Hi. I'm relative new to all this. I'm planning to install my current PBX in my office. I'll start first using WindowsXPHome and in a near future change it to a Linux system.

In my office we have 2 phone lines that our provider give us regular RJ11 jacks also we have another 2 lines that current provider use something similar to the:
Grandstream HandyTone 286 SIP Gateway ATA HT286, so the 2 lines are each one in 1 device of those.
In total we have 4 lines. But keep in mind I plan to grow in lines.

Since I'm new in all this I've some questions:

1.- What hardware does I need to connect the 4 lines (2 regular and 2 that comes in ATA) to the asterisk? I supposed I only need a device for the curren 2 regular lines, think that the ones in ATA doesn't need any hardware. But not sure what I need?

2.- For what did you use or recommend using each of this devices:
ATA
Multi External Device
PCI card

3.- Why some ATA mention they are Unlock? Is this only applied to connect it to a VoIp provider?

4.- Which are the differences between FXS y FXO, what are they for?

5.- What do I need to know about SIP and IAX2 protocols?

6.- What does I need to use any standard Phone, instead of softphones and costy
IpPhones? Do I need extra ATAs? or something like that? If so, how many I need? 1 for each extension where I plug a regular phone?

7.- If I use Asterisk to do the following do I need to consider any special hardware? If any of this features is not possible please tell me that to stop dreamin on it:
7.1.- Get into any computer outside my office and with a SoftPhone conect to my office usin ALL the features as if I were there WITHOUT limits.

7.2.- What hardware do I need to use an standard phone in my home, but connected to my office, as I were there, without the need of a computer?

7.3.- I use a PocketPC with version Mobile 2003. Someone told me that something could be done to use my device as something like a SoftPhone and use all the features as I were on my office. What do I need to use this?

7.4.- As I know all of this features are included with Asterisk: Menu Attendant, voice mail that could be read from anywhere, voice mail delivered to email, MP3 music while onhold, CallRecording. All of them are truly included? Do I need extra hardware for any of them?

Thank you for your help. Write to me at fcanavati@gmail.com

Hello, I encountered error in the ARI Recordings. It says
Path is not a directory: /var/spool/asterisk/voicemail/default/102

Not if he wants to break the law. It's against the law in the US to listen to a conversation without giving explicit or implicit warning.

A client asked me if he can pick up the telephone and listen to a conversation in progress that an employee is making from the employee's desk without them knowing that the boss is listening..
Does any body know the answer to this?

P.S.
He has an Asterisk server running at this business.

Thanks!

William Herrera
william@lan-solutions.net

Unfortunately all the magazines listed here are meant for North Americans. I am a senior member of the IEEE and live outside the US and Canada. How do I get hold of any of these magazines? Are there electronic copies that may be downloaded, that way the eligibility can be extended to those of us living outside North America.