Is there some location that outlines the major differences between Asterisk version 1.4 and version 1.6? I've read through change logs and several technical discussions, but technical details don't really give me the big picture. Basically, is 1.6 more stable than 1.4? Is it more efficient? Does it work better with echo cancelers like Oslec? I'm currently using Asterisk as a PBX for our branch offices and will soon be converting our main office. Our goal is to be able to have 2 analog lines at each office, calls come in to each PBX and are routed by VOIP to a receptionist at one of the offices who then routes calls appropriately. We're currently using Asterisk 1.4.19, Zaptel 1.4.10, Oslec SVN, Rhino R4FXO-EC cards, and Snom 300 Phones. All of our branch offices have 1MBPS DSL connections and are linked to each other by VPN's running on our Cisco 1720 routers. Our only problem so far is with intermittent echo on calls. Most of the calls have a little echo right at first, but it goes away almost immediately as the echo canceler trains. Every now and then, however, we get a call with terrible echo. I've put in several e-mails to rhino support asking if the hardware echo canceler needs something I haven't done but didn't get a response. I know echo is just something we have deal with when using analog lines, but I didn't think it would be this big of a problem. All of our offices are in rural areas where digital lines are unavailable so that is not an option. Given this setup, is there any reason for me to switch to Asterisk 1.6 or should I stick with 1.4? Thanks, Brent Davidson
2008/6/4 Brent Davidson <brent at texascountrytitle.com>: [snip]> We're currently using Asterisk 1.4.19, Zaptel 1.4.10, > Oslec SVN, Rhino R4FXO-EC cards, and Snom 300 Phones.[snip] Just a small aside... You go to the trouble of building/using Oslec, and then use hardware EC? Very odd. Does Oslec understand about not doing EC if the hardware is doing EC? I imagine this is brokered by Zaptel, but am not sure. Perhaps you are doing double-EC and causing breakage? Just a random thought. Steve
Have you tuned rxgain & txgain in Zapata.conf? <shameless-self-plug> http://www.mattgwatson.ca/2008/05/howto-tune-zaptel-dahdi-fxo-interfaces-on-asterisk-pbx/ </plug> Also, have you used fxotune to tune each FXO interface? I believe echo cancellation happens at the Zaptel / DAHDI level, so using Asterisk 1.6 probably isn't going to give you any benefit. -- Matt Watson http://www.mattgwatson.ca -----Original Message----- From: asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com [mailto:asterisk-users-bounces at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Brent Davidson Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 11:52 AM To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion Subject: [asterisk-users] Asterisk 1.6 vs 1.4? Is there some location that outlines the major differences between Asterisk version 1.4 and version 1.6? I've read through change logs and several technical discussions, but technical details don't really give me the big picture. Basically, is 1.6 more stable than 1.4? Is it more efficient? Does it work better with echo cancelers like Oslec? I'm currently using Asterisk as a PBX for our branch offices and will soon be converting our main office. Our goal is to be able to have 2 analog lines at each office, calls come in to each PBX and are routed by VOIP to a receptionist at one of the offices who then routes calls appropriately. We're currently using Asterisk 1.4.19, Zaptel 1.4.10, Oslec SVN, Rhino R4FXO-EC cards, and Snom 300 Phones. All of our branch offices have 1MBPS DSL connections and are linked to each other by VPN's running on our Cisco 1720 routers. Our only problem so far is with intermittent echo on calls. Most of the calls have a little echo right at first, but it goes away almost immediately as the echo canceler trains. Every now and then, however, we get a call with terrible echo. I've put in several e-mails to rhino support asking if the hardware echo canceler needs something I haven't done but didn't get a response. I know echo is just something we have deal with when using analog lines, but I didn't think it would be this big of a problem. All of our offices are in rural areas where digital lines are unavailable so that is not an option. Given this setup, is there any reason for me to switch to Asterisk 1.6 or should I stick with 1.4? Thanks, Brent Davidson _______________________________________________ -- Bandwidth and Colocation Provided by http://www.api-digital.com -- asterisk-users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
Brent Davidson wrote:> We're currently using Asterisk 1.4.19, Zaptel 1.4.10, > Oslec SVN, Rhino R4FXO-EC cards, and Snom 300 Phones.Why on earth are you running two layers of echo cancellation - hardware and software? To be honest, I think this is asking for trouble - I've seen two occasions where having Oslec and hardware echo cancellation has caused significant problems with audio quality - the usual symptoms are gaps in the conversation as the hardware cancellation eliminates the majority of the echo and the software cancellation subsequently eliminates parts of the conversation.
Just an update. I tried updating to the newest Rhino Release firmware 1.15 and newest stable driver version 2.2.6. It works OK with zaptel-1.4.9.2 and compiles OK with 1.4.10.1 but when compiled against zaptel 1.4.10.1 Asterisk does not see any zap channels. I'm currently running one branch office with the upgraded firmware, driver, zaptel-1.4.9.2 and Asterisk-1.4.20.1. I'll see how everything goes there and may upgrade the other offices if it works OK. Thanks, Brent