[WXC/VFX] Softphone on VFX?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Softphone on VFX?

moosenz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#17508 29-Nov-2007 14:19

Hello,

I really enjoy using VFX with my Linksys SP2102.

Unfortunately I don't have an awesome phone that supports Bluetooth for my bluetooth headset. However, much to my advantage my computer can pair with the headset.

I am wondering if it is possible to use a Softphone with VFX as well as my Linksys SP2102? Are any kind of softphones supported?

I had considered setting up an Asterix box to act as a kind of relay for the Linksys box and softphone but my understanding is that this will be rather complicated. I do have linux skills but no asterix experiance.

Any advice or help you can give on this would be much appreciated.

grant_k

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#97533 29-Nov-2007 14:27

At this stage there is no softphone option for VFX. If you want to use one, you will need to have an Asterisk box in the middle as you have suggested.

Devices currently supported on VFX are listed here:

http://www.xnet.co.nz/vfx/hardware.shtml

moosenz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#97534 29-Nov-2007 14:31

Ah yes, that was as I suspected. Any tips on setting this up? I guess there is enough info on Asterix setup but how about setting up my SP2102 to get a config from asterix? Or would I manually have to setup the config for it?

Also, are there any sample configs that I could perhaps take a look at and just modify to point to my Asterix server?

Really not sure, but keen to experiment. Sadly it's _very_ difficult to get any information on the Linksys SP2102. There's a manual with appreviations but that's about it. Ugh.

grant_k

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#97537 29-Nov-2007 14:41

Until a few weeks ago when WxC started supporting Asterisk, Tony Hughes and others got this working by using a Digium FXO card plugged into a PCI slot inside the Asterisk box. That way you don't need any Asterisk Profile to communicate with the SPA2102. Asterisk just thinks it is talking to a CO line (from the local Telecom exchange).

However, as I understand it now, you get an Asterisk box up and running and then arrange for WxC to REPLACE the connection to your SPA2102 with a connection to your Asterisk box. It's an either/or situation -- you cannot have both devices working at once.

Tony, Sbiddle and others please correct me if I'm wrong here

moosenz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#97539 29-Nov-2007 15:12

I was thinking...

   WxC->Asterix--->SP2102
                 |
                 ------>Softphone

Is this thinking wrong? My SP2102 is unlocked by the way :) Or atleast is when I reset it to factory settings. I was thinking if that was the case I could do cool things like having them both ring at once etc...

grant_k

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#97540 29-Nov-2007 15:23

Yeah, I guess there is no reason why that wouldn't work. It seems like a bit of a duplication of functions in some ways (2 lots of SIP software running), but maybe it is the tidiest way for you.

Tony or others can give you pointers on how to get the SPA2102 talking to Asterisk via Ethernet.

tonyhughes

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#97569 29-Nov-2007 19:27

This guide will get trixbox running (Trixbox is now at 2.2, so some things are slightly different, but no sea-changes).

I would forget vanilla asterisk unless you are extremely comfortable with Linux+commandline.

Your SPA should talk to Trix just fine, as will Xten Lite softphone.

Lots of work just to get a softphone! But heaps of aggravating head-scratching geeky late night fun.

tonyhughes

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#97578 29-Nov-2007 20:23

I had an SPA3102 which was a great standalone unit, but overkill to connect to Asterisk.

PAP2T's are much nicer to use.

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richms

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#97740 30-Nov-2007 22:57

I have seen bluetooth landline phones, you could get one of those.

Richard rich.ms

tonyhughes

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#97747 1-Dec-2007 00:45

FYI I took my Asterisk box off the network, and spent some time trying to get a softphone to connect, to no avail...

moosenz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#97748 1-Dec-2007 00:50

tonyhughes: I had an SPA3102 which was a great standalone unit, but overkill to connect to Asterisk.
PAP2T's are much nicer to use.

Well, true, my SP2102 is pretty decent but it was free, so I'm not really worried if I don't utilize it to it's full compacity.

richms: I have seen bluetooth landline phones, you could get one of those.

The issue really richms, is money! I don't really have any... but I do have heaps of old computers sitting around and my current linksys voip router. A bluetooth landline phone would kick ass, but wouldn't be willing to pay more than $150 for one. In my experiance they are in the $350 range... pure madness!

richms

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#97787 1-Dec-2007 13:26

I was looking at getting one of these http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.9562 - but it turns out they hook up to where the handset does so you have to lift the receiver on the telephone to go off hook and vice versa like some primitive caveman.

Richard rich.ms