Heard about the site earlier this week (I think in the Metro) and have been majorly impressed. I myself would like to keep in contact with someone at University, but have to dial an 0870 Dog'N'Bone number. To avoid this we use a SIP based VoIP account and computer to computer this is free.

Last year I was in University accomodation (specifically Bath), and they also used the Dog'N'Bone system. Far too expensive, and as Skype are well known we decided to give that a go. No problems with it, until after last Christmas when the University computing services decided to ban the use of Skype on all computers connected to its network (the ResNet). I carried on using Skype for a few days, but eventually was kicked off the system and had to beg a grovel to be allowed back on. No idea how they tracked it, though I guess they just check various ports for the signature Skype signal.

Anyway, the University gives this reason for banning Skype: http://www.bath.ac.uk/bucs/network/Skype.shtml

Basically, it seems Skype is a peering (p2p) program and when it finds a really fast network (i.e. like those found at Universities) it tries to route calls via these networks. So if you used Skype at home, and called someone else at home (on Skype or not), your call may be routed through the University network even if both parties have nothing to do with the uni. Obviously, the uni doesn't like carrying data that has nothing to do with it, so it has banned Skype.

To me, this seemed like a fair explanation. Why some uni's are banning SIP protocols I have not idea (nothing to do with Dog'N'Bone I'm sure.....)

The reason I post this here is that most people have mentioned that Skype is banned, but it hasn't been explained yet. Maybe other Universities ban Skype for different reason? Let us know!

Also, if anyone does know how to call Liverpool University Derby & Rathbone Hall without having to dial 0870 757 61**, that'd be greatly appreciated...

jrawle wrote on Oct 8^th, 2006 at 10:14pm:
If this is true then I'd personally say its to try and actually stop people using their residences' phone system and its charges.  Routers have NATs built-in but you are still allowed to use VoIP without any problems despite my having an internal IP address of 192.168.0.101 and any one on else connected either using RJ45 or via wireless will all have IP allocations of 192.168.0.102 upwards.

The underlying problem if its not specifically because they don't want people using VoIP is that they block ports except default web/mail ports and/or their NAT doesn't support UPnP or is switched off.

As Bath clearly state they allow a lot of other VoIP's software/systems then I also agree that Bath's banning is not to force people to use their own phone systems but was to stop P2P type activity on their network and it seems that SkyPE is used in this manner which I didn't know to be honest.

evilbunny wrote on Oct 9^th, 2006 at 6:30pm:

And I've read it.

Now I'm just trying to find a wall to bang my head against in the hope that at least one word of it will make any sense to me.

I expect I'll be disappointed.

farci wrote on Oct 11^th, 2006 at 8:04pm:


Well the short answer for those that don't have the technical skills is I'm talking to the guys at www.voxalot.com about incorporating this feature into their system.

voxalot.com is an end user service where you only need a sip device or a sip soft phone and it allows you to make simple dial plans to VoIP Service Providers (VSP), their service then lets add providers to your account, and they would be the perfect place to just have a point and click implementation on what I'm talking about and transparently convert 084/7 calls to geographical and toll free numbers and dial those instead.

As a side benefit, calls to 0870 numbers on VoIP should be cheaper then most/all carriers/telcos...

farci wrote on Oct 12^th, 2006 at 6:25am:


It's not a gizmo, it's a free service which you hook either a SIP softphone (www.xten.com is free and ok, hard to setup but ok, firefly-thirdpaty.exe is another ok app, much easier to setup but is abandonded by the company, need to find copies via google these days), or a SIP hardware/hardphone device to, and then make VoIP calls, and the service where possible will try and convert 084/7 numbers into regular 01/02 numbers and call those instead.

But it means maintaining an accurate database which I'm attempting to build up atm... I've been using the same thing in Australia for 13 numbers (30c call, but 10c voip call is cheaper), but there is a lack of regular numbers listed with the 13 numbers so it's a challenge, especially when you email these companies and they're clueless about what you're asking them for...

I can get voipcheap working on Bournemouth resnet with no problem (although P2P is 'unavaliable'), I know that they are also happy for skype so there is no technical reason I guess. SIP does not work though, I think it has to be an application that is ok with using standard ports (i.e. 80) which voipcheap is.

That said the uni also provide us with cisco ip phones with 01202 numbers so seem to have a different attitude to most.

Bath now allows Skype.
QQ is now banned for the same reason that Skype was.