[Asterisk-Users] Help for Newbie?

[sjudkins at christyind.com]

Hello all. I am new to the list and after doing some research
on "Asterisk" this week I would like to get started testing.

I am a 15 year "Unix" veteran and "Open Source User". I was
wondering what you guys would suggest I use to start testing
with regards to the Telephone Interface?

I am the IT Manager for a firm that is moving next year. I have
decided to go with VoIP for our new Phone System. After
discovering Asterisk last week, I have decided to "test" it and
get some practical experience using the software.

I currently have an unused ISDN (BRI) line that I was thinking
about cancelling until I learned of Asterisk. I thought about
buying one of the BRI PCI cards (listed on the Digium website)
to use in a test server. Although, I see that they can be rather
expensive for something that I most likely will have to just
"throw away" when we move (I assume we will have a T1 or
fractional T1 in the new building.). My question is, "What would
you guys recommend I use to get started testing/looking at this
software?" I only see these two ("affordable") options for testing:

Buy ISDN BRI interface board, use to test and then "throw it away".
  (This would give me two lines to test with, which would be nice.)
Buy an analog board and use a dedicated line.
  (I think we only have one incoming line that I could use for testing.
   OR, could I use the two POTS ports from our ISDN router and
   in effect just use the two ISDN data lines as POTS lines?)


Thanks to all!
Shayne
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