[asterisk-users] Outside lines are just not happening...

[Stephen Bosch]

J. David Bavousett wrote:
> Problem A:  Dialing in.  If I call from my cell, the FXO picks right up,
> and sends me to the voice menu that I have at the top of the [external]
> context.  So far so good, but if the SIP that I get in touch with hangs
> up, the FXO stays off-hook for more than a minute before dropping the
> POTS line.  If I pick that SIP phone back up, and dial an outside
> number, I can reconnect to the "dangling" call, which will hear the
> tones after the 9...  The outside caller will finally get dropped after
> about a minute of waiting.

You need to tell the telco to change the disconnect supervision or CPC
(Calling Party Control) parameters for your switch.

This can be tricky if your number is a residential number, depending on
the telco. If it's a business line, *demand* that they be changed. There
are still lots of people using key systems with analog lines, and they
need the same kind of disconnect supervision.

Here's what I do: I call the telco repair number and I open a trouble
ticket. I say I am having trouble with my equipment because of an
improper setting on the telco side; then I say that I need the
disconnect interval on calling party disconnect set to 5 seconds, and I
ask that the battery drop be extended to 500 ms (just to be safe). Once
those changes are made, it works really very well.

If you get dumbfounded responses ask to speak to someone in the
programming group (unless they are a tiny little phone company, they
will have one). If you open a ticket, it usually means they will
escalate the problem, even if the agent you are speaking with has no
idea what you are talking about. Best to be friendly with them!

98% of modern switches can do this (otherwise, how would it even know to
disconnect after one whole minute? It has to have some way of knowing
that the remote port has dropped; on most switches, 65 seconds is the
default; it's just a matter of changing that interval for your port) and
your biggest challenge will be finding someone who has a clue, but if
you do it right, it's not a big deal.

-Stephen-