[Asterisk-Users] Asterisk + WiFi Phones

[Cory Andrews]

I concur with Michael, the current crop of WIFI phones on the market do 
have their individual quirks, and you will likely encounter issues using 
consumer grade access points.  If you have some money to throw at this, 
and want a real slick, industrial grade solution that will integrate 
with SIP, I would recommend you check out the Durafon 1X or Durafon 4X 
from Engenius.  We have seen these implemented and SIP enabled using 
your garden variety ATA or FXS gateway.  These are not WIFI phones, they 
use conventional Digital spread spectrum with frequency hopping, and 
have a very cool, full duplex 2 way radio function as well.  The 
handsets are bulletproof as well, very rugged and well designed.

These were designed for relatively "extreme" environments, and they work 
very well, but are not inexpensive.

Cory J Andrews
Partner / Purchasing
+++++++++++++++
VOIPSupply.com - Everything you need for VOIP
454 Sonwil Drive
Buffalo, NY 14225
+++++++++++++++
tf voice - 800-398-VOIP X22
l voice - 716.630.1555 X22
f - 716.630.1548
e - Cory at VOIPSupply.com
AIM - b2Cory



Michael Graves wrote:
> On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 15:33:49 -0600, David Tillman wrote:
>
>   
>> This is only slightly related to Asterisk (in that we are using
>> Asterisk as our PBX),
>> so feel free to contact me off-list.
>>
>> I need to hear from someone who has practical experience using the combo of
>> Asterisk, WiFi, and WiFi VOIP phones like the Hitachi-Cable IPC-5000.
>>
>> In particular, I need to know if scattering consumer grade access
>> points (Linksys,
>> D-Link) throughout a warehouse is going to be satisfactory, or if we
>> should use some
>> kind of mesh access point from Orinoco or Strix. (In hopes of a better handoff.)
>>     
>
> I tried using the consumer access points (Linksys WAP-54G) and had not
> end of troubles. Firstly, they all have to have the same SSID or not
> hand-off at all. Secondly, I found that the WLAN bandwidth would
> occasionally just go away for a few seconds, which caused calls to
> simply go silent for 3-4 seconds unexpectedly. Never long enough to
> drop the call...but enough to force me to ask the other person to
> repeat themselves. Lastly, the volume level presented by the WIP-5000
> was never enough for my tastes.
>
> I found that the range around each access point was very limited. Bear
> in mind that consumer access points often don't put out the full
> allowable RF power. If you use third party firmware hacks to up the RF
> output you'll find that they start to through a lot of spurious
> interference as well. Not the best quality radios I guess.
>
> I eventually switched to using a Astra 480i CT desk phone with a couple
> of corless handsets. It's been great.
>
> Michael Graves
>
> --
> Michael Graves                           mgraves at pixelpower.com
> Sr. Product Specialist                          www.pixelpower.com
> Pixel Power Inc.                                 mgraves at mstvp.com
>
> o713-861-4005
> o800-905-6412
> c713-201-1262
> fwd 54245
>
>
>
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