[asterisk-users] Newbie alert: VoIP hardware

[Alan Lord]

Steve Repo wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> Please forgive me for i'm not an asterisk user yet. I've done as much 
> research as I can .. and have the following questions.
> 
> I'm setting up a new office and a home office and i'm shopping for 
> hardware.
> 
> Office: 2 analog lines
> Hardware: TDM412B (2 FXO, 1FXO)
> Link: http://www.voipsupply.com/index.php?cPath=99_555_556
> Cost: $303
> 
> Home: 1 analog line
> Hardware: TDM421B (2 FXS, 1 FXO)
> Link: http://www.voipsupply.com/product_info.php?products_id=3980
> Cost: $300

If you only have one analogue line why not just get a simple x100p card? 
When you use OSLEC with them they work great here in the UK. I bought my 
card from a USA based eBay seller. Total cost for card and shipping was 
about £17.00

> 
> Questions:
> [1] Can I use oslec for echo cancellation? I'll have beefy hardware.
> Is echo cancellation necessary?

I would think you will always want to have EC. Whether you will need 
oslec or not is another matter. If the standard MG2 sounds crap, try 
oslec. MG2 couldn't deal with echo on my x100p. Oslec is pretty much 
perfect.

I don't think you will need "beefy hardware" either. I have our Asterisk 
server running on a Via CN700 (1Ghz) along with lots of other 
applications. No troubles. Of course it is a home box and not heavily 
used but hey - the mobo only draws about 7W!

If you want to know more about it see my sig below. There's a series of 
articles about setting up and building a home server with Asterisk and 
other bits and bobs.

HTH

Alan


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