival telco companies than real and genuine reportings by consumers.
Pros: VOIP is the smart way to communicate - anything that breaks the back of the big telcos monopoly is a good thing. ok the technology is developing and the biggest limitation is the quality of your internet connection (blame telstra) not nessarily the company delivering voip.
Cons: ok, if your a die in the wool and afraid of change type than STICK with the expensive last century communications set ups, but stop complaining about costs. And when you finally pull your head of of your hole try googling US / Europe prices on combined tv/net and voip services. Blind Freddy can see that were been lead by our noses by these antiquated telcos. GET REAL!
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Mark
11/06/2007, 05:05 PM
rating
7/10
I make alot of national (STD) calls from my home office so this unit has saved me a packet, from $150 to around $40, including line rental. However I do have a compatiblity problem with my modem. I have to create a path within the modem fire wall for the unit to work, so everytime the modem is switched off I have to reset the modem fire wall for the engin unit to work. It is a problem as I live somewhere that has a unreliable power supply.
Pros: Cheap calls; and the feeling that Telstra isn't getting much of my money. It is such a wonderful feeling that I can over look the many cons of owning this unit. A feeling that is not worth discounting.
Cons: When people call me, they can sound faint.
It struggles with 'on hold' music- come to think of it, it doesn't handle music well at all.
It can be unreliable, when calling someone expect a few 'hello!? hello!? is anyone there?' type senarios.
Mynetfone has better reviews and cheaper call rates- if you own an engin unit, don't look at the mynetfone website; it is a bit annoying.
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Graham
05/06/2007, 09:55 PM
rating
3/10
I have been trying to get this to work for about a year and it has never really worked. Voice Box $200 Connection $10/month for a year = $120. Total $320 down the drain. Not a good way of saving money. As a suggestion for cheap calls, get a $10 phone card and use this for std calls. No voice box, no monthly fees, cheap calls.
Pros: A good idea.
Cons: It doesn't really work well enough.
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Goldy Sahota
17/05/2007, 10:19 PM
rating
2/10
I bought engin voice box 4 months ago hardly use properly for first 2 months, after that every kind of hassle. call drop down after 5.32 seconds. now i am paying more bill both to Telstra and engin. I try engin Customer service after long wait so confused with their answer. not worth it.
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jeanihal
09/05/2007, 08:09 PM
rating
10/10
Unbelievable if you want save money on your monthly phone bill.
Overall I'm more than happy with using engin.
Pros: Can call anywhere in Australia at any time for only 10 cents.
Major countries - call costs are only 3.5 cents
Cons: Calls can be softer than normal and hard to hear sometimes.
Time taken to reach customer service is longer than exceptable.
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rastus2222
17/04/2007, 08:53 AM
rating
2/10
I have ADSL (512/1.5 Meg) and am shocked at how terrible the call quality is.
Not too bad for local calls, but If I try and phone Long Distance (1,000 km) it's a joke !
2/3 of those calls result in the reciever not being able to hear anything at all (wasted call), and the other 1/3 are such poor quality that it is impossible to carry on a conversation (lose every 2nd word and have long lag, and get echo of your voice back to yourself).
Pros: cheap
Cons: nasty
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Mike
08/03/2007, 10:57 AM
rating
4/10
Engin is not all it's cracked up to be.
Our analysis shows we saved exactly $4 on our average $400 monthly bill, not worth the hassle!!! Calls to mobiles are more expensive then the rate we had with Telstra. Calls to their own customer service (a so called local call rate 1300 number) are charged at 28cents. You cannot block caller ID (explaination from Engin: "we have some problems with that at the moment" 5 weeks??!!!) Record wait for customer service = 34 minutes, and were then referred to website, the info wasn't there, back to customer service (19 min wait), "oh, that's right we changed that page.") Because of the 2 numbers (landline and engin) heaps of missed calls on the landline number... and so it goes on.
Back to Telstra for landline and Go-Talk for overseas.
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rapidwebdesign
27/10/2006, 11:19 PM
rating
10/10
i use engin and love it!!!
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