OBi200 Install with Google Voice to Get Free Home Phone Service

[@diymanual]

👍 If you found these DIY tips helpful, make sure to smash that "LIKE" button and "SUBSCRIBE" for a steady stream of DIY knowledge! Stay empowered to tackle any project around your home, car, technology, or pool with confidence. Let's get hands-on and make life easier together! 🏡🚗🏊‍♂ #DIYLife #SubscribeForMoreDIYTips

[@jackhelffrich6666]

Honestly, I would not have figured this out without your video. MANY thanks! After many tries, IT WORKS! My 97 year old mother is very happy that she can keep her landline and legacy phone number.

[@diymanual]

Glad it helped

[@thomasday2351]

I Also Setted it Up That VOIP Adapter In December Of 2021. Instead Of Having a Vtech phone Hooked Up To Polycom I Decided To Use My Uniden DECT 6.0 Phone Because They Are One The Best Phones

[@diymanual]

Thanks for sharing.

[@jackhelffrich6666]

Thanks for the great video explaining how many attempts it took to connect. I gave up at 4 or 5. Fool me once, twice... If they are aware of the problem, they should note this on the site, not just leave people to be frustrated. thanks for the opportunity to vent.

[@diymanual]

You are welcome.

[@txgeodigger9478]

I really enjoyed your video, maybe one of the best. I don't think I've ever seen a video that actually showed "real world" problems and solutions. I'm looking at buying a OBi200 and now because of your effort I'll have a lot better success rate.

[@diymanual]

Thank You.

[@joeg3763]

This video is excellent how it covers so many different processes to root out the problem. It didn't however address mine. Had a power outage and the unit wouldn't resync. My power light also now stays red, but like this video, the phone indicator is inactive. The supply is fine, it reads 12.2V, and in the off chance the PWM circuit was still malfunctioning and not delivering enough current, I tried another 12V supply from a hard drive and it still stays red. Maybe the thing (model 200) is just toast, but have had the sync issue previously, and eventually it would reconnect, and was working fine up to the power interruption (not a surge, just a loss of power). I've tried logging in to the 192.168.10.1 and am not getting anything. If that's not the IP address, I can't verify as ***1 doesn't do anything. The unit was also reset with the pinhole in the bottom, but no way to verify that did anything. 1) is there a way to upload updated firmware via the USB port? 2) any other ideas 3) should just I give up on GVoice since the voip adapters aren't supported anymore? I have friends whose units are still going fine. If anyone knows where to direct me, much appreciated.

[@diymanual]

Thanks for sharing. Sorry I can't help you anymore as I already removed this device as there is no more need for us to have a home phone anymore. I set this up for my Mom so she can communicate with her friends and siblings but we lost her 3 years ago. I still have the GV number attached to my cell so it my setup now. Please share if you are able to figure it out.

[@MacGyver58]

If it does not power up with green light it means the power outage/surge has damaged it. Always use a surge protector withthis delicate circuits.

[@maryamfincher1851]

Great. Does this line work for fax machine too?

[@diymanual]

Yes. I was able to use this for fax. I thought that the Obi200 support have reached end of life but it looks like they may have extended it or have new device that is called the same? Here's the current site: www.obitalk.com/info/home Here's the old announcement: www.obitalk.com/info/products/obi200 I guess it's better to contact them for more information. Hope this helps.

[@maryamfincher1851]

@@diymanual No, I have not set yet. Thank you so very much

[@diymanual]

@@maryamfincher1851 Hi. I just looked at their website and it looks like they are offering it still. They probably did a firmware update or something but make sure to contact them first if you are interested in purchasing.

[@michaelwright1602]

Thank you for the video! I had my OBi200 up and running in no time with the firmware upgrade instructions! You saved the day sir!

[@diymanual]

Glad it helped!

[@jodywaldrop9558]

The Obi200 is going to end of support at the end of the year, and they do not have plans for replacement of Obi200. So, I just want y’all to be aware, however what could I do after Obi200 end of support reaches, like what’s the next step?

[@diymanual]

Thanks for the update. I just checked their site and this is displayed in bold letters. Basically, if you already have it setup then you are good until your equipment break or they decide to fully cut off the service or google make any change that breaks the connection between Obi and Google voice. I hope that they release an updated product to replace this old device. Summary: OBi200, OBi202 and OBi212 have entered the End of Life phase with the following key milestones: End of Sale date is December 18, 2021 (as supplies last) End of Engineering Support is December 18, 2023. End of Service date is December 18, 2023. OBi200, OBi202 and OBi212 products have entered the End of Sale phase with the last day of sale of these products to be December 18, 2021 (as supplies last). The End of Engineering support date and the End of Service date for all OBi200, OBi202 and OBi212 products will be December 18, 2023. OBiTALK calling service will continue to be supported for the OBi200, OBi202 and OBi212 until December 18, 2023. OBi200, OBi202 and OBi212 devices may continue to work after the end of service date, but they will not be able to get added to the Google Voice service after December 18, 2023. OBi200, OBi202 and OBi212 devices registered prior to the End of Engineering Support date won’t be able to be provisioned via OBiTALK after the December 18, 2023 and can only be managed and provisioned locally (manually).

[@superman1768]

How does one manually provision this device? Will it still work with google voice after Dec 2023?

[@diymanual]

@@superman1768 will still work as long as google doesn't make changes that will stop devices like this to work with GV. You just can't contact the company for support when you have issue.

[@peterfurst9876]

@@diymanual My OBI202 was disconnected in the last week or two and it seems either google or obihan no longer allows these devices to be reset at this point. I thought I would have until the end of the year but that seems to be no longer the case.

[@diymanual]

Mine stopped working as well.

[@CiudadJerusalem]

How did you do the firmware update if it is not connected to a computer?🤔

[@diymanual]

Here's the link from their official website. www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=9.0#:~:text=Now%20that%20you%20have%20accessed,the%20OBi%20to%20restart%20(approx.

[@andreaa.4831]

This helped. Thanks! What editing do you use to blur out the private info???

[@diymanual]

I used the KZbin editor.

[@AustinsChannel888]

Thank you for your video. Tried hundred times still couldn't get my Obi300 to work - always playing "There is no call route available to complete you call". The funny thing is my Obi200 still working like a charm. I guess most people are paying that's why they don't update or maintaion their server.

[@diymanual]

Great to hear that the Obi200 is still working for you.

[@MacGyver58]

Obi 300 was not meant to be used with google voice. Obitalk has removed any links to this model from their website also.

[@Jacobswanson11]

Where in the video did you go through to set your obitalk to google voice. Can someone share the timecode. I have scrubbed the video several times but unless it did it automatically when he signed into or registered to obitalk using the google sign in, then I did not catch this part.

[@diymanual]

Hi Jacob, it is at 13 minute mark. Basically, you just need to register to ObiTalk.com using the google account that have the google voice number. It's been a while since I have done this but after I register, it goes through a series of page and then it asked me to dial the **5 number. They were having an issue with this part when I recorded this video and I have to dial the number at least 5 times for it to connect.

[@evandewitt906]

does this work with a wifi extender

[@diymanual]

The default package does not come with the WiFi dongle. If you get the WiFi dongle then it will work with a regular WiFi or the WiFi extender since it works just like any WiFi device.

[@ibkraft6706]

Can I connect. The voip to Wi-Fi and not use Ethernet?

[@diymanual]

There is a Wi-Fi adapter that you can purchase from Amazon if you want to use Wi-Fi.

[@oliverbabwah7980]

Can u help me I got confused on all of them

[@diymanual]

Sorry, I do not have this device anymore to refer to with your questions.

[@SuperDcharles]

Many thanks, men after watching your video and follow the steps you've showed I finally set up mine properly, and I did the update.

[@diymanual]

Glad I could help

[@stitch-xx2oo]

What do you do if the power goes out?

[@diymanual]

Some router will have battery backup option. Or simply add a UPS in the Router and your phone. The internet doesn't really go down with the power unless there is a catastrophic event that cause everything to go down so as long as you have battery backup that will provide power to your router and your phone you should be fine.

[@stitch-xx2oo]

@@diymanual The reason I made that comment is that I live where there are alot of ice storms.

[@DGtlRift]

You realize you blurred the screens when you test called the mobile but didn’t mute the DTMF?

[@diymanual]

Thank you. I just trim the push button part.

[@56nomadman]

Howdy........... what do you do if you don't have a router and are using a wifi adapter that is bringing WIFI from the building? Thanks Russ

[@diymanual]

Hi. If you do not have a router where you want your OBI device to be placed, you can add an OBI wifi adapter to connect the OBI device via wifi. The OBI wifi adapter is $30 in amazon.

[@khaipauz]

Thank you for the video. It's a well demonstration.

[@diymanual]

You're welcome.

[@redlisab]

What if they cancel your phone number.

[@diymanual]

I never had google cancel my google voice number which is what I use with my OBi200. One good thing also is that I get the call as well in my cell phone so I can pick up the calls even when I am not home.

[@autoflipper7846]

Does it work with WiFi service the business are I’m working in my office it’s only WiFi service

[@diymanual]

You can buy the OBiWiFi adapter so you can connect the device via WiFi. www.amazon.com/POLYCOM-OBI-Accessories-Wireless-AC-1517-49585-001/dp/B07FZQX1RQ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=obi200+wifi&qid=1626201741&sr=8-3

[@ramosel]

Does this only support a single handset or can you run it to house wiring and use multiple handsets?

[@diymanual]

I do not have multiple base phone to test this process. My current setup is I have the OBi200 connected to the cordless phone base with 2 extension. My base plus my 2 cordless extension that receive signal from the base works. I am not sure if it will work with house wiring panel but I do not see why not. I will see if I can test this over the weekend since I would like to get my fax machine setup as well.

[@robertcook2680]

@@diymanual I have a base phone and two attached handsets. The OBI device enables ALL the handsets to work with the Google Voice number, both in dialing out and in receiving calls.

[@ronjack9069]

Thanks, just the video I was looking for before I purchase but you didn't show the next steps in ObiTalk after you checked "I want to configure Google Voice on this device". Was that pretty straight forward to get Google Voice working or were there any complications as you continued the setup?

[@diymanual]

Yes you simply select the "I want to configure Google Voice on this device". I believe since I sign up using my google account that have the google voice number it knows that it is the number I wanted to use.

[@badassuchiha4875]

my God it's so Clear crisp Voice

[@diymanual]

I agree.

[@margaretmiles8910]

confused about how this works. Phone over the internet I get. Why do you need both Google and OBi 200 is not ready for prime time. Do you know of any other service systems that are more user friendly for setup? Thanks for the video.

[@diymanual]

Hi Margaret, OBi + Google voice will give you 100% free phone service unless you wan't 911 service which will be an additional $2.50. There are other easy setup device. Ooma Telo is one of them which also gives you free phone service but you will need to pay the applicable taxes which for my zip code totals to $5.34 monthly. Not as free as GV but is a lot cheaper than your regular phone provider. You can also use nettalk or magic jack. From the 3 I mentioned, I would go with Ooma then with nettalk. Let me know what product you go with and how it works for you.

[@Gohma123]

when I installed this I had to sign up for my google voice account with my cell phone and now when somone calls my home phone both my home phone and my cell phone ring from it is there anyway I can get my cellphone off of it so only the home phone rings

[@diymanual]

Yes. Go your google voice app. Then go to settings->Incoming Calls and turn of the devices you don't want to use to answer the calls to your google voice number. You can also check the Forward Messages tab and make sure that calls to your google voice is not forwarded to any number.

[@Gohma123]

@@diymanual Thank you so much 😃

[@robertcook2680]

@@Gohma123 This is one of the PLUSES of Google Voice. You can give people your one Google Voice number, and you can set up several phones to ring when the GV number is called. You set up schedules, so, you can have the GV number ring your work phone during the day when you're in the office, and you can have it ring your home phone in the evenings and weekends when you're at home...or have it ring all your phones at once. If you're visiting family in another city, you can the GV number ring the number where you are temporarily staying, so your friends can reach you wherever you are without having to remember or write down multiple or temporary numbers for you.

[@aave3462]

Can this be used in UK

[@diymanual]

If you can get free GV phone number in UK then I do not see any reason it would not work in your country.

[@robertcook2680]

@@diymanual Google Voice, as far as I know, only works in the US and (I believe, Canada).

[@diymanual]

@@robertcook2680 That is good to know. Thank you for sharing.

[@mikegentry1081]

I'm confused. Does using Google Voice mean I must have a new phone number supplied by Google? It seems to infer I do, but I don't want to loose my original phone number. What's the story? Must I integrate my cell phone?

[@diymanual]

Hi Mike. If you want to keep your home phone then you can transfer that phone into Google Voice. Please note that Google Voice will only accept a transfer from a Mobile device so it will be a 2 step process to transfer from home phone to google voice. Step 1: Transfer your home phone to a cell provider. I recommend using tello as that is the cheapest way I found. You can select their no data and 100 min phone plan for $5.00 Sometimes they offer free SIM but right now it is $10. so it will cost you $15 for this step. You can use my referral code to get $10.00 credit from tello: tello.com/account/register?_referral=P3B7HKSG Step 2: Transfer your phone from Tello to Google Voice. Google voice will charge you $20.00 to transfer a phone number. The pin code to transfer your number from Tello to Google is 0000. So your total cost for transfer is $35.00 using Tello. And since it is just a GSM SIM, you don't really need an extra phone like the other video is showing you can always use your GSM phone to activate the tello account number temporarily then just switch to your old SIM back once the Tello account is fully activated. Hope this help.

[@robertcook2680]

You won't lose your original number. You need to have an existing number in order for the Google Voice number to ring your phone. In short, you link the Google Voice number to your existing home phone or cell phone (or both) so that when someone calls your Google Voice number, it routs to the pre-existing phone number you have linked it to. If you want to use your pre-existing cell phone or home phone number AS your Google Voice number, you have to port the number to Google Voice. I did that with one of my two GV numbers. I ported my land line number to a 30-day prepaid SIM card that I inserted into an old unlocked iPhone. Once my home phone was ported to that SIM card, it became a mobile number, no longer a land line. I then ported the land-line-now-a-mobile-number to Google Voice. (The whole process takes about a week.) I wouldn't have done it, except that I live in Manhattan and had a 212-area code number since 1981 that I wanted to keep when I leave NYC after I retire. It is now one of my GV numbers, and wherever I will be in the country, I will still have my Manhattan phone number as my permanent number.

[@SonicFanaticEthan]

Is it work on Desk phone?

[@diymanual]

It works as long as you have internet connection.

[@ethan1993]

Any luck setting up the voicemail through the Handset? Or is that only accessible on the web as normal?

[@diymanual]

Hi Ethan, I'm not sure what you mean. Are you saying that Google voice picks up unanswered call and not your answering machine? I have my answering machine set to pick up on the 4th ring and every time I call my google voice number, my answering machine picks up the call and I leave message to our home answering machine. maybe you need this will help? techboomers.com/t/turn-on-off-google-voice-voicemail

[@loghome7061]

And this is 100% FREE with no monthly bill at all?

[@diymanual]

If you set it up with google voice it will be free. Just remember that google voice does not support 911 so if you need 911 you will need to pay $2.50 monthly.

[@loghome7061]

@@diymanual Got one, tried a thousand times and can't add it to the dashboard on the Obitalk website.

[@diymanual]

Hi. They have an issue with their server during the initial setup. if you dial the ** 9 222 222 222 you should get a message like "Welcome to OBiTalk obi voice echo test...." if you get a different message (rejected by service provider... reason 404) , you may need to update your firmware and try again. Check the 8:50 mark of the video for the manual firmware update. I also include the link to firmware download in the description. If the **9 222 222 222 works then just keep trying the **5 number. I was told that you will have better success after 3:pm PST. I was having issue with the **5 during the test as well but I was able to connect after 3:pm just like what the support person told me. Note that the **5 number change every 180 seconds during that time you can keep trying every 15 second. It is a pain to setup in the beginning but once it is setup it just works. I never have any issue with it since I set it up. Good luck.

[@yusaw8853]

Thanks for your video.

[@diymanual]

You are welcome

[@jackhelffrich6666]

What ever happened to 'plug and play'? No way a user should have to go through all of this grief to get a device to connect. Shame on OBI.

[@diymanual]

I know. I was expecting this would be a 3 to 4 minute video but it took extra steps due to their server issue. They should pull all their products first until they fix the issue on their end or update the firmware and update their instruction manual about their issue so end users are aware of the issue. Anyway, once it is setup it is working great. So far, I do not have any issue with the product. I am thinking I will port my home phone to my google voice but that will be for another video since it will take 2 steps to do it.