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IPT/VOIP

Asterisk


Our home server runs Asterisk (*), the open source IP telephony environment (much more than just a PBX!). 


Hardware wise the server is fitted with an OpenVox A400E22 PCIe card with 2 FXO and 2 FXS daughter modules.


We have two POTS PSTN lines, nominally Home & Office which terminate on the OpenVox card.


We have 2 Linksys ATA boxes for 2 of our analogue phones and a number of Linksys/Cisco small business SIP phones.


The first FXS port is connected to a Doorbell Fon DP-28C-220V which presents our front doorbell as an analogue phone intercom.  With this linked to Asterisk we can answer the front door from any phone in the house, as well as from my mobile phone wherever we happen to be (in the world!). Very handy for dealing with parcel deliveries or unwanted cold callers.


We also have a Gigaset A580 IP DECT Cordless phone set. The base station is connected to Asterisk with SIP via the LAN and to the other FXS port on its analogue port.


There is also an account with a VOIP service, providing an alternative inbound/outbound calling route.


What Asterisk does for us is handle voicemail with a multi function IVR menu system on both POTS lines, provide an SMS gateway for Misterhouse and local email and run an internal phone system around the house & garden.  Asterisk also prompts Misterhouse to ring some X10 chimes when the doorbell is rung and to announce inbound CallerIDs or caller identities for known numbers over the Jogglers.  


I also have Asterisk running on one of my test servers at work and have an IAX2 trunk between them linking the PBXs together.  Free calls from home to work - the Bat phone!


Misterhouse uses the SMS gateway to keep us informed of events at home etc.