Moving to VoIP does not have to mean throwing out every old phone. Many offices still have analog handsets, fax machines, or telco lines that work perfectly well. Fanvil's GA-series VoIP gateways act as a bridge between that analog world and the IP network, so you can move to VoIP gradually instead of replacing everything at once.
What is a VoIP gateway?
A VoIP gateway converts traditional analog or digital telephone signals into SIP calls on an IP network, and back again. That way an old analog handset can still be used on a modern IP PBX, or an IP system can stay connected to telco (PSTN) lines through the gateway.
Understanding port types: FXS and FXO
- FXS: a port to connect analog devices (telephones, fax machines) to an IP system. Use this when you want to keep old analog phones on the VoIP network.
- FXO: a port to connect telco (PSTN) lines to an IP system. Use this when you want the IP system to keep making and receiving calls over conventional telephone lines.
The Fanvil GA lineup
- GA100 family: analog gateways with FXS options from 4 to 144 ports and FXO from 4 to 32 ports, fitting anything from a small office to a large deployment. Supports SIP, IPv4/IPv6, conferencing, T.38 fax, TLS/SRTP, and auto provisioning.
- GA200 family: digital E1/T1 gateways (1/2/4/8 ports), up to 240 concurrent calls, supporting ISDN PRI, MFC-R2, and SS7, with SIP trunk, E1, and power supply redundancy for high reliability.
When you need one
- Gradual VoIP migration: keep serviceable analog phones and fax machines on FXS ports while slowly moving to IP phones.
- Staying connected to PSTN: an office that still needs telco phone numbers can connect them to the IP PBX through FXO ports.
- Carrier and large scale: for E1/T1 trunks with high call volume, the GA200 provides telco-grade capacity and redundancy.
Pairing with an IP PBX
A VoIP gateway works best alongside an IP PBX that handles extensions, call recording, and other office features. The gateway takes care of the analog and PSTN bridging, the PBX takes care of the calls. Together they make the move to VoIP feel smooth, not a leap that forces every old device into retirement at once.
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