asterisk users - Jul 2006 - Setting a threshold for asterisk to take ZAP line off hook ?

Hello list

I'm trying to setup asterisk as an answering machine.

How can I set asterisk to Answer() incoming call ONLY after specified
count of ring cycles ?

In the current situation I have the PBX connected to a home line,
where POTS device are also connected on the same circuit. What I'm
trying to do is allow a grace period where a POTS device could be
picked up and those stop the ring indication on the line by this
causing asterisk to not answer the call.

In present situation even if the incoming phone call is taken off hook
by a POST device asterisk still starts playing its incoming call IVR
after the specified(where?) number of seconds.

Thank you.

-- 
Cheers,
Maxim Vexler

"Free as in Freedom" - Do u GNU ?

On Jul 16, 2006, at 11:36 AM, Maxim Vexler wrote:
> Hello list
>
> I'm trying to setup asterisk as an answering machine.
>
> How can I set asterisk to Answer() incoming call ONLY after specified
> count of ring cycles ?
>
> In the current situation I have the PBX connected to a home line,
> where POTS device are also connected on the same circuit. What I'm
> trying to do is allow a grace period where a POTS device could be
> picked up and those stop the ring indication on the line by this
> causing asterisk to not answer the call.
>
> In present situation even if the incoming phone call is taken off hook
> by a POST device asterisk still starts playing its incoming call IVR
> after the specified(where?) number of seconds.
>
I don't think you can do that, since asterisk has no way to know when 
the shared PSTN line is answered by your analog phones...

I don't think asterisk "counts" the rings, as much as it waits for
"answered" status, which it is never going to see in your current 
configuration.

I am a relative newb though,  so maybe someone else here has a 
brilliant idea for you?