I posted my solution yesterday and it is $50 so not sure why people are still asking for a cheap solution.
I have a cheap disposable "walmart" phone on the channel bank, in immediate mode so when it is picked up it jumps immediately to the default context.
I can also dial it like any other extension to talk to people at the door.
I have a $20 electric strike on the door which is coupled to my burglar alarm (that I can use a keypad outside to open right now) to interface to asterisk all I need is the following about $5 worth of stuff.
10k resistor from one of the data lines on the parallel port to base of a 2n2222 transistor, emitter of 2222 to ground/earth, collector to a coil of a 12vdc pcb mount relay, 1n400x diode in inverse parallel with the coil to kill spikes, other end of the diode/coil to 12vdc from a disk drive connector in the pc. normally open contacts of the coil in parallel with whatever else drives the door strike (normally a 12-24AC/DC supply - AC if you like that Buzz, DC if a click is more your liking.)
Just as another data point, you could look at something like
http://www.x10.com/products/x10_um506.htm
It's an X10 module (powerline control system) that provides basically an on/off switch for low-voltage devices (up to [EMAIL PROTECTED]). Pretty much all you need then is the power supply and the strike. The main advantage is that being an X10 device, you don't have to run wires all the way to your computer room. All you need is your X10 computer interface (like the "FireCracker PC Interface (CM17A)", which every good geek has already, right? :-)
-- Matt White [EMAIL PROTECTED] Arts and Science Computer Labs University of Saskatchewan
It sure is Monday... Ain't it a sin
I've gotta work my way thru the week again.
- Mark Chesnutt..."Sure Is Monday"_______________________________________________ Asterisk-Users mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
