View Single Post
Old 7th Jun 2019, 11:44 am   #2
Pellseinydd
Heptode
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Flintshire, UK.
Posts: 707
Default Re: Using Asterisk alongside an old BT PBX

Quote:
Originally Posted by boombox View Post
At work we have a BT Inspiration and it's great for what we need it to do.
However, it doesn't have a voicemail module, we have no means of recording calls, we can't do an IVR, we can't redirect the MANY, MAANNYYY sales calls we get to Lenny etc etc etc.

However, I'm wary of ripping out the Inspiration and replacing with Asterisk and Cisco phones because - for the most part - the Inspiration is fine and we have the featurephones already.

Can anyone advise...is it possible to use a hybrid system and what benefits (if any) and what caveats does that bring?

Thank you
You could put the Asterisk between the PSTN line and the Inspiration to 'filter' the calls and send the 'junk' ones off for Lenny to deal with! All you need is a Raspberry Pi running Asterisk and an ATA (such as a Linksys SPA3000 or SPA3102) with an FXS and FXO port. FXO port goes to PSTN line and FXS goes to an exchange line port on the Inspiration. Set Asterisk up to deal with the incoming calls and if OK to ring the FXS port o the ATA. If not OK to send the call to 'Lenny'. Outgoing calls from Inspiration to 'hotline' straight through Asterisk to PSTN line with no code.

For those not sure who Lenny is, he's a great old guy who is an expert at dealing with telemarketers. Does it all as a volunteer. Long since retired, he's always happy to chat on his PSTN number - 01686 888 123 !
Pellseinydd is offline