I didn't get any response at all to my last "request for status" on IAXTEL. So, when this happens, I attribute it to one of a number of things: 1. No-one knows. 2. No-one cares. 3. Everyone knows, but are too busy to reply. At any rate, my investigative side kicks in and I began searching thru the digest's I've gotten, looking for references to IAXTEL. Mostly it is mentioned in snippets of extensions.conf files submitted, or in people's sigs, but I've copy/pasted below a few relevant snippets I've spotted on this mailing list going backwards in time... Based on what I see, just before and at christmas, I don't see complaints, and people are suggesting to use it. But, after Christmas, the tone changes, and people are now advising against using IAXTEL. So, is there anybody out there at Digium, who can give the party line as to what the status of IAXTEL is, and if this is temporary? It might be best to make an announcement, as I'm sure folks will be scratching their heads and asking on the list what they are doing wrong when they can't fire up their IAXTEL connection. The impression I have at the moment is that IAXTEL is overloaded and can't keep up with registration traffic, let alone phone call bandwidth. Maybe it's just me and I've got a lousy internet path to it. But FWD is working very well, I just got my first call (besides me testing it) today! And sound quality was fine. I was looking forward to boasting my cool 1-700 number, but it looks not to be... And, lest anyone mistake this post as derogatory against IAXTEL, let me clearly state that I appreciate the efforts of Digium, and VoicePulse, to provide this free service, and also acknowledge the obvious benefits the entire asterisk community has reaped from its existence! murf ----------------------------------------------------------------------->From: ... On Behalf Of Christopher Dobbs >Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2002 8:31 PM >To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion >Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] IAXTEL errors ! > > > > >Use FWDNET.NET. >It is far better on call quality!! > >-- >Christopher Dobbs > >Manjit Riat wrote: > >I am testing IAXTEL and routing 800 number to them.. Sometimes the call >goes through and the other times it get the following error. > > > >WARNING[20502]: chan_iax2.c:1477 attempt_transmit: Max retries exceeded >to host 69.73.19.178 on IAX2/iaxtel/3 (type = 6, subclass = 9, ts=631, >seqno=1) > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------>> PS. It seems to me iaxtel has a problem with connection today, can >> anybody confirm it? > >I just tried to place a call via iaxtel and watched the packets with >ethereal. The iaxtel server is very very slow to respond to _any_ >packet, indicating its not feeling very well. Could not complete >the call at all, and 'iax2 show registry' indicates instability as >well.------------------------------------------------------------------------> > > > What is the best codex for iaxtel? > > > > When I set in iax.conf > > > > > > > > bandwidth=high > > > > disallow=all > > > > allow=ulaw > > > > > > > > The call will not go through, if I set allow=all > > > > it sets the format to ADPCM and the first 15sec. or so the voice > is > > > > choppy, it is hard to understand anything. > > > > > > > > Is it reliable/practical to terminate 1800 calls via iaxtel? > > > > > > IAXtel only officially supports the GSM codec. Use that codec and > no > > > other codec. > > > > I've tried gsm but the call doesn't go through. > > Looks like iaxtel is down again. Just tried dialing my number and > nothing happens. Not uncommon. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------> > > I've tried gsm but the call doesn't go through. > > > > > > > bandwidth=high could be screwing it up. > > > > Post the CLI output of the failed call. > > Executing Dial("SIP/11-0b9e", > "IAX2/joseph:i0b8k5@iaxtel.com/18004574022@iaxtel") in new stack > -- Called joseph:i0b8k5@iaxtel.com/18004574022@iaxtel > -- Hungup 'IAX2[iaxtel]/3' > == No one is available to answer at this time > > That is all I see when I try to call iaxtel.---------------------------------------------------------------------------> I have in iax.conf > > register => name:password@iaxtel.com > > but I can not make a call, it hangs up on me. > How can I check if I'm registered with iaxtel? > > What do I have to have in iax.conf in order to register? > > -- > #Joseph--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 Dec 2004:> Hi List, > > While trying to calling Toll Free numbers using IAXTEL, the call > connects, Iear about 2 seconds of voice and then the voice drops off > and I get the > following error message which keeps scrolling across my console > screen. > > WARNING[-167797840]: chan_iax2.c:5967 socket_read: Received mini frame > before first full voice frame > > Asterisk shows that the format of this call is GSM. > > However if I make a call to the same TOLL Free number using the FWD > network > from the asterisk box then the call goes through fine. In this case > Asterisk > shows that the format for the call is ulaw. > > Any idea what the issue might be ? > > Thanks > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 Dec 2004:> > But i can exclude a problem with my extensions because the peer gets > refused > > bevor i dial. > > > > *CLI> iax2 show registry > > Host Username Perceived Refresh > State > > 69.73.19.178:4569 mnetwork <Unregistered> 60 > Rejected > > > > By the way i'm running Asterisk 1.0.3-BRIstuffed-0.2.0-RC3. > > Okay, for reference here's what I'm using today, and its working > just fine. Just checked it. (CVS-HEAD-12/15/04) >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24 Dec 2004:> Hello list, > the guys here at Xcept wanted to say Merry Christmas to the list and > the > people who make Asterisk possible, so we put together this little > Asterisk-based Christmas app... > Justr dial IAXtel 1-700-444-6295 and be happy :-) > Yours, > lenz, laura and marco > the crew at Xcept >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 Dec 2004: Also, I recommend getting an account on IAXtel or FWD, and connecting a softphone directly to those networks, and then into your system. That'll stress your outgoing bandwidth, and potentially provide all kinds of interesting information about what works and doesn't. Cheers, Jim. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 189 bytes Desc: This is a digitally signed message part Url : http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/attachments/20050121/920334a4/attachment.pgp
Mark had made a post recently (last week or so maybe) -- could have been in IRC too... (it starts to blur together) that he was aware of the IAXTEL problems and that they were working on the issues. Details are hazy... But then I drink alot too, so everything is hazy... (that's the point) Tom Walsh -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.0 - Release Date: 1/17/2005
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:26:12 -0700, Steve Murphy <murf@e-tools.com> wrote:> I didn't get any response at all to my last "request for status" on > IAXTEL. > > So, when this happens, I attribute it to one of a number of things: > > 1. No-one knows. > 2. No-one cares. > 3. Everyone knows, but are too busy to reply.I didn't happen to see that message you sent before, but even if I did, I was probably too busy to reply :) Anyways, I used to use IAXTEL with great success. However, for almost nearly a year or so, I've been having significant latency problems with it. My qualify times were anywhere between 1500 and 5000ms, and since I wasn't really using it that much, or receiving many calls on it, I basically just dropped it. I know a few others who have also done the same. Basically if you need a free VoIP service, I recommend using FreeWorldDialup with either SIP of IAX2 (I use IAX2) as it has what I believe to be the largest user base, so might as well just use that. Plus they have break outs to lots of the other free services (including IAXtel). Thanks, Leif Madsen. http://www.leifmadsen.com FWD: 18924 :)
Ed Guy
2005-Jan-21 15:54 UTC
[Asterisk-Users] Bellster - IAX-based interchange -- lets you call anywhere for free
Fellow Asterisk Users, The original Free World Dialup vision was to facilitate world wide calling using each others phone lines. The service grew significantly, but is pretty much limited to Internet calling and contacting other ITSPs. Now, Jeff Pulver has created Bellster(tm) - Half Napster/Half Party Line - to fully realize the original vision. We've just finished our testing and it is now open for your use. We'd love to hear your feedback. It is Asterisk(tm) based and you connect using IAX. Visit www.bellster.net for information and to sign up. Best Regards, Ed Guy, pulver.com