Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
6
↓
Headset and software about VoIP phones. (self.Blind)
submitted by Tensoon_the_kandra
Hi folks.
I have a question regarding headsets that can be used for PC and a VoIP phone simultaneously.
I actually posted my question on the VoIP sub, but it got deleted because I have a relatively new account and I do not have sufficient karma to be creating my own posts on that sub.
So, here is the issue:
I started a new job recently and I am currently working from home. I am using a Yealink SIP - T21 E2 phone which is connected to the office server.
While making calls I have to take down a lot of notes and give a great deal of information through to the people I am speaking to. Since I have to use NVDA for that it can get a bit complicated to type, use my PC earphones or headset while holding the phone's handset.
I want to know if there is a way to project this particular phone's sound through my PC so that I can hear my PC audio as well as the phone's audio through the same headset.
If no one knows how to do this, can someone with a bit more karma please post this on the VoIP sub and just inbox me a link to the post so that I can keep an eye on it?
Any help would be appreciated.
I have a question regarding headsets that can be used for PC and a VoIP phone simultaneously.
I actually posted my question on the VoIP sub, but it got deleted because I have a relatively new account and I do not have sufficient karma to be creating my own posts on that sub.
So, here is the issue:
I started a new job recently and I am currently working from home. I am using a Yealink SIP - T21 E2 phone which is connected to the office server.
While making calls I have to take down a lot of notes and give a great deal of information through to the people I am speaking to. Since I have to use NVDA for that it can get a bit complicated to type, use my PC earphones or headset while holding the phone's handset.
I want to know if there is a way to project this particular phone's sound through my PC so that I can hear my PC audio as well as the phone's audio through the same headset.
If no one knows how to do this, can someone with a bit more karma please post this on the VoIP sub and just inbox me a link to the post so that I can keep an eye on it?
Any help would be appreciated.
ntohee 3 points 6y ago
The best option would be to talk to your company's IT department and ask if they could set up a softphone on your computer. That way your computer will act as the phone and you can talk through your computer's microphone / headset.
thekeffa 2 points 6y ago
Howdy. I've leaked out of the /r/voip sub.
Anyway there's a wide range of ways to do this. They are as follows...
**1. Use a softphone on your PC as the phone.** Then you only need the computer headset. Not recommended by me as I am a big fan of separating the phone from the PC. Having worked in the telecoms industry for a while, I can tell you that softphones tend to get annoying when your trying to fluster about your desk during work.
**2. Use a multi adaptor or a multi audio compatible headset.** Plantronics will sell you a fair few devices that are multi device compatible. The ones that can multicast (I.e. play audio streams over each other) are expensive. The $1 will allow you to connect PC audio, SIP phone audio and bluetooth audio together into the same headset and multicast them over each other. Like I said, it's expensive. You need the base station types such as the Savi 700 as the T21 is a very basic phone and doesn't offer any connection options outside the RJ9 connectors.
**3. Use an adaptor.** Use an adaptor that offers RJ9 to 3.5mm conversion and a pass through cable to the "LINE IN" port on your computers sound card. The downside to this method is the caller will hear the output as well.
**4. Upgrade your phone.** The Yealink T46 would be an ideal choice. It offers bluetooth connectivity which gives it multicast options.
**5. Double up.** Probably the easiest and cheapest method. Purchase a mono (As in one ear only) headset (Wireless or otherwise) for the phone. Yealink themselves $1. Plug it into the phone. Then plug a set of earbuds into your PC and just use one of the earbuds in the ear that is not covered by the phone headset.
Anyway there's a wide range of ways to do this. They are as follows...
**1. Use a softphone on your PC as the phone.** Then you only need the computer headset. Not recommended by me as I am a big fan of separating the phone from the PC. Having worked in the telecoms industry for a while, I can tell you that softphones tend to get annoying when your trying to fluster about your desk during work.
**2. Use a multi adaptor or a multi audio compatible headset.** Plantronics will sell you a fair few devices that are multi device compatible. The ones that can multicast (I.e. play audio streams over each other) are expensive. The $1 will allow you to connect PC audio, SIP phone audio and bluetooth audio together into the same headset and multicast them over each other. Like I said, it's expensive. You need the base station types such as the Savi 700 as the T21 is a very basic phone and doesn't offer any connection options outside the RJ9 connectors.
**3. Use an adaptor.** Use an adaptor that offers RJ9 to 3.5mm conversion and a pass through cable to the "LINE IN" port on your computers sound card. The downside to this method is the caller will hear the output as well.
**4. Upgrade your phone.** The Yealink T46 would be an ideal choice. It offers bluetooth connectivity which gives it multicast options.
**5. Double up.** Probably the easiest and cheapest method. Purchase a mono (As in one ear only) headset (Wireless or otherwise) for the phone. Yealink themselves $1. Plug it into the phone. Then plug a set of earbuds into your PC and just use one of the earbuds in the ear that is not covered by the phone headset.
Tensoon_the_kandra [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Thank you very much for the detailed response. The last option you mentioned seems like it would be the simplest. I am curious though, how exactly does a softphone work? Is it just an application you use on your PC which provides VoIP functionality? I have heard of this before, but the folks I have spoken to who have made use of this sort of thing had a great deal of complaints about bugs, poor performance and just overall hate for the setup. Why exactly are you opposed to it?
thekeffa 1 points 6y ago
A softphone is basically an application that sits on your computer desktop and emulates a phone through the PC. So if you want to dial a number to ring out, you use the mouse to press the buttons on screen or you use your keyboards number pad. Incoming calls are presented on the screen and you interact with the call (Answer, put on hold, transfer, etc) via the screen, mostly using the mouse or keyboard shortcuts. The audio is routed via the PC using the PC's sound card and a PC headset.
Examples of two of the best ones are $1 and $1.
The benefits of a softphone are that they are generally cheaper, are useful for saving space as extra wires and physical hardware is not needed and can be incorporated into other applications and user network rights.
The problem with softphones is that they present a level of abstraction from the phones functionality that while seemingly fine initially, gets annoying at times. I've never really met an office worker who was happy using one over a real desk phone.
Because the softphone has to be visible on the computer screen for the most part to be useful, it tends to take up valuable screen estate which some people find annoying as well.
I will give you an example. You get a call incoming so it appears on screen. You click to answer and it's someone who wants some information. You then have to hide the softphone to use the browser on your computer to look the information up so that involves a few clicks of the mouse to put the caller on hold, hide the softphone window, use the browser, click to bring the softphone back and unhold the call.
It's really hard to describe why using a softphone over a regular phone is a pain when your blustering around the office in the flow of work but it's very easy to appreciate in action. As I said, I've never met an office worker who preferred a softphone over a real phone. I've even had a few companies install them thinking they can keep their costs down and then have me come back a few months down the line and replace them with real phones.
The people who make the best use of softphones are call center workers who have limited interactivity with the phone and generally have a fixed platform of software on their computers.
Examples of two of the best ones are $1 and $1.
The benefits of a softphone are that they are generally cheaper, are useful for saving space as extra wires and physical hardware is not needed and can be incorporated into other applications and user network rights.
The problem with softphones is that they present a level of abstraction from the phones functionality that while seemingly fine initially, gets annoying at times. I've never really met an office worker who was happy using one over a real desk phone.
Because the softphone has to be visible on the computer screen for the most part to be useful, it tends to take up valuable screen estate which some people find annoying as well.
I will give you an example. You get a call incoming so it appears on screen. You click to answer and it's someone who wants some information. You then have to hide the softphone to use the browser on your computer to look the information up so that involves a few clicks of the mouse to put the caller on hold, hide the softphone window, use the browser, click to bring the softphone back and unhold the call.
It's really hard to describe why using a softphone over a regular phone is a pain when your blustering around the office in the flow of work but it's very easy to appreciate in action. As I said, I've never met an office worker who preferred a softphone over a real phone. I've even had a few companies install them thinking they can keep their costs down and then have me come back a few months down the line and replace them with real phones.
The people who make the best use of softphones are call center workers who have limited interactivity with the phone and generally have a fixed platform of software on their computers.
Tensoon_the_kandra [OP] 1 points 6y ago
I thought as much. Can't you just Alt+Tab out though. Plus, if it has keyboard shortcuts, why not just use those to put it on hold? Not to mention if you are using Windows 10 you have the benefit of using multiple desktops. You can just keep the phone on its own desktop, that way you can switch to it quickly.
I trust your judgment though, so I will get a mono headset. That also sounds like it would be the fastest solution. I may look into the softphone thing later in the year. I do not think the screen clutter would bother me all that much. I an an attorney, so I do make quite a few calls, but its not like that is all I do all day. Not to mention that using my very comfortable PC headset as a phone sounds worth the inconvenience.
Thanks for the help. I think you definitely made my life easier.
I trust your judgment though, so I will get a mono headset. That also sounds like it would be the fastest solution. I may look into the softphone thing later in the year. I do not think the screen clutter would bother me all that much. I an an attorney, so I do make quite a few calls, but its not like that is all I do all day. Not to mention that using my very comfortable PC headset as a phone sounds worth the inconvenience.
Thanks for the help. I think you definitely made my life easier.
djgizmo 1 points 6y ago
Your phone is a basic SIP phone which only has a handset, speaker, or headset for output. No Bluetooth or USB options for Bluetooth.
I'm not even sure if you could find a rj9 to 3.5mm adapters, but that's what you'd need.
I'm not even sure if you could find a rj9 to 3.5mm adapters, but that's what you'd need.
TotesMessenger 1 points 6y ago
fastfinge 1 points 6y ago
Done:
https://www.reddit.com/r/VOIP/comments/5l9yt0/how_to_hear_audio_from_yealink_sip_t21_e2_phone/
https://www.reddit.com/r/VOIP/comments/5l9yt0/how_to_hear_audio_from_yealink_sip_t21_e2_phone/
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.