[asterisk-users] G.729 Codec problem.

[Jeff Brower]

Jim-

> We have been experimenting with how many licenses are needed
> when making calls, recording calls and using chanspy to
> listen in on calls when G729 is involved. I can tell you that
> way more licenses are needed then I had understood
> previously. We are making calls via AMI originate and both
> legs of the calls are controlled by extensions in a dial
> plan. The outbound leg computes a few things then does a dial
> to a sip provider that does G729. The other leg is an
> extension that queues the call to be passed off to an agent
> that has logged in from a G729 SIP phone. When the call is
> setup we use 1 encoder and 1 decoder.

At this point I'm confused.  It seems like both ends of the call are G729 at this stage.  If so, and you're in
pass-thru mode, then no encoders and decoders should be in use.

> If we start recording
> with a monitor AMI action this jumps to 3 encoders and 7
> decoders. If we then use a G729 SIP phone to call an
> extension that allows the caller to use chanspy to listen
> in this goes up to 4 encoders and 7 decoders. If we stop
> recording but keep listening in this goes down to 4 encoders
> and 5 decoders.
>
> The value of transcode_via_sln in asterisk.conf does not
> seem to effect the number of licenses used.
> ;transcode_via_sln = yes ; Build transcode paths via
> SLINEAR, instead of directly
>
> I would think that once the agent gets bridged to the called
> leg there would be no need for any licenses as both the
> SIP phone and SIP provider are using G729.

Agree... it seems like a good idea to get that working first.  No licenses should be needed, maybe there is a config
or setup issue.

> I sort of understand why maybe 2 encoders and 2 decoders
> would be needed if one was recording the call to a non G729
> file. You would need to decode each leg of the call, do the
> recording, and encode each leg of the call. I have no idea
> why 3 encoders and more important 7 decoders are needed.

I know very little about what Asterisk offers in the way of real-time monitoring features.  But I can say that the
moment you want to monitor in real-time, some type of conferencing or mixing must be performed and so both ends of the
call must be decoded.  At minimum that would be 2 encoders and 2 decoders, but that's assuming the monitor leg can be
set to "listen only" -- not sure if that's possible.

-Jeff

> On Apr 8, 2010, at 6:24 AM, Arun Sasidhar wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>>    I just purchased an additional license from Digium but the problem is still there.
>>
>> The output g729 show licenses command  when not in a call
>>
>> #g729 show licenses
>> 0/0 encoders/decoders of 2 licensed channels are currently in use
>>
>> The output g729 show licenses command when there is a outgoing call.
>>
>> #g729 show licenses
>> 1/2 encoders/decoders of 2 licensed channels are currently in use
>>
>>
>>
>> The Asterisk log showing this while on a call:
>>
>> /var/log/asterisk/full
>> [Apr  8 18:12:30] WARNING[5742] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>> [Apr  8 18:12:30] WARNING[5742] codec_g729a.c: out of G.729 decoder licenses
>>
>>
>> Please Help me..
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Arun s.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 24, 2010 at 1:48 AM, Arun Sasidhar <arun.sasidhar at cabotsolutions.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>>     I purchased a  G.729 1 channel codec license from digium. And installed as per the documentation. Then
>> configured the sip.conf to use the new codec. For that, I am added the following entries in sip.conf (via web
>> interface, as i am using asterisknow 1.5)
>>
>> disallow=all
>> allow=g729
>> allow=ulaw
>> allow=alaw
>> allow=gsm
>>
>> After that, when try to call through the PSTN line I can hear the voice of called party, but he can't hear me. And
>> also we have sip trunks from callcentric.com, but it is functioning as normal. Also the sip to sip local extension
>> calls works fine.
>>
>> When I make a call through PSTN, the Asterisk log showing the following error:
>>
>> r 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: No translator path from alaw to unknown
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] codec_g729a.c: out of G.729 decoder licenses
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: No translator path from alaw to unknown
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] codec_g729a.c: out of G.729 decoder licenses
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: No translator path from alaw to unknown
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] codec_g729a.c: out of G.729 decoder licenses
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: No translator path from alaw to unknown
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] codec_g729a.c: out of G.729 decoder licenses
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: No translator path from alaw to unknown
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] codec_g729a.c: out of G.729 decoder licenses
>> [Mar 24 13:59:27] WARNING[18090] translate.c: g729tolin did not update samples 0
>>
>> Please suggest a solution. Do we need additional licence?
>>
>>
>> Thanking you in anticipation,
>>
>> Arun Sasidhar