[asterisk-users] Sipura SPA-3000 vs Sangoma A200

[Dana Harding]

Stephen,

In my experience setting up an office PBX,  I started with several 
SPA-3000's and eventually decided to go with an A200d.

There were two reasons for changing to the A200:
1.  Hardware echo canceller.  Despite all the configuration settings I 
tried, there was always a faint echo with the SPA-3000 that the users kept 
mentioning.    The A200's echo canceller killed the echo in conversations - 
saving both the user's and my sanity.   The only echo now is when people are 
using speakerphones with the speaker volume cranked up (SNOM 320's).

2.  I had several instances with the SPA-3000s where they dropped calls or 
bridged two local people into the same PSTN line.
This could have partially been the way I was trying to use it -   relying on 
the 3000 to reject a request for an outgoing call before trying the next 
one. Any erratic behaviour seemed to coincide with it re-registering to the 
asterisk server.  I was able to reproduce dropped calls on 4 different units 
with different FW versions by setting the register time to 1s, and hammering 
it with multiple outgoing calls.   Since I went with the A200,  I didn't 
follow this up or investigate further.

It seems that YMMV with the SPA-3000 - my opinion is that they work great 
for home use,   but I wouldn't use them for a business application.

Most fax transmissions worked well for both of them when going directly from 
the FXO to the FXS ports,  but not 100%.   We eventually plugged the fax 
directly into it's own dedicated line - taking the fax line out of the phone 
system.

Configuration of the 3000's looks daunting at first, but isn't too bad after 
you've done it a couple times.   I had some issues getting the echo 
canceller on the A200 working when it was first installed,  but after I got 
it working (their tech support responded quickly)  I re-installed the entire 
system twice from scratch and couldn't reproduce the issue.

I don't know the power consumption of the A200.

If you are sizing up equipment, I wouldn't rule out the digium cards.   I 
did some limited testing with a Digium TDM 400P -   I don't recall any 
issues.    I think you need to go to a TDM2400P to get the HWEC.

Perhaps a SBC with a PCI Slot would suit your purpose if you decide to go 
with an internal card?


Regards,
Dana Harding

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen G" <sgreszcz at yahoo.com>
To: <asterisk-users at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 7:20 AM
Subject: [asterisk-users] Sipura SPA-3000 vs Sangoma A200


> Hi there,
>
> I'm looking to set up a home-office PBX/Asterisk lab using a VIA EPIA 
> motherboard as an always on, low powered solution.
>
> I am trying to find out the differences between a solution using an 
> external ATA (like the Sipura SPA-3000) or an internal PCI card (like the 
> Sangoma A200 with 2 FXO 2 FXS ports).
>
> Can someone tell me what the major functionality and limitations are when 
> using the two devices with Asterisk?  I am looking for things like 
> configuration, power draw, sending faxes, etc.
>
> So far I have these:
>
> Sipura SPA-3000
> -------------------------
> External - can be located remotely from Asterisk server, can be used with 
> an embedded solution (NSLU2) or a server with no PCI slot (smaller 
> footprint and lower power draw).  The problem with this is that there are 
> more power blocks/adaptors needed.  Draws about 5W (according to the 
> statistics).
> Ports - 1xFXO and 1xFXS
> Cost - 80 UK pounds
> Features not in Sangoma A200:
>
> Sangoma A200 (A20101)
> ------------------------------------
>
> Internal PCI - half or full hight.
> Ports - 2xFXO and 2xFXO, power consumption ???
> cost: 200 UK pounds
> Features not in Sipura SPA-3000:
>
> Thanks in advance!
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