If you plug a regular analog phone set into the line and it works, its analog. That might help you out.
Peter M. > So far I am able to get an answer from the telco > that our lines are all analog, 33 of the bad boys. > They have no idea what a DNIS is and want to know > if I have another name for it .. > > What I need is a translator ...kinda like that show Ghost > Whisperer .."tell them I want to know what services I have" > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 7:58 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [on-asterisk] DID lines > > > Yes, I know about Centrex. We have a mixture of both lines. So there, > RM, make sure that you use analog Centrex lines because the digital > lines can only connect to the Centrex phone sets or similar equipment. > That's a reason that Centrex is a major revenue generator for the > telcos. > > They aren't really trunk lines but I think they would be cheaper than > BRI ISDN channels. It looks to me like ISDN is the natural successor to > DID though, so I'm thinking that if we get BRI ISDN lines with ISDN > modems terminating, we can connect the POTS jacks to * and have whatever > we want sent to us in terms on digits, and of course get two lines per > modem. At least according to this site. > > http://www.multitech.com/PRODUCTS/Info/Q&As/Modems/isdn.asp > > All good in theory, but can the telco do it? The major advantage will > be that it will be their responsibility to get the ISDN up and running > and it should eliminate any * compatibility issues in the short time > frame that I have to get this up and running. > > Anybody see any flaws in this plan? If so, please let me know now. > > Regards, > Peter M. > > > Peter, > > > > There's nothing technically complex about Centrex. It is basically a > hosted > > PBX service. There are two types of "phones" - proprietary digital and > > analogue. > > > > Your service would almost certainly be analogue, which means that the > line > > is just like an other loop start trunk. > > > > So nothing fancy there, and still the challenge of having them deliver > DNIS > > as DTMF following the answer. > > > > Jim. > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > Sent: February 8, 2006 3:40 PM > > > To: [email protected] > > > Subject: RE: [on-asterisk] DID lines > > > > > > Jim: > > > > > > I forgot to say, a PRI is not really an option because we're > > > only talking four lines starting out. Hey, we're a small province. > > > > > > Thanks for the candid on the BRI. You would think the > > > telco's would have a reliable low capacity replacement for > > > DID by now. I think its called Centrex. > > > Has anybody interfaced Asterisk to Centrex at all? I suspect > > > this will be the default replacement if I can't come up with > > > a DNIS solution for Asterisk. > > > > > > Peter M. > > > > > > > If they can send DNIS as DTMF after the call is answered, > > > that could work. > > > > If not, then we're into unexplored territory. > > > > > > > > On to ISDN . . . > > > > > > > > Well, first of all, I hve to tell you that ISDN is not a type of > > > > circuit, it's a protocol. There are two different kinds of ISDN > > > > curcuits: PRI and BRI. For some reason the term ISDN has > > > come to refer > > > > to the BRI flavour, and PRI refers to itself, but be > > > careful using the > > > > term "ISDN" with telecom people, firstly because it annoys some of > > > > > them (yeah, I'm one of those :-), and secondly because they > > > might just > > > > go ahead and delver a PRI to you - "you ordered ISDN, and > > > that's what you got". > > > > > > > > So, all ranting, semantics and pontificating aside, we'll > > > assume you > > > > are taling about a BRI circuit (128K, 2B+D). I would avoid > > > using this > > > > with Asterisk for now. Here's why: > > > > 1) In Canada (and most of country code 1), BRI is basically > > > dead. The > > > > carriers still sell it, but very few people know how to use it > > > > (including staff at your carrier) > > > > 2) BRI support in Asterisk is still not solid, at least not > > > from what > > > > I hear > > > > 3) In Europse, where BRI is ubiquitous, there are problems > > > getting it > > > > to work with Asterisk (again, from what I hear). That does not > bode > > > > well for getting it working here > > > > > > > > If you chose to go BRI, be aware that you will be blazing a > > > trail - no > > > > one here has ever worked with it, so we'll all be asking > > > you how it's > > > > going :-) > > > > > > > > Now as for the other ISDN option, how many lines are you > > > looking to connect? > > > > PRI starts to be cost effective after about a dozen > > > circuits. Might be > > > > worth a look. > > > > > > > > Jim. > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Jim Van Meggelen > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2177 > > > > > > > > "A child is the ultimate startup, and I have three. > > > > This makes me rich." > > > > Guy Kawasaki > > > > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > Sent: February 8, 2006 2:31 PM > > > > > To: [email protected] > > > > > Subject: RE: [on-asterisk] DID lines > > > > > > > > > > The basic problem is that they don't think they can program this > > > > > > loopstart circuit to send the virtual phone number (AKA > > > the DNIS) at > > > > > all. Yes, I did do a lot to clue them in to what's > > > required but in > > > > > the end, there seems to be that > > > > > roadblock: you can't do a substitute for the CID number, which > > > > > sounds like it would be the ideal solution for the loop lines. > > > > > Hmmmm....I should probably ask about the DTMF after the call is > > > > > answered though, just in case they never thought of that. > > > So those > > > > > "after" > > > > > digits would dial the virtual number's extension, right? > > > > > Hence the delay after the call comes in so that the digits can > be > > > > > picked up. I'm not sure how reliable that would be (see last > > > > > paragraph). Based on my wife's experience using a calling card, > I > > > > > would think that the tones would get lost sometimes. > > > > > > > > > > We (myself and the Aliant sales rep) are thinking now that ISDN > > > > > lines will have enough flexability to do the job. They > > > are certainly > > > > > a step up from DID and not that much different from > > > Centrex when you > > > > > think about it. I would appreciate any opinions on 4 port ISDN > > > > > cards. > > > > > > > > > > As for Asterisk experience, I doubt it. But I can ask again. > > > > > Aliant has let a lot of their good people go. > > > > > > > > > > BTW (opinions please) is Asterisk for Business stable > > > enough for a > > > > > critical service application or am I out-to-lunch here? > > > > > Another project has come up and I'm thinking of using ISDN for > > > > > incoming lines and an OpenSwitch6 FXS/FXO card for > > > connecting analog > > > > > phones and lines. * does the recording and call transfers. I was > > > > > > hoping to keep it simple but it looks like we will have to have > a > > > > > screen pop added on also. Could be a tall order, what? > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > Peter M. > > > > > > > > > > > Hmmm. > > > > > > > > > > > > Actually, kudos to your carrier for being as flexible as > > > > > they've been > > > > > > so far (or kudos to you for your persistance). > > > > > > > > > > > > OK, so from what you describe those are not DIDs, they > > > are regular > > > > > > loop start lines. The trick, then, is the digits. They > > > > > cannot be sent > > > > > > after the answer in the same manner as CLID because > > > that happens > > > > > > in-band as FSK (ADSI) signalling during the ringing > > > phase. Well, > > > > > > perhaps Asterisk has a way of handling that, but that's > > > beyond my > > > > > > grasp of adsi.conf, and how it relates to zaptel channels. > > > > > > > > > > > > What they need to do is wait until the line is answered, > > > > > and then send > > > > > > digits representing the DNIS (the DID received digits) as > > > > > DTMF. While > > > > > > that seems simple enough (with Asterisk it's trivial), the > > > > > reality is > > > > > > that their equipment might not be able to do all that in > > > > > the sequence > > > > > > we want (or, more likely, the only person in that > > > company with the > > > > > > technical chops to handle such a design is catching a sunburn > > > > > > somewhere or can't be bothered with such a trivial request). > > > > > > > > > > > > As them if they have anyone who knows Asterisk. Guaranteed > > > > > those will > > > > > > be their uber-geeks - the folks with the skills we need! > > > > > > > > > > > > Jim. > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > Jim Van Meggelen > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2177 > > > > > > > > > > > > "A child is the ultimate startup, and I have three. > > > > > > This makes me rich." > > > > > > Guy Kawasaki > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ******************************************************** > > > > > Peter MacFarlane, ACP > > > > > Network Administration & Programming > > > > > Target Call Center/ Message Centre P.E.I. > > > > > > ***************************************************************** > > > > > OpenBSD's PF Firewall: Now available with CARP Failover. > > > > > Nothing to do with fish, but everything to do with security! > > > > > > ***************************************************************** > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > - To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For > > > additional > > > > > commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > > > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/253 - Release > > > > > Date: 07/02/2006 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/253 - Release Date: > > > > 07/02/2006 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ******************************************************** > > > Peter MacFarlane, ACP > > > Network Administration & Programming > > > Target Call Center/ Message Centre P.E.I. > > > ***************************************************************** > > > OpenBSD's PF Firewall: Now available with CARP Failover. > > > Nothing to do with fish, but everything to do with security! > > > ***************************************************************** > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For > > > additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/253 - Release > > > Date: 07/02/2006 > > > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.2/253 - Release Date: > 07/02/2006 > > > > > > > ********************************************************** > Peter MacFarlane > Network Administration & Programming > Target Call Center/Message Centre PEI > ********************************************************** > --------------------------------------------------------------------- To > unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional > commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ********************************************************** Peter MacFarlane Network Administration & Programming Target Call Center/Message Centre PEI **********************************************************
