[asterisk-users] Survey: In what ways do you use Asterisk at your house?

[Earle Clubb]

All,

I'm starting to tinker with Asterisk for use in my home.  Here's my 
current setup:

Cox broadband telephone <--> spa3k-fxo
analog phones + answering machine (all on one line) <--> spa3k-fxs

I can pick up a phone in my house, dial a certain extension, and the 
spa3k will connect me to Asterisk, which currently plays a message and 
hangs up (not particularly useful).  If I dial any other number, the 
spa3k dials that number out on the fxo.

The main thing I'm trying to do right now is replace my answering 
machine with *-based voicemail.  I want to retain the ability to screen 
calls (listen on a speaker while a person is leaving a message), but I'm 
not sure of the best way to go about this.  Recommendations are 
welcome.  Note that my * box and answering machine are on two different 
floors in my house, so running a speaker in the kitchen (answering 
machine location) from the sound card on the * box is doable, but not 
desirable.

Also of  note:  I only have basic no-frills phone service (no caller id, 
no call waiting, etc), though I am open to adding options if there's a 
good reason.

The main reason for this e-mail is to see what other people are doing.
- What service provider/technology do you use for origination/termination?
- What hardware/software do you use and how does it all tie together?
- What tasks do you use * to accomplish?
- Any other pertinent info.

I'm trying to find practical uses for *, but I'd like to throw in some 
fun/pointless stuff as well.

Thanks for your time.

Earle