asterisk users - May 2007 - Automated outbound call retries

Is there any built in functionality when using Originate to retry a call 
based on the DIALSTATUS?  Similar to the .call file where you can set 
max retries and time between them?

I've tried putting the logic in an outbound context/macro, but it just 
times out if the time between retries is too long...I suppose your not 
supposed to leave calls in limbo too long.

Is there any other method to making multiple attempts to automated 
outbound calls that I'm missing?
* I know you can do it with .call files but I don't want to use them (I 
want to use Originate)
* Obviously I could put the logic it our external programming, but if 
Asterisk can do it then I'd rather not

I saw that someone put some retry text on this page under the 
Rubification heading:
http://www.voip-info.org/tiki-index.php?page=Asterisk+Manager+API+Action+Originate
However that doesn't seem to work, nor is it documented so I didn't 
expect it to.

Thanks for any assistance.