asterisk users - Dec 2005 - UK ISDN2e with DDI?

We're about ready to go ahead with a nice 6 line (maybe later 8) ISDN setup
with
Asterisk@Home and the quad Junghanns card.

Before we do, could anyone confirm for me that BT's ISDN2e lines do actually
provide Asterisk with the DDI number? We need to be able to route incoming
calls based on which number is ringing.

As an aside, has anyone actually managed to get the UK ringtones working
properly?? We've got Grandstream 2000's and they will only give us the
US
ringtones!

Thanks,
Andrew

> We're about ready to go ahead with a nice 6 line (maybe later 
> 8) ISDN setup with Asterisk@Home and the quad Junghanns card.
> 
> Before we do, could anyone confirm for me that BT's ISDN2e 
> lines do actually provide Asterisk with the DDI number? We 
> need to be able to route incoming calls based on which number 
> is ringing.
Yes, but you need to subscribe to one or more MSNs to do so. MSNs are
available with ISDN2e or Business Highway, but not Home Highway. The
distinction is a marketing, rather than technical, one. If you need a block
of consecutive MSNs they must be ordered at the same time (and IIRC there is
a minimum order quantity). Each MSN allocated incurs an additional line
rental. 

If you need DDI, and it suits your operating environment, it is likely that
it would be much more cost effective to buy them through a UK IAX provider
rather than install ISDN2e.

Patrick

> -----Original Message-----
> From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com 
> [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Dogers
> Sent: 07 December 2005 16:24
> To: john@argv.co.uk; Asterisk Users Mailing List - 
> Non-Commercial Discussion
> Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] UK ISDN2e with DDI?
> 
> Quoting John Daragon <john@argv.co.uk>:
> 
> > Patrick Lidstone (Personal E-mail) wrote:
> > >>We're about ready to go ahead with a nice 6 line (maybe
later
> > >>8) ISDN setup with Asterisk@Home and the quad Junghanns card.
> > >>
> > >>Before we do, could anyone confirm for me that BT's 
> ISDN2e lines do 
> > >>actually provide Asterisk with the DDI number? We need to 
> be able to 
> > >>route incoming calls based on which number is ringing.
> >
> > Yes they do. For DDI ranges you'll need to ask BT for a 
> "System Access"
> > installation (sometimes known as "Point-to-Point") and 
> configure the 
> > Junghanns appropriately.
> 
> I'll have to check that, I guess - find out what they're set as!
> 
> > I'm probably just an old fogey with a programming background, but
I
> > find straight Asterisk *so* much easier to configure than a@h.
> 
> True, I've used bare Asterisk at home for my small get up, 
> but A@H just does everything we need it to do here at the 
> office (including the "nice and pretty"
> call log side of things that AMP provides!)
> 
> > When you say "ringtones", do you mean "sounds like a UK
> phone when it 
> > rings", or "sounds like a UK phone when we ring someone
else" ?
> 
> It does actually sound okay when we ring someone else, but 
> when it rings, it has the long single american style ring. 
> I've come across a few places that claim its built into the 
> Grandstream and I'd have to create and upload a new one..
> but I've also found others that say to edit various config 
> files, which has had no effect (indications.conf and 
> zaptel.conf both have the zone as uk.. Theres nowhere else it 
> needs to be set, is there?).
> 
> Andrew
Try adding the following to your handset config in sip.conf. This forces the SIP
device to get it's ring tones from Asterisk. Worked for us in v1.0.9 with
Polycom handsets.

progressinband=yes

Be careful when ordering an ISDN2e line from BT. By default they come configured
as Point-to-Multipoint with any additional numbers as MSNs. Most PBXs are better
with ISDN2e Point-to-Point with DDIs, but BT then sting you for a ?100 DDI
planning fee in addition to the ISDN2e installation. One thing to consider is
that DDIs are allocated in contiguous blocks of 10 numbers e.g. 0115 7889100 -
7889109. MSNs however are purposely allocated by BT randomly in what ever
quantity you require. Officially you cannot have contiguous MSNs which
aren't so good for PBX use.

If you want inbound CLI display (CLIP) and/or the ability to specify the
outbound number you are presenting as a CLI (CLOP/COLP depending on who you are
talking to) this needs to be specified as well. By default you get neither but
both are non-charegable upgrades (in our limited experience).

David Cook