Obi110 plus SPA8000 as Poormans Analog PBX
QBZappy:
stooba,
Here is the original thread discussing this topic.
99 Virtual extensions available via the OBi (possible since v 1.30)
http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=1734.msg11140#msg11140
stooba:
Yes, the SPA8000 has much the same functionality as other Cisco ATAs (PAP2T, SPA2102, SPA3102, WRTP54G, SPA8800). The way I have it set up right now, the analog extensions can call directly to each other very easily, but that is the end of it. At one point, I temporarily had the SPA8000 connected to a friend's Trixbox network in a nearby building and each extension was able to connect to the ip-phones on that network and also call out on the Trixbox device's FXO ports. That worked well, but I am not able to put a Trixbox setup in this other building at this time, so I need to figure out a new solution.
So I am trying to use a $200 SPA8000 and a $50 Obi110 to make what is basically an analog PBX with a load of features like:
- connection to up to 8 existing analog phone extensions (more by linking additional SPA8000 units)
- ability to send calls over PSTN, ITSP, GV, or ObiTalk networks
- ability to add a switch and some additional IP-phones
- very basic custom auto attendant to direct incoming calls to analog phones or IP-phones
- power failback to PSTN for a "House" line (plugged into PHONE port)
- and plenty more as I learn more about these flexible devices
I'm not sure if it's a practical solution for other installations, but it will fit my needs quite well. Will eventually post all of this as a step-by-step procress just in case it helps anyone. I'm not afraid to do a bit of work or wander off into uncharted territory...I don't know a lot about these devices yet, but I'm a quick learner and don't give up quickly. Besides, it seems like this forum has some really good moderators and contributors that will help.
Thanks for the link QBZappy. Looks like that discussion will step me through the creation of my custom auto attendant. Then, as RonR described, I can create "speed dials" for the Obi which point to the extensions in the SPA8000. That end of things should be pretty straight forward now.
The next bit of info that I'll need to research for my project is how to setup the Obi110 to "accept" a SIP session from one of my IP-phones and direct it to one of the 4 outgoing networks. I'm starting with my IP-phones because I think that should be the most straightforward configuration (and well discussed in forums like this). Once they are working, the SPA8000 should be easy to set up because I think that it makes each analog extension work just like an IP-phone.
I'd like create a dialplan that uses the typical hotel that lets users make room-to-room calls just by dialing the room number (phone-SPA8000-phone). It could also let them make local, toll-free, or calling card calls via the PSTN line by pressing '9' (phone-SPA8000-Obi110-PSTN). Similarly, they can press '8' before making long distance calls, but I think I will just block them for now until I get an ITSP set up (phone-SPA8000-Obi110-ITSP or PSTN). Without a PBX, I don't think I can do easily call-accounting to charge the long distance calls back to the room, so I'll need an ITSP to make the calls are as inexpensive as possible. Then again, as I become more knowledgeable about the Obi110, I might find an easy way to create call detail reports. Or maybe I can set up the Obi110 to require a PIN number in order to make a long distance call so that I can charge users a flat fee for a PIN number to recoup my expenses.
Stewart - Thanks for bringing up a very interesting alternative. I don't think it will work out in the extremely rural location where this building is located - local numbers are definitely not available out there. But this idea seems very feasible for another small office that we have in an urban center. No one at that office has any tech abilities, so I really like the idea of using a VOIP service instead of setting up a PBX. I will have to look into that idea further once I get this building up and running.
RonR:
Quote from: stooba on April 02, 2012, 09:46:56 am
The next bit of info that I'll need to research for my project is how to setup the Obi110 to "accept" a SIP session from one of my IP-phones and direct it to one of the 4 outgoing networks. I'm starting with my IP-phones because I think that should be the most straightforward configuration (and well discussed in forums like this). Once they are working, the SPA8000 should be easy to set up because I think that it makes each analog extension work just like an IP-phone.
Starting with a single IP-phone is an excellent approach. The information you'll need to implement this is already described in Single-Stage Dialing Through Any OBi Trunk Using SIP. Don't worry about the dialing format not being what you ultimately want as this can easily be changed once proof-of-concept is accomplished. I would recommend starting out with a free Google Voice account on SP1 and a dummy SIP account on SP2.
Quote from: stooba on April 02, 2012, 09:46:56 am
I'd like create a dialplan that uses the typical hotel that lets users make room-to-room calls just by dialing the room number (phone-SPA8000-phone). It could also let them make local, toll-free, or calling card calls via the PSTN line by pressing '9' (phone-SPA8000-Obi110-PSTN). Similarly, they can press '8' before making long distance calls, but I think I will just block them for now until I get an ITSP set up (phone-SPA8000-Obi110-ITSP or PSTN). Without a PBX, I don't think I can do easily call-accounting to charge the long distance calls back to the room, so I'll need an ITSP to make the calls are as inexpensive as possible. Then again, as I become more knowledgeable about the Obi110, I might find an easy way to create call detail reports. Or maybe I can set up the Obi110 to require a PIN number in order to make a long distance call so that I can charge users a flat fee for a PIN number to recoup my expenses.
Call routing in the OBi should not be a problem. Call History from the OBi can be exported to an XML file, which might lend itself to being processed for billing purposes.
One thing to keep in mind is that an OBi is limited to four simultaneous calls (inbound and/or outbound).
Ostracus:
A plug computer could run Tribox. You have two of the prerequisites, power and Ethernet.
stooba:
Thanks for the link, RonR. That should be a big help in getting an IP-phone working.
I'd love to set up a Google Voice account, but since I'm from Canada that's not as easy as it should be. I've heard rumors of work-arounds that might let me get an account, so I'll have to look into that more closely. Maybe QBZappy, who appears to be a fellow Canuck, has some experience with this?
In the mean time, my main concern is to get the IPPhone-Obi110-PSTN connection working in & out. Then I will want to extend this to my SPA8000 setup so that I can get the AnalogPhone-SPA800-Obi110-PSTN connecttion working in & out. Thirdly, I'll expand my dialplan to tap into the internet...once I get a GV or ITSP account.
Actually, I thought the Obi was limited to two simultaneous calls, so the fact that it will do four makes it even better for this application. XML dumps of the Call History is just another great feature. These Obi's continue to amaze me.
Ostracus - Those PBXPlugs are great devices, but it looks like the cheapest I can get them to Canada is $250. That means I can get an ATOM-based netbook for not much more. Still the plugs would be a really cool way to make a PBX system very portable and maintenance-free. Hopefully the price comes down.
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