Cisco SPA122 Small Business ATA with Router

Our office uses RingCentral and we originally used no-brand VOIP modems bought from eBay for $5 --- for this price, it's probably not surprising we had many issues with those modems (dropped calls, ghost calls, unable to pick up calls, unable to make calls)... you name it, we experienced it. I finally got fed up trying to troubleshoot what was wrong and went on RingCentral's website to see what product they recommend: Cisco SPA 122. I checked Amazon's pricing which sells the same unit for about $30 less and would arrive in a day with Prime. Sold! Once the modem arrived, the RingCentral setup was super simple (but perhaps not so obvious). Insert a paper clip in the back of the modem to reset it's setting. Plug in the power, ethernet cable (yellow), and a phone (grey 1 or 2). Pick up the handset (there will be no dial tone), dial **** (four stars), when you hear the configuration menu - dial 110# and write down the given IP address, now login to your RingCentral account, select Phones and Devices from the left column, select Add Device at the bottom (or the line you want to change and click "Setup and Provisions"), select "Cisco" then the model number "122", click next and enter the IP address you just wrote down, on the next page, you'll need to plug your computer to the modem (blue) by ehternet cable and also turn off all other internet connections to your computer (i.e. your wifi) so that your computer is only connected to the modem, when you click next the instructions will tell you to enter the same IP address in a web browser, the modem webpage should pop-up (default login is user admin, password admin), once logged in you need to change the default login (user/password to something more secure), go back to the RC instructions page and config the modem as they indicated, once you click save and go back to the RC page, you will be asked to enter the user and password you just set, once you click next, RC will do it's thing and confirm when it's finished configuring, once the modem reboots, your modem should now be set to your RC account. You can confirm your setup worked by picking up the handset, you should hear a dial tone and be able to make calls. Sooo... after having this new modem for a few weeks, all our issues before have gone away and we have not had any other incidents. The sound quality has also improved a lot (sounds like a normal landline). All in all, the $40-ish spent on this modem was well worth every penny and we should have just bought this modem in the first place.

When I decided to make the switch to VoIP, I started with a more-or-less plug & play solution that I bought from Big Warehouse Store. When my wife told me that the latency was too much (a common complaint among users of that device), I started searching around for other solutions. The Cisco devices generally received high marks, and they're relatively inexpensive, so I decided to try it out. So far, I've been quite happy. The UI is pretty standard for Cisco/Linksys devices - if you've used any of their other products, it will probably look familiar - and is not difficult to use. Many VoIP services provide configuration instructions for various devices, and the SPA122 is usually among them, so it shouldn't be difficult to set up even if you're not especially technologically proficient. It also has the advantage of being small and easy to hide.

I have two ATAs. a SPA112 and SPA122 for backup purposes. In case a unit fails we won't be without our phones while we obtain a replacement.I configured both to my VoIP service, so in case one fails, I can quickly switch over to the other.I noticed that I couldn't access the SPA122's web interface through the LAN. I had to connect a PC directly to the ATA's ethernet port to configure it. That's in the user guide, so "Read The Fine Manual" applies. You can't access it through the LAN until you change the default passwords. That's a good thing security-wise.it's a good idea to back up your configurations, which are found in the administrative section of the web interface, documenting your passwords and settings, and storing all on a USB thumb drive in case you need them.

Very poor product as the firmware has bugs but this is to be expected since it is a very new device. Now what isn't expected is the fact that the main chip inside isn't any bigger than my thumbnail which isn't good at all. Which one would have to wonder about the life expectancy of this device since 2 amps of current is running through it. The interface runs slows, the stutter tone sounds very cheap, and doesn't ready up very quickly for the next call. Also the spa2102 handles well under high bandwidth usage whereas the Cisco spa122 will drop out if doing a heavy download and will do this even if a call isn't in session. I've seen it several times just dropout when a call isn't in session as the "phone 1" port light will go off then would come back on when my heavy download stops. As far as it being a network issue on my end it is not as I run a business internet account and the device was set on a static IP to itself which is the preferred way to set up a VoIP device.So what can you do? Well there are other devices out there that are far superior but come with one major drawback. The MWI will not work with other branded devices as the MWI (Message Waiting Indicator) from Cisco use a proprietary format for their MWI. Since most VoIP providers have their systems set for Cisco devices the MWI will NOT work with other branded devices. The only way around this is to run an Asterisks server and since I have no intention of doing so I just disable the voicemail of my provider and use a standard answering machine.The SPA122 is a joke but it does support IPv6 which is important but also puts a buyer in the corner as for myself I like to be future proof. The only resolution to the issue was to buy Mediatrix devices like the Mediatrix 4102s which is a very good device and uses a Texas Instruments chipset which works very well and is extremely reliable and stable. It also works very fast and is highly recommended but as stated the MWI will NOT work with it but at least the buyer will have a stable and fast product.