On the upside: -FXS allows you to use existing cat 3 wiring -FXS allows you to randomly pick an analog phone and it will work -FXS takes care of any QoS, routing, codec etc issue that you would otherwise have with Ethernet -FXS does not require infrastructure like switches, routers etc -FXS allows you to use low baud rate modems (security systems) and fax machines although IAXModem is coming along nicely yay faxguy! -FXS + 5.8Ghz cordless is the simplest (and best) way to do a wireless phone with Asterisk
On the downside: -FXS does not scale (practically) -FXS has it's own issues with call quality -FXS modules and channel banks are a moving target with driver-or-chassis-or-card of the month -FXS works with faxes and low baud rate modems, but just barely -FXS cannot allow you to project phone service into arbitrary locations on the Internet. You require a physical connection to Asterisk -A well tuned FXS install is largely a black art. Expect to fool around a lot with gains etc. hth -----Original Message----- From: Jim Freeze [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 2:07 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Asterisk-Users] FXS or VOIP Hi I am setting up a phone system for a small office. The office will have 5-8 phones and a fax line. There are 4 hunt lines coming into the office. We have made no hardware purchase yet. Being an asterisk newbie, before I suscribed to this list I just assumed that I would buy voip phones and connect all the phones to a private ethernet network. However, I see many people inquiring about FXS cards. Is there any reason why I would need to consider using analog phones and FXS cards? Seems to me the cheapest way is with voip phones and voice quality should be good since the phones are on a private network that only has voice traffic. Thanks -- Jim Freeze _______________________________________________ --Bandwidth and Colocation provided by Easynews.com -- Asterisk-Users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users _______________________________________________ --Bandwidth and Colocation provided by Easynews.com -- Asterisk-Users mailing list To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit: http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
