[Asterisk-Users] Intel 536ep as a FXO?

[Tom]

SBC cancels milliwatt tone generators.
--------------------------------------

This thread got me all excited as there appeared to be a logical method to 
balancing the line. I thought that I might finally get to clean up that 
echo problem with our Cisco SIP phones.

We have a reasonably good relationship with the local SBC techs since we 
buy a lot of service from them and we have been around for a few 
years.  Also, we are only a block away from their main CO.

I called our local SBC CO and asked for a milliwatt tone generator 
number.  He said that SBC decided they were not needed and put out an order 
to remove them in February.  The tech said they have been removed from all 
SBC COs. :(
We are in northern Illinois.

Tom

At 12:49 PM 4/19/2004, you wrote:
>For the record, the milliwatt generator, ANI number, etc, is up to each
>telco engineering/operations group as to what number to assign to it.
>There are no industry standards at all. Since the xx98 and xx99 numbers
>use to be reserved for testing years ago, those numbers are still in
>frequent use. Also, some telco's use numbers like 311 for things like
>this, however the 411, 511, 611, 911 range has been filling up rather
>rapidly with other public things, so probably not to likely anymore.
>
>Easiest way to find them is to call Repair and ask. If that person can't
>tell you, ask for their supervisor. If that doesn't work, the next time
>you see a telephone truck, ask the driver; he's likely to be an employee
>that uses it more frequently then most others.
>
>Rich
>
>------------------------
> > On Mon, 19 Apr 2004, Jeremy Hall wrote:
> > > This may not be the case in all areas, but in my area with Qwest as
> > > well, all exchanges have the test at xxx-9996.  For example, my number
> > > is in the 208 area code, 459 exchange, so the full number would be
> > > 208-459-9996.  It is not tied to any specific number, so I can use any
> > > exchange local to me such as 323-9996.  It may or may not work in your
> > > area, so try not to do it at 3:00 AM until you have verified the number.
> >
> > I'm also in a Qwest area, but that number doesn't work here. All of the
> > techs that I have asked gave it to me with no problems. They are shy about
> > the automatic ANI number, however...
> >
> > dave
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Ed Rubright [mailto:ed at rubright.net]
> > > Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 9:51 AM
> > > To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> > > Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Intel 536ep as a FXO?
> > >
> > > The next question for me is: How do I found out my telco milliwatt test
> > > number?  I'm in Washington State using Qwest.
> > >
> > > The way I understand this, I'm to dialup the telco milliwatt test number
> > > and
> > > adjust the rxgain values using ztmonitor tool until the "Max Audio Hit"
> > > is
> > > in the middle of the bar graph for a normal conversation?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Ed
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com
> > > [mailto:asterisk-users-admin at lists.digium.com] On Behalf Of Rich Adamson
> > > Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 9:01 AM
> > > To: asterisk-users at lists.digium.com
> > > Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] Intel 536ep as a FXO?
> > >
> > > > I for one would love this.  I do not have any test equipment to
> > > > determine the level I am sending at, but if I could at least figure
> > > > out what levels to have my rxgain values set to, that would help.
> > > >
> > > > I remember seeing somewhere that you can use a program (part of the zt
> > >
> > > > suite if I remember correctly) to view the audio levels on the FXO
> > > > card like an on-screen vu meter.  I can use that and dial up my telco
> > > > milliwatt test number and adjust accordingly.  I asked where that tool
> > >
> > > > was on the IRC channel, but they seemed to not know either.  I have
> > > > searched as I know I saw it, but can't find it again.
> > >
> > > The tool you're looking for is /usr/src/zaptel/ztmonitor
> > >
> > > [root at phoenix zaptel]# ./ztmonitor
> > > Usage: ztmonitor <channel num> [-v] [-f FILE]
> > >
> > > [root at phoenix zaptel]# ./ztmonitor 1 -v
> > >
> > > Visual Audio Levels.
> > > --------------------
> > >  Use zapata.conf file to adjust the gains if needed.
> > >
> > > ( # = Audio Level  * = Max Audio Hit )
> > > <----------------(RX)---------------->
> > > <----------------(TX)---------------->
> > >  ##################*
> > >
> > > Keep in mind that tool is nothing more then an audio VU meter and was
> > > not
> > > intended to be an accurate means of measuring transmission levels.
> > > I think bkw (probably with Mark) wrote it back in the November/December
> > > timeframe as a simple tool for adjusting rxgain, etc. About that same
> > > time,
> > > the echo cancelling mechanism (for the x100p) was rewritten to "sense"
> > > the
> > > audio reflection (or echo) during the first half-second or so of an
> > > initial
> > > pstn call. (That was a substantial improvement over previous
> > > cancellation
> > > methods without a doubt. If I recall recorrectly, that mechanism was
> > > reduced
> > > to sending an outbound short duration pulse or burst, and measuring the
> > > reflected energy. Sort of a snapshot at the start of an analog call.
> > > It's
> > > okay, but certainly not the equivalent of commercial analog cancellation
> > > products including mux's.)
> > >
> > > I've not had to revisit the x100p gain adjustment effort for several
> > > months,
> > > but seems to me that it was necessary to completely stop and start *
> > > each
> > > time an adjustment was made to the rxgain/txgain settings in zapata.conf
> > > (a
> > > simple reload wasn't adequate).
> > >
> > > Rich
> > >