Oh boy! :) My experience is limited to strictly 100% VOIP or 100% Voice T1. I've never mixed and matched the two but my response was based on theoretical understanding. There are some genius in this group who has mixed and matched, & I'm sure they will be happy to provide a greater perspective for your specific needs.
But let me try to answer your questions with the hope that someone will correct me if I'm wrong... assuming that you have successfully mixed and matched, and utilized half your T1 for data and half your T1 for voice services. " Then to set up, scenario#2, I understand that some prerequisites needs to get in the play such as a Digium or Sangoma card...then I'm kinda not sure if I'd be require subscription from let's say the Telco. " In this case, you are using Bell (or your T1 provider) as your local telephone carrier. So yes, you would have to order some DIDs from Bell, which last time I checked costs $4 per DID. You can theoretically have unlimited DIDs assigned to your half T1, but only 12 channels or concurrent calls can be used at any given time. In this case you are likely using Bell as your long distance carrier, unless you make some other arrangements to use a different LD carrier. " Here's what I'm thinking (for scenario#2)..mayB I'm wrong.please advise: -Asterisk box -Digium or Sangoma crd (single T1 to start with) -plug my box to my switch, which is connected to my Cisco router with CSU capabilities (thanks to David Cook for this one, I had no idea of such term or concept) which is then connected to the Telco T1 " Correct. " What I want to accomplish (mayB with misconception) -Be able to make Long Distance phone calls across North America thru the T1 line -Be able to route my already existent incoming DID with DIDx for example to my Asterisk box and dispatch to appropriate extension (as I currently do w/ my current configuration Scenario#1) " I am not aware that having a T1 voice service allows you to make unlimited calls across North America. Regardless of the type of service you use from Bell, it is my understanding that you pay long distance & overseas charges accordingly. The price you pay is relative to the contract you sign with Bell. It's pretty expensive with Bell, without a long distance plan, but also with their cheapest long distance plan, it's expensive when you compare to other long distance carriers & prepaid calling cards. My $5 dollar prepaid calling card gives me 1000 minutes across Canada :). I need to find me the prepaid calling card carriers :) !!! Yes, it is possible to port your existing DIDs on to your T1. " My grey areas are: -Provided the above Scenario#2, do I still need to pay Unlimited 0.01 (??) a minute for example on each of these cases? - Or do I pay my T1 provider a certain extra fee per month for using the T1 line of phone calls? -or do I still subscribe to Telasip Express for their 15 bux a month unlimited calling to North America? " I think you meant "Unlimitel" the VOIP company instead of Unlimited ?? If that's the case, in Scenario #2, you are not utilizing Unlimitel as your long distance carrier. You are utilizing Bell (unless you exclusively want to use another long distance carrier), to make local calls. You are already paying for your future telephone lines (12 channels) through your T1 subscription. You just need to order DIDs. Well... $15 bux Telasip Express Unlimited L.D. to N.A? Well... I'll sign on soon :). But for now, time to hit the hay :). Cheers!
