[Asterisk-Users] The Minimum Cost of Setting up an Asterisk Phone System?

[Anthony Wood]

On Wed, Nov 05, 2003 at 02:03:55PM -0700, Steve Murphy wrote:
> Everyone--
> 
> Here's a cost analysis, rather crude and inspecific, of using Asterisk
> to implement a phone system. I'm really quite naive and new to all this,
> so I'd appreciate any corrections, tips, pointers, etc, from those in
> the community, who have far greater experience, knowledge, skill, etc.
> than I. Am I forgetting something important? Am I way off in my
> estimates?
> 
> 
> The Minimum Cost of setting up an Asterisk Phone system:
> 
> Fundamental Building Blocks: 
> 
> 1. No more phones serviced than one computer can handle.
> 2. Computer = self-built or whatever, approx. $500 
> 3. OS = Linux. $0
> 4. Phones.
>    Cheap Touch-tone phones: $30 each (Estimate at what I can get
>      at Walmart, quantity one purchases. No digital readout, no
>      programmable features. 
>    Voip Phones $250 estimated per-phone average cost. Realize that
>      costs can vary widely here!

$65 for Grandstream?

> 5. Channel Banks. Looking at what's available on Ebay, I estimate you
>    should be able to pick up a fully loaded, 24-channel FXS/FXO bank for
>    $650 average. Low = $200  High = $4500. I have no way of telling
>    which channel banks are compatible with asterisk. Assume that they
>    are.
> 6. Digium cards:  FXO card = about $100. FXS card = $125. 
>                   4 port FXS=$300. Prices approx. See their web site
>                                    for exact prices.
>                   quad span T1 (96 lines total) $1500
>                   Single span T1 (24 lines) $500
> 7. Wiring. Cost of Wiring is not calculated. Assume that the premises
>            is wired, with patch panels, closets, etc., already in place.
> 8. UPS, power supplies, etc: Not specifically included in the estimates.
> 
> 9. Used equipment can be cheaper, but: if you need a lot, you may not
> necessarily be able to wait around for everything you need to show up on
> ebay. And what you get may not be what you wanted, etc. 

10. Time

11. Expertise (will save you heaps of time)

> 
> Scenarios: 
> 
> 2x4 system:
>             Computer: $500
>             2 FXO   : $200
>             1 4-FXS : $300
>             4 phones: $120
>             --------------
>             Total:  : $1120     cost/phone = $280
> 
> 2x8 system:
>             Computer: $500
>             2 FXO   : $200
>             2 4-FXS : $600
>             8 phones: $240
>             --------------
>             Total:  : $1540     cost/phone = $192.25
> 
> 96 line system ( FXS/FXO mix 88/8)
>             Computer : $ 500
>             QspanT1  : $1500
>             4 ChanBks: $2600
>             88 phones: $2640  
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $7240     cost/phone = $82.27
> 
> 192 line system (FXS/FXO mix 176/16)
>             Computer : $ 500
>             2 QspT1  : $3000
>             8 ChanBks: $5200
>             176phones: $5280  
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $13980     cost/phone = $79.43
> 
> Voip 2 x 4 System using gnophone on desk computers, already networked:
>             Computer : $ 500
>             2 FXO    : $ 200
>             4 gnophones: $ 0  
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $700     cost/phone = $175
> 
> Voip 2 x 4 System using VOIP phone:
>             Computer : $ 500
>             2 FXO    : $ 200
>             4 VOIPs  : $1000 
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $1700     cost/phone = $425
> 
> Voip 2 x 8 System using gnophones on existing systems on existing
> network:
>             Computer : $ 500
>             2 FXO    : $ 200
>             8 gnophones: $ 0  
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $700     cost/phone = $87.50
> 
> Voip 2 x 8 System using Voip phones:
>             Computer : $ 500
>             2 FXO    : $ 200
>             8 VOIPs  : $2000
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $2700     cost/phone = $337.50
> 
> 
> Voip 24 x 192 Phones, using gnophone on existing comps & network:
>             Computer : $ 500
>             1spanT1  : $ 500
>             1 ChanBnk: $ 650
>             192 gnoph: $   0
>             ----------------
>             Total:  : $1650     cost/phone = $10.18

Voip 24 x 192 phones, using Grandstream Voip Phones:
            Computer : $  500
            1spanT1  : $  500
            1 ChanBnk: $  650
            192 GS100: $13440
            switch/hubs: $ ?
            ----------------
            Total:  : $15090+     cost/phone = $78.59+
> 
> 
> The fantastically low prices of using gnophones on existing systems is
> only available IF: 
>              1. Your desktops are all running linux
>              2. Your sound cards are compatible with linux/gnophone
>        (for me, the sound cards/systems seem to be the
>         stumblingblock/hurdle to get past!)

Maybe X-ten X-lite or X-Pro for windows is good too.

> Cheap $30 phones are an option, but you will not get:
>     Intercom capability
>     Message waiting capability

I think you can do stutter tone with TDM400 or channel bank?

>     CallerID type stuff.

Probably distinctive ring for internal/external at least is possible with TDM400 or
channel bank.
 
> Gnophones may or may not provide intercom, I haven't gotten that far as
> to find out.
> 
> VOIP phones are expensive, but MAY provide intercom, and other fancy
> feature, if Asterisk will allow them. It's not clear yet to me that
> Asterisk will allow intercom. Looks like you might get message waiting.
> 
> Also, the decision to put large numbers of Voip phones on an already
> busy data network, or to put in a separate Voip network, will affect the
> prices.

Thanks for this thread I think many will find it useful.

cheers,
Woody