asterisk users - May 2010 - About Sangoma cards and Asterisk integration with other PBX

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Hi all!

I had the opportunity to test a Sangoma A200 card and I have some doubts
that I would like to consult:

I tried to detect the card and I had no success using the wctdm module
with DAHDI. I guess this is because electronics is different because the
TDM400P and OpenVox A400P cards have separate modules for each channel,
while the Sangoma A200 each module operates two channels. I had to
compile Wanpipe for the card was detected. Is it the only way?

Another thing I want to try is to connect Asterisk with Siemens PBX so
that the extensions on Asterisk can communicate with the extensions on
the Siemens PBX and vice versa. For this should I connect a FXO channel
on Asterisk with a FXS channel of Siemens PBX?

I noticed that, unlike OpenVox A400P card, RJ connectors on the Sangoma
A200 card are smaller. Apparently, the OpenVox use standard telephone
connectors.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Regards,
Daniel

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----- "Daniel Bareiro" <daniel-listas at gmx.net>
wrote:
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> 
> Hi all!
Greetings!
> 
> I had the opportunity to test a Sangoma A200 card and I have some
> doubts
> that I would like to consult:
> 
> I tried to detect the card and I had no success using the wctdm
> module
> with DAHDI. I guess this is because electronics is different because
> the
> TDM400P and OpenVox A400P cards have separate modules for each
> channel,
> while the Sangoma A200 each module operates two channels. I had to
> compile Wanpipe for the card was detected. Is it the only way?
Wanpipe is what interfaces the hardware with Dahdi/Zaptel. Then, Dahdi/Zaptel
interfaces with Asterisk. This is normal.
> 
> Another thing I want to try is to connect Asterisk with Siemens PBX
> so
> that the extensions on Asterisk can communicate with the extensions
> on
> the Siemens PBX and vice versa. For this should I connect a FXO
> channel
> on Asterisk with a FXS channel of Siemens PBX?
Personally, if possible, I'd connect one of each(FXO/FXS) on Asterisk to one
of each(FXO/FXS) on the Siemens. This allows for proper dialing between systems
and passing your ${EXTEN} as expected.
> 
> I noticed that, unlike OpenVox A400P card, RJ connectors on the
> Sangoma
> A200 card are smaller. Apparently, the OpenVox use standard telephone
> connectors.
Sangoma's cards come with a half-height PCI bracket for smaller systems. To
ensure the card stays small, they use smaller jacks, RJ14 or 'handset'
jacks IIRC. Again, this is something specific to Sangoma and normal.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your replies.
> 
> Regards,
> Daniel
> 
A few last thoughts... While OpenVOX may be tempting due to price, you'll
want to think long and hard about quality and support. Sangoma has hands down
the best support out of any of the telephony interface card manufacturers. Also,
the warranty is hard to beat. You will pay more for this, but it is worth it to
me. In your situation this boils down to the importance of the system you're
working with. For my personal Asterisk boxen at home, I use OpenVOX. They work
as expected and if they die, I'm not concerned about the 'mission
critical' nature of my test systems. On the other hand, when we ship
telephony appliances to customers domestically and around the world and want to
feel 'comfy and cozy' that things will 'just work', we install a
Sangoma board.

Please accept my apologies if I sound like I'm on a soapbox trying to
hardsell Sangoma to you. Frankly, there are very few companies and products that
impress me any more, and even less so in the IT and telephony space. Sangoma
happens to be one of these few and I feel I must make you aware of it. :-)

Tim Nelson
Systems/Network Support
Rockbochs Inc.
(218)727-4332 x105

Daniel Bareiro wrote:
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>
> Hi all!
>
> I had the opportunity to test a Sangoma A200 card and I have some doubts
that I would like to consult:
>
> I tried to detect the card and I had no success using the wctdm module with
DAHDI.
Did you not bother to follow the excellent installation instructions 
provided by Sangoma??
>  I guess this is because electronics is different because the
> TDM400P and OpenVox A400P cards have separate modules for each
channel,while the Sangoma A200 each module operates two channels.
No that is NOT the reason. It  a completely different
design.
>  I had to compile Wanpipe for the card was detected. Is it the only way?
>   
YES
Read the installation instructions provided on the Sangoma
website!
> Another thing I want to try is to connect Asterisk with Siemens PBX so that
the extensions on Asterisk can communicate with the extensions on the Siemens
PBX and vice versa. For this should I connect a FXO channel on Asterisk with a
FXS channel of Siemens PBX?
>   
That might be one way, though I would think, depending on the Siemens 
hardware, a T1 connection might be more flexible and provide better 
integration.
> I noticed that, unlike OpenVox A400P card, RJ connectors on the Sangoma
A200 card are smaller.
Correct. They are NOT RJ connectors, but 4 position 4 pin modular 
sockets, as used on US handsets. A better choice, IMO, as the 6 position 
4 pin modular sockets can have the release tangs easily caught in the slot.
A200 cards are provided when new, with adapter cords that have 4 
position sockets on one end and 6 position on the other.
> Apparently, the OpenVox use standard telephone
> connectors.
>
>   
As do the Digium cards.

NOTE: Using the RJ designation is not correct, though it is widely 
misused. RJ is an FCC designation for Registered Jack, and refers to the 
wiring scheme for various interconnections to the public switched network.
there are 4 position, 6 position 8 position, and seldom seen 10 position 
modular plugs and sockets. The 4 position was only used, other  than the 
Sangoma A200, for handsets on modular telephones, and never for PSTN 
connection, and never had an RJ designation. Misinformation available on 
the Internet  shows various designations.

John Novack
> Thanks in advance for your replies.
>
> Regards,
> Daniel
>
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