What is an ATA

[brownchristian]

Someone please explain for us dummies.

[dbean]

Someone please explain for us dummies.

Analog telephone adapter. Its basically a gizmo that converts analog signals, (your voice) into voice over internet protocol, (VOIP) packets, which then can be sent to other clients via the internet.

The basic concept in their creation was: "why pay for 2 or more lines of communication, (land-phone line and internet) when you can use internet for everything?"

The ATA's allow you to do just that.

A basic setup includes your regular internet DSL/Cable modem that gets wired to your wired/wireless router. You then wire your ATA to an open port on your router, thus, attaching it to the internet. You then wire any standard phone to the ATA, thus connecting it to the internet.

Now, getting your magic jack password, and other credentials, and entering them into the ATA so you don't have to connect your phone through the magic jack to a PC..............that's another story all together.

good luck