[Asterisk-Users] Grandstream Early Dial

[Holger Schurig]

> # Numbers starting 0 are PSTN calls
> exten => _0.,1,Macro(dial-pstn,${EXTEN})
>
> Now suppose I want to call 01234 567890. Asterisk will return 484 for
> "0". However, when the "1" is dialled, the extension matches, and a
> call will immediately be attempted to "01" (and fail), without me
> having had opportunity to dial the rest of the number.

It would be good if there would be some flag for the Dial() application 
that it re-routes additional digits until a connection is made or an 
error state is set. That would need some kind of "bridge" between 
channels, e.g. between chan_sip (which talks with the GS and sends the 
484's) and chan_capi (which talks with the PSTN network). This "bridge" 
would then decide if it should send 484 (more digits needed) or 200 (call 
ok).


I personally find it very nice to have early dial. I used quite a bunch of 
PBX systems here in Germany (Siemens, Alcatal, Bosch, Eurex) and they all 
have earlydial. People here are used to it, pressing a SEND button is 
artificial for them.

With those PBXses, when you lift up the receiver you hear an internal 
dialtone. Usually you press a 0 to get an outside line. If one is free, 
you get the external dialtone. And as you press digits, you eventually 
hear the ring tone, busy tone, info tone + message or whatever. Quite 
convenient.