[Asterisk-Users] Future installation questions - what do I need?

[Scott Stingel]

Hi Michael-
 
You might try reading up a little in the user-maintained web site, called
the Wiki, and then post more specific questions:
 
http://www.voip-info.org/tiki-index.php?page=Asterisk
 
Hope this gets you started - sounds like asterisk will work well for you.
It's much less expensive than using a Dialogic-based solution.
 
Also, many members on here complain when people post using HTML (not sure
why, I think they have older mail readers).. Anyway, please post in plain
text, to keep everyone happy.
 
regards
Scott Stingel
 
 
Scott M. Stingel
President,
Emerging Voice Technology, Inc.
Palo Alto California & London England
www.evtmedia.com <http://www.evtmedia.com/>  
 

________________________________

From: asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Michael Little
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 11:58 AM
To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Future installation questions - what do I need?



I currently have a Toshiba Strata DK424 with a Stratagy voicemail system (4
ports).  I am looking to go from having a receptionist answering the phone
to an automated attendant.  It appears that Asterisk can be the solution,
but I have some questions.  Do I just replace the Stratagy with the Asterisk
or do I need to reconfigure the routing of the phone lines?  Currently, the
POTS lines come in to the Strata phone system.  Would I need to have the
POTS lines come in to the Asterisk then connect the Strata to the Asterisk?
The Strata is equipped with an automated attendant, but only having 4 ports
causes dropped calls.  At the current time, we just want to use the
automated attendant and voicemail features, but we intend to start using
VoIP and SIP.  Finally, which cards do I need to purchase?  I am not
familiar with all the terminology, so I am a little confused with FXS and
FXO.  Once I figure out where things need to go, I think it would make
things a little easier.  All our phone lines come in on POTS lines, but we
may change to PRI at some point.  I understand that this will change which
cards I need.  I have mainly been looking at the Digium cards do to pricing.
The Intel (Dialogic) cards seem to be a lot more expensive.  Are the Intel's
any better than the Digium?  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Michael