asterisk users - Feb 2006 - POTS lines vs. using T1 to connectphoneservices?? HELP

Kevin,

Are you in the US?  If so then you've probably got several carriers to
choose from.  In my experience analog lines have a flat expense of
$20-$25 per month.  That equates to about $140-$175 per month in flat
fees, plus you have usage on top of that. (Your experience may vary.) I
am currently experimenting with a company out of NY called Digizip
(www.digizip.com) that sold me a Qwest PRI for about $150/month flat fee
plus usage in the neighborhood of $.015 per minute. (Month-to-month
term, no contract!) 

A PRI like this is attractive because you have the capability of having
23 simultaneous conversations, plus you can do DID.  One drawback is the
inability to do a "Centrex transfer" (aka DID to DOD transfer or
"off
net transfer") but that usually isn't a big deal.

One other note: in the US it is considered a legal requirement to have a
CSU on any T1 circuit.  However, it is not technically necessary.  Also,
some terminating equipment has the "CSU" built right in - e.g. Cisco
T1/CSU WIC for their routers.  I'm running 12 different T1 circuits,
each with a CSU.  I like having the CSU for testing and monitoring line
conditions.

If you go with a PRI (or any other T1-style circuit) then it's just
matter of getting the right card for your system.  The Digium and
Sangoma cards have fine reputations for use in production machines.  The
advanced (and more expensive) models have echo cancellation built in.
I'm currently using a knock-off of the older Tormenta2 Zapata card but
that's only for testing.  In a production environment I'll mostly likely
upgrade to a better card.

HTH and sorry for the ramble!

-MC

-----Original Message-----
From: asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Kevin
Steil
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 7:46 AM
To: Asterisk User List
Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] POTS lines vs. using T1 to
connectphoneservices?? HELP

Thanks...just need to see what the cost is...compared to getting 6
lines..

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Vile [mailto:tvile@baldwintechsolutions.com] 
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 9:58 AM
To: Asterisk User List
Subject: Re: [Asterisk-Users] POTS lines vs. using T1 to connect
phoneservices?? HELP

A fractional T1 is what I would suggest and it is easy to setup and
configure.  You should only need to plug in the T1 line directly into
the T1 Card on the server.  The provider will supply the equipment to
terminate the line on your premises.

On 2/2/06, Kevin Steil <kevin@steiltech.com>
wrote:
>         Need help...I need to install a card to terminate 7 lines...I
> have not order the phone lines yet...I can either do analog lines 1FBs
> or order a fractional T1...any suggestions on what hardware would be
> easier to install and configure...also if I went with a T1...do I need
> an external CSU/DSU or anything or does it just plug into the T1
> card...thanks..
>
> Kevin J. Steil
> Steil Technologies
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--
Tom Vile
Baldwin Technology Solutions, Inc
Consulting - Web Design - VoIP Telephony
www.baldwintechsolutions.com
Phone: 518-631-2855 x205
Fax:     518-631-2856

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