[Asterisk-Users] Line death not recognized on TDM400P?

[matt.riddell at sineapps.com]

On 2 Sep 2004 at 6:32, Rich Adamson wrote:

> > > > A customer of mine has 3 TDM400P cards in a box running
> > > > asterisk. On each card he has four FXO modules.  
> > > > 
> > > > I have set up the dialplan to dial via group 1 for an outgoing
> > > > call.
> > > > 
> > > > Channels 1-12 are in group 1.
> > > > 
> > > > If he plugs a telephone cable into socket 2 or 3 etc, but not 1,
> > > > when he dials out, it still tries to make the call via socket 1.
> > > > 
> > > > Straight away the console says that it has dialed the number via
> > > > g1 and that it is connecting sip/bla with zap/1-1 (or some
> > > > such)...
> > > > 
> > > > On my X100P I get a red alarm if the phone cable is not plugged
> > > > in. Is there any way to do this with the TDM400P?
> > > > 
> > > > They would like to be able to unplug lines and use them for
> > > > other purposes at times.
> > > > 
> > > > Make sense?
> > > > 
> > > > I kinda thought that asterisk would realise that nothing was
> > > > connected to the TDM card and try the second socket, the third
> > > > etc...
> > > 
> > > It makes sense, but the code to detect unused rj11's is not in *
> > > now.
> > > 
> > > In fact, you'll find that unplugging and replugging the rj11's
> > > will cause * to fail after a while. (At least that was the case
> > > about a month ago and there really haven't been any changes to the
> > > fxo software for some time.)
> > > 
> > > There are no alarms or other indicators available that would
> > > suggest a port has failed or is unavailable.
> > > 
> > So basically if there is a problem with line 1 out of 12, no calls
> > are going to get through...surely this isn't expected behaviour.
> > 
> > Is there any way to fix this (I'm the New Zealand distributor of
> > Digium products and if this is the case, they will be returning to
> > their propreity pabx)?
> > 
> > Should I open a bugnote?
> > 
> > I spoke to a few people on IRC last night who confirmed that this is
> > the case.  It seems crazy.  If I send a fax using a fax machine it
> > works, if I dial a number with a modem it works (even a $5 modem) so
> > why can't it work in asterisk?  It used to work on the X100P's...
> > 
> > I just want the card not to dial if there is no dialtone...
> 
> The only response that seems to have any real logic in it is this...
> 
> - The TDM card seems to have the hardware facilities (eg, chipsets) on
>   it to do substantially more then what it is today
> - There are very few * developers that truly understand the low level
>   pstn interface requirements necessary to code additional
>   functionality into the TDM drivers
> - Mark is one of the few that can translate pstn interface
> requirements
>   into real code, and his time seems to be distributed across a lot of
>   different areas (not sure when he gets to sleep)
> - the overall design of the TDM card relies on the host system
> processor 
>   to interpret dtmf tones (from digital pcm data flows), etc.
>   Therefore adding functionality to the drivers is a delicate balance
>   between the function and burning host cycles that might be
>   disruptive to other * components
> - detecting dial tone before dialing would seem to be trevial (I can
>   easily say that as a non programmer), but someone needs to add the
>   code to do it reliably
> - the chip set in use already has provisions to detect CO battery,
> line
>   off hook (presumably from a bridged analog phone), battery reversal
>   (supervision), etc, but someone needs to add the code to use it.
> 
> Best guess is time constraints are having "the" biggest impact. The
> unwritten default condition for * development is that if a feature or
> bug fix is expected/required, there is a high probability it won't be
> addressed unless a bug report is generated, or, one of the developers
> has the same problem; sort of the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
> 
> It's my belief (right, wrong or indifferent) that digium is missing
> out on a major revenue stream due to a lack of understanding
> "marketing" and the prioritization of certain development functions
> (like the above) required to sustain/grow sales. If digium is going to
> rely on the sales of these cards to grow/support *, then something is
> going to have to change since user experience/opinion for those
> products is heading in a downward direction (not upward).
> 
> I'm certainly not ragging on anyone, just stating an opinion FWIW.
> 
> Rich

How's this for service!!!!


===============================================
09-02-04 14:00  ZX81  New Bug   
09-02-04 15:04  markster  Bugnote Added: 0013839   
09-02-04 15:04  markster  Assigned To   => markster  
09-02-04 15:04  markster  Resolution  open => fixed  
09-02-04 15:04  markster  Status  new => resolved  
===============================================

And:

===============================================
Update of /usr/cvsroot/asterisk/channels
In directory mongoose.digium.com:/tmp/cvs-serv14053/channels

Modified Files:
 chan_zap.c 
Log Message:
Don't use FXO's with no battery (bug #2359)
===============================================

Amazing!  That's great!  My customer will be really happy!

Mark thanks for this.

Cheers,

Matt Riddell