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Monthly or annually *autopay* E911 service to use with Obi200?

Started by Rick441, November 15, 2017, 12:48:34 AM

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SteveInWA

Quote from: Rick441 on November 15, 2017, 05:01:51 PM
Thanks, I finally got it to work.

It's confusing to set up because when Obitalk asks for the "Callcentric Number," it sounds like they are asking for my Callcentric phone number rather than an extension id-- which is further compounded by the fact the 1777xxxxxxx looks like an eleven digit phone number. 

The form looks pretty self-explanatory to me.  Oh well, glad you figured it out.

Rick441

Made me a little uncomfortable that I had to try three times before Google would ring my phone using the free CallCentric number (so that I could add it as a forwarding number).

Is it normal for there to be about a 10-12 second delay after dialing 933 (to test 911) before it responds?  Also, why is it that the phone number read back to me by 933 is not my Callcentric number (though I tested it from my cell and it did ring the Obi-attached phone)?

A few more questions:

If I choose to, can I still use GV for inbound calls, while having Callcentric continue to function for E911? (I do note that the 933 test worked even when I temporarily disabled GV forwarding to the free Callcentric, suggesting the answer is "yes," but thought I would still ask).

Finally, is/could any latency be added by using the CallCentric number, forwarded to GV, for incoming calls?  I already notice a bot of latency using GV (exclusively) through the Obi200, though in practical terms it seems to have negligible impact on calls.

Thanks.

SteveInWA

Most of those questions has already been discussed in other threads.

Don't make anything out of the attempts to add the CC number.  It has nothing to do with normal use.

Same answer to the 933 question.  I have actually had a real emergency, called 911, and they answered immediately, using CC's service.

The question about using GV vs. CC is just basic OBi configuration settings.  If you use the portal and click the box to use the CC SPx for 911 calls, that is what it will do.

There is a negligible latency added.  If it bothers you, then don't use CC for inbound calls.  It isn't necessary to do that in order for 911 service to work.

The phone number displayed to the 911 operator is different, on purpose.  It's designed that way, because the service can be used without having a real inbound telephone number from CC.  The system assigns a phone number to display to the 911 operator, so they can call you back in case the call gets disconnected.  It will automatically route to your OBi.

GPz1100

Quote from: Rick441 on November 15, 2017, 04:06:11 PM
But if I were having these problems, wouldn't it be affecting any calls to the obi?  It's working fine with Google Voice, in and out (although maybe that does not use sip traffic?).

GV uses xmpp, callcentric is sip.  Two different protocols.

Garbage in, garbage out. Top picture is from obi port, buttom from callcentric extensions page.





Callcentric properly identifies the fields.  Obi form leaves one very confused.  Someone that deals with sip on a regular bases knows exactly what goes where. The lay person on the other hand makes certain assumptions based on the information in front of them.  

Does obi mean the callcentric account login, DID, or sip usename for the callcentric number field.  Same for password.  Way too much ambiguity. Frankly, unless you're using the obi box for gv, forget about the obitalk portal entirely and set the service up manually through the local admin console.  You'll learn much more and be less confused at the end.

Rick441

Yes, GPz1100, exactly!  Thanks for your help, including answering my original question about CallCentric billing.  And of course thanks to SteveInWa for providing so much useful information, and to everyone else who helped.


Rick441

Quote from: SteveInWA on November 15, 2017, 05:44:29 PM
The phone number displayed to the 911 operator is different, on purpose.  It's designed that way, because the service can be used without having a real inbound telephone number from CC.  The system assigns a phone number to display to the 911 operator, so they can call you back in case the call gets disconnected.  It will automatically route to your OBi.

My test cellphone call to the number read back to me by Callcentric 933 does indeed ring the Obi-connected phone.  While that's all that really matters (since it indicates a 911 dispatcher could call back) I'm surprised that call doesn't show on my Google Voice log (or on Callcentric's)?   Any idea why? I am currently using GV for incoming calls, and using my Callcentric "Free" NY number solely for the E911 that comes with it.

SteveInWA

Quote from: Rick441 on November 17, 2017, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: SteveInWA on November 15, 2017, 05:44:29 PM
The phone number displayed to the 911 operator is different, on purpose.  It's designed that way, because the service can be used without having a real inbound telephone number from CC.  The system assigns a phone number to display to the 911 operator, so they can call you back in case the call gets disconnected.  It will automatically route to your OBi.

My test cellphone call to the number read back to me by Callcentric 933 does indeed ring the Obi-connected phone.  While that's all that really matters (since it indicates a 911 dispatcher could call back) I'm surprised that call doesn't show on my Google Voice log (or on Callcentric's)?   Any idea why? I am currently using GV for incoming calls, and using my Callcentric "Free" NY number solely for the E911 that comes with it.

When you make an outbound 911/933 call, it is using Callcentric, not Google Voice.  When you call the substitute 631 area code number, it is again coming into your Callcentric SPx, not Google Voice.  You can see the two calls in your Callcentric call logs.  The second, inbound call to CC will only show the calling number, not the number that was called, since it's not actually calling a real phone number, but a special number assigned by CC to ring the SP that was set up to make 911 calls.

Remember:  Google Voice cannot make 911 calls.  If you attempted to do so, you'd just get an error message.

Rick441

Thanks for the explanation.  BTW, while I do indeed see both calls when I look at the detailed Callcentric log, the second one, from my cell to the special 911-callback number, *does* show the full 11-digit number dialed (an 845 area code in my case).

DougK

Back to the original question  ;D ......
I just choose the pay-per-call plan with callcentric.  I only had to start with $5 to fund the pay-per-call.  I had to pay $1.50 first month e911 + $1.50 setup fee + $5 initial funding = $8.  Now I only need to pay $1.50 per month.  The $5 will never ever be depleted since out-going calls will be via google.  I wasn't charged for the 933 test call.  If you go this route, just make sure that your cc account has "automatic funding" turned off.  In ~11 months, I will have recouped the $5 by saving $.45/month vs the $1.95 north america basic plan.
We're only talking about $5 here......  not a big deal either way.

Rick441

The timing of your reply -- more than three months after the last reply to this thread -- was quite coincidental, given that just yesterday I got an email from Callcentric telling me that they were cancelling my free phone number  -- and thus, presumably, my E-911.

Specifics:  I had gone the route suggested by many here and signed up for a free (for inbound only) NY state number -- area code 914 in my case -- to get the E-911 that comes with it for $1.50 setup fee + $1.50/month.  And it was billed monthly to a credit card, no problems. 

The catch I had been unaware of, until the email they sent yesterday, is that their terms have a clause that you will lose the free number if you don't receive at least one inbound call (of at least 1 minute) every three months.  My bad for not reading the terms -- at least the section for free numbers -- though it's odd that requirement wasn't mentioned in any of the posts that I came across here, even the most recent one.

So I went into my CC account, requested another number in area code 914, and it gave me the old number back.  I didn't have to make any changes to my setup, and 933 still shows E-911 as active (I will keep monitoring for awhile).  I have created a reminder to myself to call the NY number from another phone every two months (two to be on the safe side) to keep everything active.

I got another $1.50 E-911 charge to my CC today.  (No $1.50 "new" setup fee, though maybe that's forthcoming?)

So It sounds as if your approach may be have been the better way to go. but at this point I'll probably stick with what I've got for my current installation, instead of paying another $5-$8.  However I'll soon be setting up another Obi200+GV for another location, so I'll probably do what you suggested with that one, especially since I do not have GV forward incoming calls to the CC number (I don't care about CNAM, and in addition forwarding to CC seems to add more latency).

So thanks for the tip!  Though I do have to say I'm confused by your comment, "I will have recouped the $5 by saving $.45/month vs the $1.95 north america basic plan."  I thought Pay-As-You-Go was free other than the 911 $1.50 setup and $1.50 monthly fee, so I don't understand your comparison.  Are you using Google Voice?  And the Obi200?

EDIT:  Meant to point out that (1) The email that said my free number had been discontinued didn't mention 911 at all, and (2) I called 933 immediately after reading the email, and 911 was still active even then.  I wonder how long that would have lasted had I not added back the free number??  Also, have made a number of other minor edits/additions since original posting.

SteveInWA

You are making this more complex than it actually is.

You do not need a real phone number from Callcentric to use their 911 service, as I pointed out already.  It is the major reason why they assign pseudo-phone numbers for 911 calls.  You can set up a CC account, with just the 1-777-xxx-xxxx account number, and then provision that on the OBi, as a SPx.   You are registering your OBi with your Callcentric account on their SIP server, using your 1777 number and SIP password as your credentials.

I also already addressed your other concerns.  Here is what I said:

Quote
There is a negligible latency added.  If it bothers you, then don't use CC for inbound calls.  It isn't necessary to do that in order for 911 service to work.

The phone number displayed to the 911 operator is different, on purpose.  It's designed that way, because the service can be used without having a real inbound telephone number from CC.  The system assigns a phone number to display to the 911 operator, so they can call you back in case the call gets disconnected.  It will automatically route to your OBi.

My comments about the monthly cost are based on the assumption that a user would actually be using Callcentric for some outbound calling, as paid CC customers do.  In that scenario:

  • You can just use their per-minute rates, plus the $1.50/month E911 fee, or
  • You can sign up for their "North America Basic" plan, for $1.95/month, which includes 120 minutes of outbound calling, and get E911 included in that $1.95/month.

The second option is 45 cents per month more than the first option.  In either case, if you want those outbound calls to display your own caller ID number, then you also need to sign up for inbound calling, select an inbound number, and pay the separate $1.95/month fee for that number.

Rick441

Thanks for the clarifications and reminders SteveInWa.  I see what you mean about how I was making it much more complex than it really is.  Unless I decide I might want to use some Callcentric services/capabilities beyond E-911, or think of some other reason I'd like to keep the free number, I'll just let the free number expire in three months and keep solely the $1.50/month E-911.

BTW, awhile after posting I did recall that the North America Basic Plan DougK referenced includes E-911.

SteveInWA

How you could not figure out the meaning of "Callcentric account number" is beyond me.  I got Obihai to specifically clarify these two fields for that very reason.

Rick441

Quote from: SteveInWA on February 27, 2018, 09:30:26 PM
How you could not figure out the meaning of "Callcentric account number" is beyond me.  I got Obihai to specifically clarify these two fields for that very reason.

What the heck are you talking about?  Just because I had the mis-impression that a free phone number or some other plan (other than IP Freedom) was required for continued CC E-911, why would that mean I was still confusing the free phone number with the account number, aka the Callcentric number?   It wouldn't and I wasn't.  That part of the discussion was over back in November, old news.  Or maybe you were responding to some since-removed post from today rather than mine?

OK, that aside, it's nice that you got Obihai to make that helpful clarification to the nomenclature at some point since November.