VoIP PBX suggestions

C

Curtix2

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I am needing to put something in an office.
6 phones, record calls, preferable something already built and not a custom build that will require finding the builder to repair or adjust.
They have a homebuilt system now and the tech that built it is a big problem (without phones for 4 days).

So they asked me to take a look for them.
Any suggestions would be 100s.
Shot.
:D
 
If the existing handsets are VoIP, look at the Yeastar MyPBX SOHO: http://www.yeastar.com/Products/MyPBX-SOHO.asp
If the existing handsets are analogue, look at the Yeastar MyPBX Standard: http://www.yeastar.com/Products/MyPBX.asp

If you're starting afresh, rather go for the MyPBX SOHO and get VoIP phones. If using that PBX, I'd suggest the Yealink phones. Use one SIP-T26P as a reception phone and the rest can be SIP-T22P's (or SIP-T20's if you're on a cash is very tight).
 
They are Snom phones there but I am now thinking of replacing the whole thing.
The phones are part of the system of the old provider. He may want them back.

Thanks for the links. Reading now.
 
I built an elastix box - easy as pie.
Had to get some help from a VoIP guru to speed the learning curve but wow what a great solution.
So cheap and working a treat.
 
Switchtel.co.za has exactly what you need - check out their Hosted Switchboard service... Built-in PBX features, on hold music, IVR (Press 1 for Sales), etc. Also have an offsite recording service which stores all your phone calls for 60 or 90 days I think.
 
elastix is a good choice, if you want an all in one box appliance SA built then com.x1 by farsouth
 
COM.X1 are nice boxes, but be warned, they're not all fun and games. G.729a is generally not enabled by default (although not difficult to enable if you know how) and the VoIP-only model cannot generate reliable timing through dahdi_dummy which rules out things like IAX2 trunking. The Com.X1 also has limited CPU power, so don't try transcode more than ~12 calls between a-law and G.729. They're essentially standardised hardware with Ubuntu Linux, FreePBX and a custom front-end, so very similar to an Elastix installation, just on purpose-specific hardware. The Hosted Switchboard solution is a much more cost-effective and overall better solution for a 6-phone setup. Com.X1 may be better for a ~30-phone in one office setup.
 
Grep said:
Curtix, what CODEC did you use?
Click to expand...

I helped Curtix at a brief consultative level with telephony related stuff. Hope he doesn't mind me answering on his behalf. We used Alaw on the LAN and broke directly out to the PSTN.
 
gmza said:
COM.X1 are nice boxes, but be warned, they're not all fun and games. G.729a is generally not enabled by default (although not difficult to enable if you know how) and the VoIP-only model cannot generate reliable timing through dahdi_dummy which rules out things like IAX2 trunking. The Com.X1 also has limited CPU power, so don't try transcode more than ~12 calls between a-law and G.729. They're essentially standardised hardware with Ubuntu Linux, FreePBX and a custom front-end, so very similar to an Elastix installation, just on purpose-specific hardware. The Hosted Switchboard solution is a much more cost-effective and overall better solution for a 6-phone setup. Com.X1 may be better for a ~30-phone in one office setup.
Click to expand...

It may be worth to note when going the hosted option with no onsite device once your WAN, Usually ADSL goes down your business is out of the water. When email is down for a few hours it can be tolerated, try that with phone lines.. ouch!
 
s0lar: there are two tricks to dealing with that problem.
1) redundant WAN. (e.g. ADSL primary, wireless of sorts as a pure emergency backup solution)
2) automated attendant with per-extension diversion to cell phone

Neither are ideal, but combined they actually provide greater redundancy then land-lines which, if lost to cable break / theft (which is ultimately the same thing that is likely to cause the ADSL to go down), results in a complete outage situation. Getting Telkom to divert a business line manually requires firing off a fax to them (difficult if your fax line is out of order) and a four to six hour turnaround time. By comparison, hosted can be divert-on-unavailable (i.e. automatic).
 
Curtix2 said:
knock yourself out s0lar - your the man.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but in all honesty you had the solution waxed. It was one hour consultation and then troubleshooting the IRQ balancing that specific chipset.
 
@gmza, both "solutions" have hidden costs and major drawbacks.

WAN redundancy requires additional onsite hardware, consultation, monthly bandwidth costs as well as IT SLA to maintain these new variables.

"Backup calls" to the cell network are charged for and not free. I am also curious as to how you poll the cellular device to correctly handle the state on each new incoming call without beeping every 5 seconds before being sent to voice-mail?

I am just as excited about moving to the cloud but due to our unique last mile. Extra precautions need to be taken to ensure uptime and satisfaction. To loosely quote a myBB article regarding the last mile and hosted solutions "...Without these things in place, the African Cloud will remain largely a space for Hotmail accounts and little more."

IMHO, as per my original post. The feature set of hosted with the resilience of a dumb onsite multi-path switch provide both to a much higher degree, without hidden cost and peace of mind your business calls continue to ring.
 
The Com.X1s ship with 4 x G.729 licenses installed and active from the factory and the SX (voip-only box) now also comes with a reliable hardware timing source on-board, so you're good to go for IAX2.
 
I have been most impressed by how promptly FarSouth have investigated and resolved the timing issue on the SX box and their willingness to swap out the affected unit for a new one. I look forward to test driving the new box.
 
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