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

[Jason Kawakami]

Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Future installation questions - what do I need?
Reply-To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com

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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?

-this depends on your preference.  you could do either.  i would recommend
dumping the Toshiba completely because the integration between the 2 systems
is possible but can be problematic and complicated.

 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?

-in order to do the integration you want you really want to set up a T-1
between the systems.  The signalling would be E&M tie line for all of the
DS0's.
-That would give you 24 paths between the systems.  This also requires that
the Toshiba be able to handle T-1 and I am not sure about the 424.

 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.

-just remember that FXO/FXS always exist in pairs.  an FXS port (analog
station) gives an FXO device (analog phone) its power.  the reverse is also
true
-where the FXO port (analog line) receives its power from the FXS (analog
station) that the TELCO is providing to you.
-In order to really build 2 way communication with FX(x) you need to think
of each channel as requiring a pair of FXO/FXS so you would need 8 actual
-FX(x) modules to emulate the 4 ports that you have currently.  that is why
the recommendation is to dump the Toshiba from earlier.

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.

-buy the digium cards.  without digium we wouldn't be talking right now so
we ought to support them whenever we can.

 Are the
Intel's any better than the Digium?  Any assistance would be greatly
appreciated.


Good Luck!

Jason Kawakami