[asterisk-users] small homebrew pbx

[Kevin Larsen]

> I don't know this 'translates' to Italy, but this is what I would advise 

> somebody in the US to consider, assuming you have a reliable Internet 
> connection.
> 
> 0) I hope you mean you want to run Asterisk at home instead of 'Asterisk 

> at Home.' A at H was an ancient distribution from around 2005.
> 
> 1) Rent a DID (a 'PSTN number') from a reputable SIP provider. This 
> eliminates the need for a PCI/USB interface and you won't disrupt your 
> 'business' while you figure out how to configure and test your Asterisk 
> server.
> 
> In the US, you can rent a DID for about $1.50 per month and about a 
$0.01 
> per minute of 'talk time.' For 10 calls per day, this should beat the 
hell 
> out of a 'landline' monthly standing fee.
> 
> In the US, it costs less than $20.00 to 'port' your existing number if 
you 
> are really in love with it.
> 
> 2) Ditch the 'room warmer' and find something really small and cheap to 
> run. I live in San Diego and we pay $0.32 per kWh. I'd guess running 
your 
> rig would cost me $50.00 to $100.00 per month just in electricity -- and 

> probably that much again in the summer for additional Air Conditioning.
> 
> Take a look at Soekris net4801. It's pretty old (but very reliable) and 
> it's CPU will limit you on what OS you can run, but it will give you an 
> idea of how small (and cheap to power) an 'Asterisk server' capable of 
> handling a couple of simultaneous calls can be.
> 
> For a more modern server, look for something small and cheap based on 
> something like an Atom processor. Maybe a used laptop. If the battery is 

> still good, you've solved your UPS problem as well. Although, if you 
lose 
> power, you've probably lost your Internet connection as well so you 
could 
> only make calls between extensions.
> 
> 3) For the IP phones, check out ebay.com. Last year, I picked up 3 
Polycom 
> SP 501's for $20.00 each. A little dated, but a great phone.

I gotta agree with most all of this. Asterisk has been shown to run on a 
Raspberry Pi and the Raspberry Pi 2 and will handle a few simultaneous 
calls. Another resource is http://www.plugpbx.org/

For home use, I would think either would be a good low power way to run 
Asterisk. Unless you just really need the land line, ditch the analog line 
and go voip from start to finish.
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