PABX alternative

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nzgman

111 posts

Master Geek

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#874547 9-Aug-2013 13:17

igorportugal:
What I meant is if local company does brand X and there is no other company around that does that brand then you are stuck with that company even if you end up not liking there work, people or pricing later down the track.

I am not sure I follow the logic here.

If you don't like the reseller, you can always go direct to the manufacturer regardless of how many people represent the company - we have parallel importing laws, so this is well and truly protected by legislation.

If you don't like the manufacturer, then you are really in the same boat whoever the manufacturer is.

A manufacture or distributor does not usually come out to your site and do any work on your system and they also don't usually sell direct to the end user. If there is no other local company/resellers in your area that do the system you have they won't have any one else nearby to recommend either.

even if it's an open source product if your not able to look after it yourself it would be good to know there are multiple local people/companies that can look after it for you before you get it installed. (now do you follow?)

Graham

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igorportugal

82 posts

Master Geek

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#874558 9-Aug-2013 13:44

nzgman:

A manufacture or distributor does not usually come out to your site and do any work on your system and they also don't usually sell direct to the end user.

I disagree. There are plenty of examples where the manufacturer or the distributor gets involved directly with the customer. In fact I'd go as far as to say stay away from manufacturers that don't get involved with the end user as their product is likely to be out of tune with the market.

However, I don't know any like that so it is a moot point.

nzgman:
even if it's an open source product if your not able to look after it yourself it would be good to know there are multiple local people/companies that can look after it for you before you get it installed. (now do you follow?)

With open source technology you can always find someone to look after it. The source code is open, so you are pretty much guaranteed someone will be able to support it!

CTO
Vadacom Limited

Naylz

42 posts

Geek

#876253 13-Aug-2013 09:23

I have installed FreePBX distro on a spare machine and am able to get into the setup area really easily from another computer. Our UFF goes in tomorrow. I do not have an VOIP phones at present and am thinking of buying a few of the really cheap voip phones on trademe to play around with. These can be used as spare phones later.
Is there somewhere I can get detailed setup information on the FreePBX system? I will just use the 2 free lines that come with the callplus plan for now and keep my old system running on Telecom until we have made up our minds.

Also if I wanted to try the analog telephone adaptor to get the VOIP lines to terminate with my current PABX, how easy is that to do and where can I find someone who can install this in Hamilton?

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

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Vocus

#876261 13-Aug-2013 09:33

Naylz: I have installed FreePBX distro on a spare machine and am able to get into the setup area really easily from another computer. Our UFF goes in tomorrow. I do not have an VOIP phones at present and am thinking of buying a few of the really cheap voip phones on trademe to play around with. These can be used as spare phones later.
Is there somewhere I can get detailed setup information on the FreePBX system? I will just use the 2 free lines that come with the callplus plan for now and keep my old system running on Telecom until we have made up our minds.

Also if I wanted to try the analog telephone adaptor to get the VOIP lines to terminate with my current PABX, how easy is that to do and where can I find someone who can install this in Hamilton?

There's plenty of info out there on FreePBX (keeping in mind it's Asterisk underneath). So far as a "setup guide" - the main thing you'll find guides on is how to set up a trunk with various providers. There might be a few "getting started" guides out there but don't count on completeness, you'll need to learn a bit about things to make it all work.

One thing I urge you to do is to be very wary about security, particularly for extensions, configuration interfaces, and/or the ability to place calls remotely (including via voicemail, call forward, DISA and so on).

Use something like sipvicious to see if or how much your system is exposed to SIP based attacks from the Internet. Use a firewall/ipchains to block other than your provider on the trunk ports. If you do need remote handsets, use non standard (high) ports, strong passwords and so on.

All the best!

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#876528 13-Aug-2013 15:10

ubergeeknz:

One thing I urge you to do is to be very wary about security, particularly for extensions, configuration interfaces, and/or the ability to place calls remotely (including via voicemail, call forward, DISA and so on).

With 2Talk, I always set up $10 top ups with a weekly limit and emailing to my mobile so I can see when ever my account has been charged. This way I'm only ever exposed to $10 before I know about it.

I don't know if the OP's provider does this, but I've found it a very handy feature.

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

Naylz

42 posts

Geek

#881577 20-Aug-2013 14:38

DonGould: Do you actually need a new PABX solution?

3. Put in an ATA to terminate your two VoIP services and connect that to your existing PABX. Will cost you less then $400 including installation.

D

If we get the ATA will we need SIP trunks in for this for each line?

cheers
Naylin

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#881592 20-Aug-2013 15:21

Naylz:
DonGould: Do you actually need a new PABX solution?

3. Put in an ATA to terminate your two VoIP services and connect that to your existing PABX. Will cost you less then $400 including installation.

D

If we get the ATA will we need SIP trunks in for this for each line?

cheers
Naylin

Sorry I don't know how this works with your provider.

You've also said that you've got 10 DDI numbers. So I assume that you're currently using ISDN trunks on your PABX? If that's the case, then you don't want an ATA with POTS ports on it at all.

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

Naylz

42 posts

Geek

#881627 20-Aug-2013 16:12

HI D

So do we have to get a card? Sorry was thinking of just using the cheapest option until i got up to date with Free PBX and then going from there.

cheers
Naylin

chevrolux

4962 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#881648 20-Aug-2013 16:33

If you haven't got the option to use POTS trunks on your current phone system then an ATA is not an option. Unless you have super old school POTS DDI's? Check next to your system for ISDN NT's and then you will know.

Personally, I would get a nice new appliance based system that can connect to your current ISDN lines and then be transitioned to having SIP terminated directly to the PABX. Much cleaner cut over and less to worry about.

Naylz

42 posts

Geek

#881672 20-Aug-2013 17:31

okay, my best option at this stage is too keep my telecom isdn etc for the next few months whilst I decide on a PBX and play around with various different systems.

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#881873 20-Aug-2013 22:10

Naylz: okay, my best option at this stage is too keep my telecom isdn etc for the next few months whilst I decide on a PBX and play around with various different systems.

If I was you, I'd get myself a couple of IP phones to play with and get busy and set up a FreePBX box. Steve has a blog page for using a Raspberry PI or you could just set up a VM on a windows machine quick enough. That's how I got started.

I'll PM you about some phone suggestions.

D

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

Naylz

42 posts

Geek

#881982 21-Aug-2013 09:00

I have installed freepbx on an older machine and am busy with the setup right now. Want to try one or two cheap phones which I will leave at rarely attended extensions when I swop. Any suggestions.

astharan

14 posts

Geek

#894548 12-Sep-2013 00:50

Hi,

have you found the solution for your need?

I work for an VoIP provider and would be happy to help you with all the requirement at a lower start up and ongoing cost with our hosted PBX solution.

you can reply to this message with some contact details and I can be in touch.

Regards
Harry

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