[asterisk-users] Panasonic x Asterisk if I can emulate Panasonic fast!

Thu Oct 16 23:45:05 CDT 2008

Steve, I got to congratulate you on this one, very nicely written and
you make a lot of sense.

However to the OP my advice: As Steve has mentioned in his email "so
learn it prior to the demo" and you have indicated as well: "In some
point we must start this new tech". The ideal way would be to first
run it in test/dev mode in your own office or by an office you can
take chances, not by a customer where you can sell them a system (in
this case a Panasonic) that you know will do what they want and
they'll be happy. Asterisk is not a hardware based system where
features work just because they are advertised.
If this customer happens to be willing to work with you on the chances
then go for it, but if all they want is a system that works, then I
suggest wait around until you have tested an asterisk system that you
like for the solution you are trying to provide.

On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 9:52 AM, Steve Totaro
<stotaro at totarotechnologies.com> wrote:
> If you want to wow them with GUI stuff (and make it easy for you,
> since the settings are generally correct out of the box) then download
> and install EVB (Easy Box Box).  Another FreePBX/Asterisk based GUI
> with Webmin and lots of other good programs pre-installed.  I would
> not use it for a very large install, at least without moving the DB
> (at the least) to separate box.
>
> To WOW them, open a web browser to EVB and and SSH window connected to
> the Asterisk console with a good amount of debugging.  I don't know
> how meeting are done there, but have a meeting room with a projector,
> and MIC that is always better than five guys crowding around a
> computer screen.  Presentation is key.
>
> The simplicity of the GUI coupled with the complexity of the CLI with
> verbose and sip debug turned on, will leave a lasting impression.
>
> Show them the ease an power of FreePBX (so learn it prior to the demo)
> so you feel confident and can answer questions on the fly.  Show them
> the "mouse over" and even let the least computer savvy person create
> and activate a Holiday greeting/IVR.
>
> I find that driving the whole time is not so good, let everyone sit
> down and do something, add an extension, make an IVR, setup routing,
> followme, call screening, or whatever.
>
> Show them backup scheduling and Samba, so you can pull or push down
> backups on a regular schedule.  EVB has quite a bit more than FreePBX
> and is much better than Trixbox as far as I am concerned.  There is
> one add in EVB, but you can remove that with a little know how.  You
> can also add your company's log which is always a nice touch.
>
> If someone has an Iphone, set them up as a user and show them that
> their message will show up in their email and they can play the
> attachment.
>
> There is plenty that Asterisk cannot do compared to a small key
> system, but I think that Asterisk more than makes up for those short
> comings with other features.
>
> If you get a firm understanding of it, you can show them how easy it
> is to create an IVR, Add an Extension, FollowMe, Call Screening, but
> base your presentation on what the Panasonic can do, then what
> Asterisk (FreePBX) can do.  Focus on the positives, be confident, and
> if someone throws you a curve ball, don't fumble around for an answer.
>  Do a quick Googe, or simply say, "I don't know but I will find out".
> There is nothing wrong with not knowing something, but fumbling around
> or making up an answer leaves a bad taste.  I respect "I don't know,
> but I will get you an answer".
> --
> Thanks,
> Steve Totaro
> +18887771888 (Toll Free)
> +12409381212 (Cell)
> +12024369784 (Skype)
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 9:03 PM, C F <shmaltz at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 11:54 PM, Jorge Mendoza <mendoza at tcc.com.pe> wrote:
>>> Rodolfo Alcazar Portillo wrote:
>>>> Im a 3-days-asterisk-newbie. In 3 weeks, I must have a PBX installed in
>>>> a new office of ours: Panasonic or Asterisk. Asterisk would be, if I can
>>>> emulate some Panasonic functions on Asterisk fast, to convince the
>>>> executives.
>>>>
>>> Asterisk is more featured than Panasonic, but you must to know Asterisk
>>> to convince your executives.... ;-)
>>
>> Not really so. Depending on lots of factors, usually for a small
>> office of only 5-10 users Panasonic is more feature rich. Since the
>> main feature they are looking for in a PBX is to be able to yell
>> across the hallway; "hey boss call on 5 it's your wife" which is not
>> really possible with Asterisk (yeah I know call parking, but how many
>> phones support it flawlessly with flashing LEDs?).
>> Other features that are quite popular in small offices and not
>> supported by Asterisk:
>> * Live call screening - Yes there is a hack that can do it, but it's a
>> hell of a hack.
>> * Phones that can do most of the usefull features supported by the PBX
>> for a reasonable price with LED buttons, including the following
>> features:
>> ** Call recording with LED indication, while at it, the recordings
>> integrate seamlessly with your voicemail, which means you don't need
>> to browse the file system on the PBX to listen to it.
>> ** Login/Logout of queues, Day/Night mode buttons with indication (1.6
>> has this as well).
>> ** Company internal directory on the phone updated on the PBX
>> ** System Speed Dial on the display updated by the PBX
>> ** Call Fwd by PBX with LED indication (not phone based callfwd which sucks).
>> ** On screen Voicemail (on the phone).
>> ** Line assignment to buttons with LED indication, and hold indication.
>> ** Hold ringback (some IP phones support it).
>> There are many more features but I can't remember them at the moment.
>>
>> Granted in bigger installations there many more factors and usually
>> more funding which makes the above list almost obsolete for the
>> features that Asterisk does have.
>>
>> Again my advice do not go with Asterisk for this installation go with Panasonic.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>> What I have done until now: Bought 1 Linksys pap2 (2 FXS), 1 Linksys
>>>> SPA3102 (1 FXS + 1 FXO) for making asterisk tests. Configured
>>>> Asterisk/Fedora 9 so I can make SIP->PSTN and PSTN->SIP calls.
>>>>
>>>> Works. Now, I need this help, please:
>>>>
>>>> * Dialing from inside (pap2-FXS connected phone) to another number on
>>>> the same city (goes out by SPA3102 FXO), voice works fine. But when a
>>>> menu answers, and I dial over, the menu dialed keys works only 20% of
>>>> all times. Why could this would be? Voltage levels? sound gains? Dialed
>>>> keys get distorsioned when passing over the 2 Linksys? Linksys or
>>>> Asterisk swallowing some dialed key? I noticed some echo...
>>>>
>>> Probably you are sending dtmf signals inband. Try outband.
>>> For the echo, try to change the FXO/FXS impedance, and/or playing with
>>> the rx and tx gains. I assume that do you have echo cancelling enable in
>>> both SPA.
>>>> * I need to assign two codes to each user, one for international calls
>>>> charged to the office, another for international calls charged to the
>>>> user. If the user enters an incorrect code, the call should not proceed.
>>>>
>>> See account codes. You can start here:
>>> http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Asterisk+Billing
>>>
>>>> * I need to get a formatted calls report for the administrators to
>>>> charge the users.
>>>>
>>> See same link, or google for billing
>>>> I just am confused and stucked with all the documentation in Internet,
>>>> and all this new asterisk jargon. I just need some links (or some
>>>> directions) to go fast on this topics. Of course, some more help would
>>>> be appreciated.
>>>>
>>> The link to start:
>>> http://www.voip-info.org
>>>
>>>> Thanks a lot.
>>>>
>>> De nada
>>>
>>> Jorge
>>>
>
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