mylists@obitori.net
2005-Nov-13 16:59 UTC
[Asterisk-Users] Advice on Asterisk-based home voicemail+fax+data system
I took a look at vgetty as a solution for my home telephony needs, but the lack of documentation (at least beginner-level documentation) led me to give up. ?I have a couple of GNU/Linux (gentoo & Debian) and FreeBSD boxes at home. ?I have a POTS line and a digital cable modem. I am not interested in dropping my local tone dial service for VOIP. I want to do the following: 1. ?Voice mail answering system. ?Message by person is a must if I am going to forward by email. ? 2. ?Voice mail is recorded as a .wav file (or similar) and either forwarded to email accounts or at least put in folder where it can be forwarded to the right user based on either the folder it is in or the message's file name. ? (So, I can write a script to email the message.) 3. ?Receive faxes and save them as a file in the same folder as the voice mail (so that I can forward it.) 4. ?not interfere with outgoing voice calls. 5. ?Act as a fax server and dial out faxes for home LAN pcs (linux, unix, windows) clients. 6. ?Not interfere with outgoing voice calls. *** less important *** 7. ?Be able to dial out data calls. 8. ?Act as PPP Internet connection for backup to cable Internet. 9. ?Be able to use Skype through my digital cable-based Internet connection. So, with these goals in mind, I started looking at Asterisk. ?It looks like I need some sort of hardware card like the Wildcard TDM 400P. ?I guess I am looking for some idea of whether I am barking up the wrong tree. ?Asterisk seems very alive and well while vgetty docs are much older, but it is a real PBX, not a home modem solution. ?Any suggestions on how I can piece together a reasonably priced solution to do the above? ?I am flexible on what hardware goes in. ?Any ideas/comments appreciated. Regards, Bud Roth
Tom Rymes
2005-Nov-13 22:15 UTC
[Asterisk-Users] Advice on Asterisk-based home voicemail+fax+data system
On Nov 13, 2005, at 6:59 PM, mylists@obitori.net wrote:> I took a look at vgetty as a solution for my home telephony needs, > but the > lack of documentation (at least beginner-level documentation) led > me to > give up. I have a couple of GNU/Linux (gentoo & Debian) and > FreeBSD boxes > at home. I have a POTS line and a digital cable modem. I am not > interested in dropping my local tone dial service for VOIP. I want > to do > the following:Asterisk will work for you. Some planning in advance will be needed. As was recommended by another user, I would start with Asterisk@Home from http://asteriskathome.sourceforge.net. BE CAREFUL!!!!!! When you boot from the A@H CD it will format your hard drive without so much as a peep. However, it is a great way to get started with Asterisk, especially if you are approaching it from a "I want this to just work" standpoint, instead of a "I want to know this beast inside and out and build the whole thing from scratch" point of view. (Neither approach is better, per se, but figure out where you are and choose your method accordingly...)> 1. Voice mail answering system. Message by person is a must if I am > going to forward by email.Built right in. This is a not brainer. For multiple mailboxes, you will need to set up multiple extensions or some way to drop the caller into the appropriate mailbox. (such as an IVR.)> 2. Voice mail is recorded as a .wav file (or similar) and either > forwarded to email accounts or at least put in folder where it can be > forwarded to the > right user based on either the folder it is in or the message's > file name. > (So, I can write a script to email the message.)Asterisk can attach voicemail messages to e-mails right out of the box. No problem there.> 3. Receive faxes and save them as a file in the same folder as the > voice > mail > (so that I can forward it.)Faxing is somewhat more troublesome, but can definitely be done. I would start with the telephony, and once you are comfortable with that, then tackle faxing.> 4. not interfere with outgoing voice calls.I would recommend that you actually route all outgoing calls through Asterisk. This will not interfere with your outgoing calls, and will, in fact, give you more flexibility (ie: Least cost routing - send all local calls over your copper line, send all long distance to an ITSP such as Teliax or VOIPJet for long distance savings)> 5. Act as a fax server and dial out faxes for home LAN pcs (linux, > unix, > windows) clients.Again, Asterisk can do this, but I would start with telephony. If you are feeling adventuresome, Lee has released IAXModem, which will allow you to connect Asterisk to HylaFAX, but again, this is more advanced.> 7. Be able to dial out data calls.I would recommend that you leave Asterisk out of the loop on this one and just connect the modem to the copper line with a 'Y' splitter before it gets to Asterisk.> 8. Act as PPP Internet connection for backup to cable Internet.I think that this would best be done by a routerappliance, such as a CyberGuard SG300. (I think that has a serial failover....if not, buy a Snapgear Pro on eBay or I'm sure that other models offer this ability.) If you don't do that, then this functionality should be handled aside from Asterisk on the Linux side of things. Again, connect the modem before the line gets to Asterisk.> 9. Be able to use Skype through my digital cable-based Internet > connection.I don't think that SIP and Skype conflict, but I would do a little Google Spelunking on this one. This will also depend on whether the Asterisk box is the router, and whether you will have any SIP ITSPs connected.> So, with these goals in mind, I started looking at Asterisk. It looks > like I need some sort of hardware card like the Wildcard TDM 400P. I > guess I am > looking for some idea of whether I am barking up the wrong tree. > AsteriskIt's not the wrong tree, but I think that some of what you want to do (failover, fax, outgoing data) might best be handled apart from Asterisk. Consider a service such as eFax if you have very low volume faxing needs, or maybe a voice-Fax switch combined with HylaFAX and an analog modem. Asterisk is a great program and is extremely flexible, so it ought to work for you. Definitely check out Asterisk@Home.> seems very alive and well while vgetty docs are much older, but it > is a > real PBX, not a home modem solution. Any suggestions on how I can > piece > together a reasonably priced solution to do the above? I am > flexible on > what hardware goes in. Any ideas/comments appreciated.I would recommend that you start with an X100P or a TDM400P if you are dead set on having Asterisk handle any Fax or Data calls. However, If you plan on connecting your modems and Fax equipment directly to the analog line and sharing that line with Asterisk (which is what I would do), I would look into a Sipura SPA-3000, which will allow you to connect one incoming/outgoing phone line AND an analog phone set (such as the phones in your house) It's cheap and works well. Basically, Asterisk can definitely be made to do what you want to do. I suggest you start small and just tackle your voice needs, and then layer on FAX and data. Have fun! Tom -------------------- Cascade Link Systems www.cascadelinksystems.com (603) 375-1414 "Intelligent technology solutions for small businesses."
snacktime
2005-Nov-13 23:03 UTC
[Asterisk-Users] Advice on Asterisk-based home voicemail+fax+data system
Although I love asterisk, I've found that for a home setup I really like the SPA-3000. The dialplan in the 3000 sends out all local calls via the pstn and routes long distance to asterisk where I can use 2-3 different providers in case one goes down. The 3000 can also send an incoming pstn call to an asterisk extension after so many rings for your voicemail. Asterisk just handles voicemail and outgoing voip calls. I use to have a hylafax server, but switched to using trustfax about 6 months ago. For $10 a year and $.10 a fax it doesn't make any sense to be running my own fax server, especially since it comes with an 800 number, fax to email, pdf conversion, etc.. Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.digium.com/pipermail/asterisk-users/attachments/20051114/64cca19f/attachment.htm