[Asterisk-Users] Provisioning CO lines

[Don Pobanz]

On Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:21 AM, Mike Ciholas 
[SMTP:mikec at ciholas.com] wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> This is a NEWBIE question, so all you experienced types that are
> tired of stupid questions can move on...
>
> I've pretty much given up trying to do my entire phone system
> over IP (including local service), so I have to select and
> provision my local CO lines.  I need about 10-12 lines which can
> be POTS lines, of course.  But, I thought, why not get something
> digital and expandable like a DS1, PRI, T1 or whatever they call
> it with 23 or 24 channels of 64 kbps voice.  It seems like it
> would be simpler for me to deal with this (and better quality)
> and it *should* be simpler for the phone company, too.
>
> However, while everyone can sell me POTS lines, when I ask about
> getting these in some sort of digital muxed interface, I seem to
> confuse the providers.  In one case, I was able to get something
> called "channelized T1" which cost a lot and did not actually
> include the "phone" service for any of the channels, that was
> additional.  So the cost to go from POTS lines to something
> digital was extreme, so much more than I can't understand why
> anyone would have T1 voice interfaces, yet all the PBXes have
> this and it seems commonly used.  I must be doing this "wrong".
>
> Okay, so I need help with:
>
> 1. Understanding terminology so I can ask for the "right thing".

You want either a PRI ISDN which would provide 23 lines or a T1 with 
DID/DOD trunks. Our local phone company will provide anywhere from 1 to 
24 trunks on a T1. We pay a fee for the T1 and then so much per trunk. 
As for terminology, don't ask for pots lines, ask for trunks or ISDN.

>
> 2. Advice on when it is reasonable to go POTS versus something
> else and what that something else is.
>
> 3. Feedback on what others are doing with 10-12 lines in the US
> that may want to expand to ~20 lines.

Definitely go with a T1. The only question is whether it will have 
trunks or if it will be ISDN.

>
> 4. Interfacing so many POTS lines to Asterisk.  I guess that
> means an FXO channel bank to T1 card?  Kind of stupid to go
> digital/analog/digital in the last 100 feet.

No, you would not use a channel bank and POTS lines at all. Run the 
phone company provided T1 directly into a Digium T100P card in your * 
server.

>
> Help?
>
> --
> Mike Ciholas                            (812) 476-2721 voice
> CIHOLAS Enterprises                     (812) 476-2881 fax
> 2626 Kotter Ave, Unit D                 mikec at ciholas.com
> Evansville, IN 47715                    http://www.ciholas.com