Grandstream GXP-2000 and Asterisk

[localzuk]

I have just received 2 of these handsets for testing to see what the quality of VOIP is like (softphones have an inherent lower quality).

 

To sum up my reaction: excellent! The phones are well built, easy to configure, have many functions, have a good feel to them (the buttons don't feel tacky etc...) and the speaker quality is excellent - including speakerphone.

 

Now to introduce VLAN's and QoS on the network to mimic a proper full blown system Should be good!

 

The reason I'm looking into this is because we can introduce a complete system for less than £4000 for 30 extensions.

[plexer]

Sounds good I've just been looking at that model as well.

 

I'm also going to be trying a wifi handset and a Nokia E60 too.

 

What spec you running for asterisk box?

 

Ben

[localzuk]

At the moment it is running on an old 1.6Ghz P4 - but it will be moving (if the system goes ahead) to a dedicated server - probably an HP DL360 G5 to provide redundant power, raid and the like.

 

I know the spec doesn't have the be great, but I'm wondering about the redundancy and reliability part - we need it to be as solid as our existing system (1 days downtime in 4 years).

[localzuk]

Oh, and I'm not looking at wireless phones at the moment as we don't have a wireless network - and can't justify the £5000 needed to install one which could handle phones and a couple of occasional staff users, let alone £10k for a managed one.

[srochford]

How are you going to connect it to the outside world?

 

We've spent some time "playing" with Asterisk and would like to use it for real but really need to link it to the existing system (network of Meridian Option 51 and 11s)

 

Incidentally, does anyone know any decent Asterisk consultants who don't charge silly money? We've just had a quote for £12,000 for about 4 days work (we wanted 10-20 phones setting up as a trial)

[ChrisH]

12,000 for 4 days work!!!! You might as well buy a normal commercial phone system

[localzuk]

We have bought a Digium TDM400P. It allows us to connect to 4 analogue lines. Eventually, when a system is running ok we'll move over to ISDN2e and get a card to deal with that instead.

 

I'm going to be looking at hooking it up to the existing system but if that doesn't work, we have a single analogue line which I can hook it up to to have a play.