Ok, I have found Asterisk and I want to start learning it. I am new to the language and the concepts and am having a hard time grasping them and understanding what is what. I want to set up a * box that connects to my telephone line so I can make calls using VOIP. Do I have to sign up for a service to do this or can I buy a card that goes into my * box that allows me to use VOIP over my telephone line. If so, what card do I need? I am in the USA if that makes a difference. I don't need anything elaborate, it's just for learning and playing with. I am sorry if this is a basic question but when I try to read the docs I get confused because I don't understand the technology and when someone is talking about POTS lines with sip or whatever my mind glazes over. Can someone give me direction on how to go about getting started, what hardware and where I should read for the setup? Thanks for any help, Jon
> I want to set up a * box that connects to my telephone line so I can > make calls using VOIP. Do I have to sign up for a service to do thisYes, read the first doc below.> can I buy a card that goes into my * box that allows me to use VOIP over > my telephone line. If so, what card do I need? I am in the USA if thatLook at Digium.com the TDM400P is a card with 4 sockets for modules to connect either phone lines or phones. This is the hardware interface to nomal (home) phone lines and normal (analog) telephone equipment such as corded or cordless phones. Start by reading this tutorial: http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2003/07/03/asterisk.html The next one adds the POTS or PSTN phones http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2004/01/22/asterisk2.html This is good to help set up asterisk and explain some conecpts http://www.automated.it/guidetoasterisk.htm Reading this would be a good idea: http://www.asteriskdocs.org