asterisk users - Jan 2009 - Broadcast Phone system (for radio)

this link:
http://www.telos-systems.com/techtalk/digiphones/digiphones_4.htm

States the following:
"Generic PBXs will not do for our broadcast application ? they just
don?t have the features necessary. For example, while lines may
certainly be shared to multiple phones, there is no way to switch groups
of lines from studio to studio. There is also no way to connect
computers for call-screening applications. On the audio side, there is
no adaptive hybrid or professional audio outputs. Usually, there is only
one or two ?Music on Hold? inputs for the entire unit, while we need one
for each studio. While you could use a PBX to derive analog lines for
the studio telephone interface gear, it will be far superior to make a
direct all-digital link. So we will need something like a PBX, but
specialized for broadcast."

Our company owns 2 radio stations, and they are looking at a new on-air
phone system. At the same time, we are looking at installing an Asterisk
system for their office PBX.

Does anyone know of an asterisk based solution for this type of
application? I'm pretty certain Asterisk could handle all the special
requirements that this article is claiming a "Generic PBX" can't
do.

Ah, But Asterisk if not your "Generic PBX"!!!!!

You could do a few things. 

For each show, (I take it that this is talk radio) You can set up a queue()
for each air studio.  Callers would then be greeted with a custom greeting
that would be unique for each air studio.

How you interface with your console (sound board, not phone) would be up to
you, you could either have the calls go into a phone patch our you could
even use a PC with a Softphone and take the Input and output of its sound
card and interface it into your board. (Ground loops and interference
notwithstanding)

As far as 'Hold music', you have several options:

1	You can use sound files (mp3, gsm, wav, etc.) and have that as your
hold music either global (one message for all stations, and admin offices)
or you could always get a sound card and 'feed' each air studios program
into the queue for the respective air studio call in queue (sound cards have
two channels, telephony until now is mono).

I don't know much about your current setup, so I was pretty general and
conservative on my suggestions but it is defiantly doable and I have done it
before for a corporate call in show.  Work very well and quality was
excellent from caller to broadcast.

If you have any questions you call reach me directly.

Alex Lopez
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-
> bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Bob Pierce
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2009 5:29 PM
> To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
> Subject: [asterisk-users] Broadcast Phone system (for radio)
> 
> this link:
> http://www.telos-systems.com/techtalk/digiphones/digiphones_4.htm
> 
> States the following:
> "Generic PBXs will not do for our broadcast application - they just
> don't have the features necessary. For example, while lines may
> certainly be shared to multiple phones, there is no way to switch groups
> of lines from studio to studio. There is also no way to connect
> computers for call-screening applications. On the audio side, there is
> no adaptive hybrid or professional audio outputs. Usually, there is only
> one or two "Music on Hold" inputs for the entire unit, while we
need one
> for each studio. While you could use a PBX to derive analog lines for
> the studio telephone interface gear, it will be far superior to make a
> direct all-digital link. So we will need something like a PBX, but
> specialized for broadcast."
> 
> Our company owns 2 radio stations, and they are looking at a new on-air
> phone system. At the same time, we are looking at installing an Asterisk
> system for their office PBX.
> 
> Does anyone know of an asterisk based solution for this type of
> application? I'm pretty certain Asterisk could handle all the special
> requirements that this article is claiming a "Generic PBX"
can't do.
> 
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