Installing And Configuring X-Lite

There are a number of ways to connect to my weekly podcast on Talkshoe called WordPress Weekly such as a landline, cell phone, or skype out. However, I commonly refer to using a SIP client such as Project Gizmo or X-Lite. Since X-Lite is the program I prefer, this tutorial will focus on installing and then configuring X-Lite to make free SIP (Static IP) calls. X-Lite is a piece of software that was created by CounterPath. When trying to explain what X-Lite does, I basically tell people that X-Lite is like Skype, except it has SIP support.

After visiting the X-Lite website, click on the download button to begin the installation process. If you are taken to a download survey page which requires your email address, you can either give them your real information or you can give them dummy information which will then take you to the actual download page. X-Lite has clients available for Windows, Mac and Linux. For the purpose of this tutorial, we will use the Windows client.

Before you open X-Lite for the first time, we need to accomplish the goal of getting a SIP provider. This provider will allow you to make SIP calls via X-Lite. I’ve chosen to use a service called Voxalot which is free. When I tried to create my own SIP account on Voxalot, I noticed how confusing the website was to navigate. So for starters, click here to register your account. This will give you the basic subscription which is free and gives you the following perks:

• Make Smart Calls (balancing call quality and costs)
• Make free calls to other voxalot members
• Make free calls to over 2000+ other SIP networks
• Receive calls to your voxalot number
• Set up Voice Service Providers for outbound calls to normal telephone numbers.

The registration bit is fairly straightforward. Your preferred voxalot number will be used as your member ID when logging into the SIP network. It can be any 6 digits you choose. The rest of the registration is pretty simple to figure out.

Once you have your Voxalot account created, open X-Lite. You’ll be greeted with a dialog box which tells you about quality information being submitted to CounterPath. You can either send them this information or opt out like I did. Click on the ADD button.

Your display name is what others will see when you make phone calls to them. Your user name is the 6 digit code you registered on Voxalot. This same 6 digit number will be used as your Authorization username. For domain, type in voxalot.com. For the domain proxy configuration, leave the Register with domain box checkmarked. However, for the send outbound via option select proxy and type in us.voxalot.com as the address. This configuration will look a little something like this:

Now click on the APPLY button. Thats it, you should be all set. *NOTE* When you first launch X-Lite after you have configured your SIP provider, you may notice a message popup via Windows FireWall asking if you would like to keep blocking or unblock access. You must unblock access in order for X-Lite to work properly.

Now when you want to call into the show for free using your headset attached to your PC, open up X-Lite and wait until it discovers the network and registers your account. Once X-Lite tells you it’s ready, you’re ready to dial the number.

Using your keyboard type in, 123@66.212.134.192 this will dial Talkshoes static IP address. Once the voice prompt appears asking you for the Talkcast ID Number, using your mouse cursor, click on 34224 and press on the # key. Sometimes, you will have to type in your PIN number if you have a Talkshoe user account and that number would most likely be your phone number. Most of the time though, the process of entering your PIN will be bypassed and you’ll be dialed into the show.

I have used X-Lite for calling and connecting into the show for quite a while now and the quality is excellent, at least thats what some folks listening to the show have told me. The best part about this tutorial is that, you can use the number above and type in a different talkcast ID number to call into a different show on Talkshoe. You can also do the same thing using a software program called Project Gizmo but I have had some weird experiences with their software which is why I use X-Lite. All in all, this is an extremely affordable way to call into my show and various others on Talkshoe. I hope to hear from you folks soon who don’t want to use up your Skype Out credits or Cell phone minutes.