[Asterisk-Users] ADSI phone vs. IP phone

[David Gomillion]

Andrew wrote:

> > Why wouldn't you just use your existing Ethernet infrastructure putting
> > the  IP phones inline between the wall jack and the PC? There are a
> > number of IP phones that have builtin switch/hub that allows the PC to
> > daisy chain off the IP phone.
>
> To quote myself:
>
> >> True, but I don't have to retool my office and install POE switches to
> >> use ADSI phones, either.  No, I will not put a hub/switch at every desk
> >> and then use wall-warts for every phone to get around retooling the
> >> office.  :-)
>
> I'm not going to bastardize my network by placing the equivalent of a
3-port
> switch or hub at every desk to have the phone system compete with our
heavy
> network users (CAD mostly), and I will fight tooth and nail against having
> to put a goddamned wall-wart at every station just to power the damned IP
> phones.  :-)

First, what's wrong with PoE?  Is it any worse than installing tons of
channel banks?

Secondly, phones with a built-in switch, i.e. Cisco's 79xx's, have the
ability to use vlan trunking.  In this wise, you're really not competing
except for wire-speed, or around 200 Mbps.  I know CAD is somewhat
intensive, but, really, do you believe that you're going to draw the full
100 Mbps each way all the time?

To me, the idea of a converged network, with only one set of jacks/wires to
maintain is well worth a few extra bucks to get power on each port.  With a
good VLAN setup, traffic contention will not be an issue either.

The moral of the story?  If you want to avoid having to design your network,
and prefer just to "let it happen", the you'd better stay away from VoIP.
If you're willing to do things right, the VoIP may be an option.