[Asterisk-Users] Transferring Using Flash

[Will Szopko]

Greetings.

I am attempting to configure a system based on Asterisk 1.2.3 to be used
as a backup should our aging voice mail/auto attendant system fail, which
seems increasingly likely given its advanced years. The first part of this
task is getting the auto attendant feature to work correctly, which I
would have figured to be relatively easy. I have successfully built a menu
structure, but cannot get Asterisk to transfer calls back to the legacy
PBX (Fujitsu F9600). In essence, all I require Asterisk to do is:

1) read the extension digits entered by a caller;
2) flash the line [Flash()];
3) dial the extension using DTMF [SendDTMF(${EXTEN})]; and,
4) hang up [Hangup()].

Unfortunately, I've not been able to make this work and was hoping someone
might tell me where I'm going wrong. The problem appears to be in the
"flash" portion of the above procedure.

Asterisk Server Setup
-------- ------ -----

- Ubuntu Linux 5.10 (Breezy Badger) for AMD64
- Linux 2.6.15 kernel (custom-built)
- Asterisk 1.2.3 (built from source)
- Zaptel 1.2.2 (built from source)
- Digium TDM2402E (8 FXO ports)

Legacy PBX Hookup
------ --- ------

The Asterisk server is connected to our Fujitsu F9600 via 4 analog
connections with the 9600 providing dial tone.

What I Want to Happen
---- - ---- -- ------

1) Call comes into legacy PBX.
2) PBX transfers call to Asterisk.
3) Asterisk goes through greeting and offers to take an extension to which
to transfer.
4) Caller enters transfer.
5) Asterisk transfers the call back to the PBX using the steps described
above.

Asterisk Configuration
-------- -------------

/etc/zaptel.conf

fxsks=1-4
loadzone=us
defaultzone=us


/etc/asterisk/zapata.conf
[trunkgroups]

[channels]
; hardware channels
; default
usecallerid=no
hidecallerid=yes
callwaiting=no
threewaycalling=yes
transfer=yes
cancallforward=yes
echocancel=yes
echotraining=yes
busydetect=yes
callprogress=no

; define channels
context=greeting
signalling=fxs_ks
channel => 1-4


/etc/asterisk/extensions.conf

exten => _[45]XXX,1,Flash()
exten => _[45]XXX,n,SendDTMF(${EXTEN})
exten => _[45]XXX,n,Hangup()


What Happens
---- -------

    -- Executing Flash("Zap/4-1", "") in new stack
Jan 26 16:10:17 WARNING[4564]: chan_zap.c:3907 zt_handle_event:
Ring/Off-hook in strange state 6 on channel 4
    -- Flashed channel Zap/4-1
    -- Executing SendDTMF("Zap/4-1", "4424") in new stack
    -- Executing Hangup("Zap/4-1", "Zap/4-1") in new stack

Upon executing the Hangup command the phone goes dead without the transfer
having been made. The one odd thing here is the warning about the "strange
state 6" on channel 4.

Other Things I've Tried
----- ------ ---- -----

1) I've tried a phone plugged directly into one of the lines on the PBX,
did a flash on the phone, and successfully transferred a call with no
problems.

2) I swapped out the TDM2400 and tried a TDM400. It does the same thing as
above, but without the "strange state" warning.

3) I tried Asterisk 1.0.10. It does the same thing.

If anyone has any ideas of what may be going on here, I'd very much
appreciate some assistance. As I'm learning about Asterisk I am finding a
lot to like, but am getting frustrated that I cannot make this work.
Thanks for your help.

- Will