Hi, I have an analogue telephone, Linksys SPA3102, RPi with latest rasPBX installed and an Internet connection. Is there an Idiot's Guide to setting up VOIP please? Do I need to go "Somewhere Else"?
1) What kind of provider do I get what kind of an account with?
2) How do I link my Linksys SPA3102 to my RPi?
3) Etc!
I live in Ireland, incidentally. I get Unix. I solder. I am an individual at home.
Nick the N00b.
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Hi, Nick. Do you have a landline, and if so, do you plan to keep it? I live in the USA so I can't tell you much about providers over there, but if you search on "SIP providers Ireland" you'll probably find a few. There's a list at http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/VOIP+Service+Providers+Residential#Ireland but it may be somewhat dated. If you don'r find anyone you like, or just want more suggestions or recommendations, you might try posting in the VoIP forum at BroadbandReports.com:
As for your SPA3102, it has a phone port and a line port. You configure the line port just as you would any other Linksys/Sipura device. You might find this page helpful, though it's both dated and somewhat U,S.-centered:
As for the phone port, which you'd only use if you are keeping your landline OR you obtain service from a VoIP provider that requires you to use their device, that's a bit more complicated, but most of what you need to know is here:
There are free e-books that show you how to configure FreePBX, but all the ones I know about are distribution-specific and probably somewhat out of date, although FreePBX really hasn't changed all that much if you realize that things that used to be in the menu at the left hand side of the screen are now accessed from the tabs near the top of the page. An example is:
The above e-book was for Elastix, but if you ignore the Elastix-specific parts and concentrate on the parts that deal with FreePBX configuration, especially basic things like Extensions, Inbound and Outbound Routes, and Trunks, those things don't change that much. There are also books you can purchase but some of them are just as dated and most don't tell you anything you can't learn for free.
If you're just starting out with this stuff it can feel a bit overwhelming, but stick with it and you'll figure it out. The fact that you "get Unix" will help some, but most of the configuration you'll be doing is from the FreePBX web interface, and that's relatively easy once you get the hang of it.
I would suggest getting extension-to-extension calling working first (you can use a software phone program as a second extension), then worry about trying to interface with an outside provider. When you are ready to go shopping for a provider, remember to look for one that allows you to connect directly from Asterisk/FreePBX, and that does not force you to use an adapter they provide, if you want best sound quality.
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I have set up a raspberrypi with raspbx and two polycom phones here in the us.
However I started out with a pc and a softphone a few years ago and only used it for outgoing longdistance calls. I would start there first and make sure you are satisfied with the voip service.
The same voip service provider needs to offer did numbers in your area code, otherwise callers in your area code will be dialing a long distance number to contact you.
I am using voip.ms and they have a feature called subaccounts which allows you to have multiple pbx like devices at the same time. This allowed me to use my obi202 to send/receive calls while testing and setting up my raspbx system.
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Thanks guys, that gives me some things to think about and stuff to try. I'll have a bash this weekend and see what I can do. I want to be able to make VOIP calls from a standard telephone connected to the Linksys SPA3102 as a first goal and then progress from there. I do have a landline but it is awfully expensive to use unfortunately.
CHeers!
Nick
Dublin
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hi, I have an analogue telephone, Linksys SPA3102, RPi with latest rasPBX installed and an Internet connection. Is there an Idiot's Guide to setting up VOIP please? Do I need to go "Somewhere Else"?
1) What kind of provider do I get what kind of an account with?
2) How do I link my Linksys SPA3102 to my RPi?
3) Etc!
I live in Ireland, incidentally. I get Unix. I solder. I am an individual at home.
Nick the N00b.
Hi, Nick. Do you have a landline, and if so, do you plan to keep it? I live in the USA so I can't tell you much about providers over there, but if you search on "SIP providers Ireland" you'll probably find a few. There's a list at http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/VOIP+Service+Providers+Residential#Ireland but it may be somewhat dated. If you don'r find anyone you like, or just want more suggestions or recommendations, you might try posting in the VoIP forum at BroadbandReports.com:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/voip
As for your SPA3102, it has a phone port and a line port. You configure the line port just as you would any other Linksys/Sipura device. You might find this page helpful, though it's both dated and somewhat U,S.-centered:
http://www.freepbx.org/support/documentation/howtos/how-to-set-up-a-linksys-pap2-or-sipura-spa-2000-for-use-with-freepbx
As for the phone port, which you'd only use if you are keeping your landline OR you obtain service from a VoIP provider that requires you to use their device, that's a bit more complicated, but most of what you need to know is here:
http://www.freepbx.org/support/documentation/howtos/howto-linksys-spa-3102-sipura-spa-3000-freepbx
There are free e-books that show you how to configure FreePBX, but all the ones I know about are distribution-specific and probably somewhat out of date, although FreePBX really hasn't changed all that much if you realize that things that used to be in the menu at the left hand side of the screen are now accessed from the tabs near the top of the page. An example is:
http://sourceforge.net/project/downloading.php?group_id=161807&filename=elastix_without_tears_may_8_2009.pdf
The above e-book was for Elastix, but if you ignore the Elastix-specific parts and concentrate on the parts that deal with FreePBX configuration, especially basic things like Extensions, Inbound and Outbound Routes, and Trunks, those things don't change that much. There are also books you can purchase but some of them are just as dated and most don't tell you anything you can't learn for free.
If you're just starting out with this stuff it can feel a bit overwhelming, but stick with it and you'll figure it out. The fact that you "get Unix" will help some, but most of the configuration you'll be doing is from the FreePBX web interface, and that's relatively easy once you get the hang of it.
I would suggest getting extension-to-extension calling working first (you can use a software phone program as a second extension), then worry about trying to interface with an outside provider. When you are ready to go shopping for a provider, remember to look for one that allows you to connect directly from Asterisk/FreePBX, and that does not force you to use an adapter they provide, if you want best sound quality.
(Deleted: No longer relevant)
Last edit: VoIPuser 2013-07-29
I have set up a raspberrypi with raspbx and two polycom phones here in the us.
However I started out with a pc and a softphone a few years ago and only used it for outgoing longdistance calls. I would start there first and make sure you are satisfied with the voip service.
The same voip service provider needs to offer did numbers in your area code, otherwise callers in your area code will be dialing a long distance number to contact you.
I am using voip.ms and they have a feature called subaccounts which allows you to have multiple pbx like devices at the same time. This allowed me to use my obi202 to send/receive calls while testing and setting up my raspbx system.
Thanks guys, that gives me some things to think about and stuff to try. I'll have a bash this weekend and see what I can do. I want to be able to make VOIP calls from a standard telephone connected to the Linksys SPA3102 as a first goal and then progress from there. I do have a landline but it is awfully expensive to use unfortunately.
CHeers!
Nick
Dublin