The Grandstream HandyTone HT812 is an analog telephone adapter (ATA) with two FXS ports. Each port can be a separate phone line with its own SIP account. It supports both DTMF and pulse dialing, so it works directly with rotary phones (see Using a rotary phone today).
Key specs¶
| Item | HT812 |
|---|---|
| Phone ports | 2 × FXS (RJ11) |
| Network ports | 2 × Ethernet: NET1 (WAN) and NET2 (LAN) |
| Dial methods | DTMF, Pulse |
| Ring load | 3 REN per port, up to 1 km on 24 AWG wire |
| Default ring cadence | c=2000/4000 (2 s on, 4 s off: North American standard) |
| Routing | Built-in NAT router: NET1 is a DHCP client (WAN), NET2 is a DHCP server (LAN) |
There are two hardware revisions, the original HT812 and the HT812 V2. Menu names and defaults differ slightly between them and between firmware versions, so treat the field names in these guides as a map, not an exact screenshot.
Before you start: two gotchas¶
1. The IVR menu needs a Touch-Tone phone. The ATA's voice menu, used to read out its IP address, change network settings, or factory reset, is opened by dialing ***. A rotary phone can't dial *. Keep a cheap Touch-Tone phone around for setup, then swap the rotary phone in once everything works.
2. The HT812 is a router, and its web UI is blocked from the WAN side by default. If NET1 is plugged into your home router, a laptop on your home network usually can't open the web UI until you either:
- plug a laptop into NET2 (the HT812's LAN side) and browse to the HT812's LAN address, or
- enable WAN-side web access from the IVR menu (
***, then the web access option; listen to the menu prompts for the number on your firmware).
Once you're in, you can also switch the device to bridge mode so it behaves like a simple device on your home network instead of creating a second NAT layer behind your router.
Finding the IP address¶
- Connect a Touch-Tone phone to Phone 1.
- Lift the handset and dial
***. - Dial
02. The ATA reads out its current IP address.
You can also look for it in your router's DHCP lease list (look for a Grandstream MAC address).
Logging in¶
- URL:
http://<ip-address> - Username:
admin - Password: on current units, the default password printed on the label on the bottom of the device. Older units shipped with
admin/admin.
Change the admin password immediately, and update the firmware before configuring a provider.
Guides¶
- Factory reset: button, web UI, and IVR methods.
- Base configuration: settings that apply regardless of provider: pulse dialing, dial plan, NAT, time zone, security.
- Provider guides:
- VoIP.ms: the usual choice in Canada; cheap, pay-as-you-go, full SIP access.
- Freephoneline: Canadian free-local-line service; ATA use needs a one-time unlock key.
- Callcentric: U.S.-based pay-as-you-go provider.
- TextNow: why it doesn't work as an ATA provider, and how to move a TextNow number to one that does.
- Self-hosted PBX: register the HT812 to your own Asterisk or FreePBX server.