So, thought I would report back on what I did and what I think of it. I
bought a Gigaset 610 IP and an extra handset (the 610 can handle two
simultaneous VoIP calls) mainly because they were much cheaper than the
Snom units. I like that the base unit is separate from the handset chargers
and as DECT phones they work well. Here are some specific thoughts...
Voice quality is good. I selected G.722 as the default codec, but of course
most connections are downgraded to G.711 so it is largely a moot point for
now. However I don't think that the microphones in the handsets are up to
capturing high enough quality for G.722. They also generate "comfort
noise" (a soft background hiss) which I think is against the spirit of high
bandwidth audio, and there is no echo back of your own voice which analog
phones provide (and which my work Avaya SIP phone provides).
Several times when I started using them callers reported that I sounded
faint and would I speak up. Turns out this is a fairly common complaint of
Gigaset. Through this I found the Set(VOLUME(RX)=nn) Asterisk dialplan
application, and yes this works. Remarkably well. So now my Dialplan is
setup to detect when a call is connecting to/from a Gigaset extension and
adjusts the media gain level. This of course should not be necessary, but
at least Asterisk has the flexibility to cope.
VoIP/SIP configuration options are limited. Very little flexibility in
creating a Dialplan for example... nothing like I am familiar with from
Sipura/Linksys SPA ATAs. These phones are clearly intended for use in a
consumer/home environment where you may want to connect directly to a VoIP
trunk provider. They are probably not a good choice for use behind a PBX
if you want any flexibility. For example, there is no way to have the
handset autodial an extension when taken off-hook -- something that is
fairly common for SIP phones behind a PBX.
FYI, while doing all this I started to experiment with Asterisk SLA (Shared
Line Appearance) feature and conclude that this is badly broken. It may
work in an environment where you are bridging to POTS analog lines, but in
an entirely SIP world it only half works (inbound ok, outbound broken). I
have two bugs opened up at issues.asterisk.org already and will probably
have more to come if they fix those. Its a pity, SLA is an interesting
feature particularly in a small office/home environment. Hopefully Digium
will fix it -- my issues have been assigned to development.
David
On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 1:50 PM, Dan Ryson <d...@ryson.org> wrote:
> It was my pleasure, David. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Of course, another site that extensively covers Gigaset (along with other
> VoIP hardware) is that of fellow AstLinux aficionado Michael Graves:****
>
> ** **
>
> www.mgraves.org****
>
> ** **
>
> I first learned of the Gigaset line of DECT phones from Michael’s series
> of superbly written reviews.****
>
> ** **
>
> Dan ****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* David Kerr [mailto:da...@kerr.net]
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 15, 2012 11:32 AM
> *To:* AstLinux Users Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [Astlinux-users] Wireless DECT / VoIP SIP phones?****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks, I had not come across those discussions. Quite informative.****
>
> ** **
>
> David****
>
> On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 9:31 AM, Dan Ryson <d...@ryson.org> wrote:****
>
> David,****
>
> ****
>
> I just noticed that there are at least three active discussion threads on
> the topic of this phone at the DSLReports VoIP
> forum<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/voip>.
> ****
>
> ****
>
> Fair warning: It may be necessary to wade through several nonsense
> comments – but there are a few useful gems buried among the comments.
> While I haven’t digested every word, I understand that it may be possible
> to marry certain non-IP handsets with the IP 610 base unit. Also, some
> changes among base units means that there are compatibility considerations
> among some handset/base combinations.****
>
> ****
>
> If interested, search the main page for these recent discussion topics:***
> *
>
> ****
>
> · What's up with crippled Gigaset C610H (US/CAN)****
>
> · Some very formal market research: Gigaset****
>
> · What Online Store Sells SIP/VoIP DECT Phones?****
>
> ****
>
> Best wishes.****
>
> ****
>
> Dan****
>
> ****
>
> *From:* David Kerr [mailto:da...@kerr.net]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 14, 2012 10:07 PM****
>
>
> *To:* AstLinux Users Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [Astlinux-users] Wireless DECT / VoIP SIP phones?****
>
> ****
>
> Thank you for everyone's comments. Not surprising that there is a wide
> range of experience. I'm probably going to try out the Gigaset C610A IP as
> it is the most affordable of the lot.****
>
> ****
>
> Thanks,****
>
> David****
>
> On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 10:27 PM, The Cadillac Kid <eldorado...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:****
>
> The aastra ct series sets are done. We got word a couple months ago aastra
> was dropping all CT series. As a reseller we found the reception great but
> batteries terrible. And the feature access terrible also. Cumbersome at
> best to transfer a call via hard transfer. We use native bridging so
> asterisk transfer was out.
> Aastra solution is to try their new solution which is higher priced of
> course.
> Christopher****
>
> ****
> ------------------------------
>
> *From: *Darrick Hartman <dhart...@djhsolutions.com>;
> *To: *AstLinux Users Mailing List <astlinux-users@lists.sourceforge.net>;
> ****
>
> *Subject: *Re: [Astlinux-users] Wireless DECT / VoIP SIP phones? ****
>
> *Sent: *Tue, Aug 14, 2012 12:50:04 AM ****
>
> ****
>
> David,****
>
> ****
>
> I’ve used a few of the Gigaset A580’s in a small environment where paging
> wasn’t really an issue. Seemed fine and seemed to be well constructed.***
> *
>
> ****
>
> The one thing that I can confirm is the Aastra DECT handsets that came
> with the 57iCT and 480iCT’s are best used to hold doors open. They come
> with a 12 month warranty but routinely stop working around 13 months. The
> batteries are very difficult to obtain also. It’s a product that should
> just go away.****
>
> ****
>
> Darrick****
>
> ****
>
> *From:* Ron Byer Lists [mailto:ronb-li...@netweave.com]
> *Sent:* Monday, August 13, 2012 4:19 PM
> *To:* AstLinux Users Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: [Astlinux-users] Wireless DECT / VoIP SIP phones?****
>
> ****
>
> David,
>
> I've used both the snom m9 and the Panasonic TGP500 a bit. I've also
> deployed the Aastra DECT handsets that accompany the [9]480i CT.
>
> the m9 is a small/light handset, not quite cheap feeling, but much
> lighter/smaller than the Panasonic (or the Aastra handsets, for that
> matter).
> the m9 uses a completely different technology base that the snom
> deskphones, so don't expect any common-ality between them.
>
> I can't speak completely for the intercom capabilities, but I seem to
> recall that you can intercom between the handsets, but not generically
> through Asterisk. Also, you cannot dynamically change the ring tone using
> the SIP Headers approach. They have expressed a desire to do so, but that
> was two years ago on the m3.
>
> I have had some troubles in some situations with getting the snom m9 to
> work reliably with certain routers. It's a mystery why it works in some
> cases and not others, but the phone has a bit of a tendency to lose
> registration and just sit there. A reboot always helps. I have deployed the
> Panasonic in some cases where the m9 doesn't play well.
>
> That being said, the Panasonic uses a *completely* different registration
> methodology than your typical SIP Phone. A typical SIP phone will be
> configured to resend a registration ever so often, and, if so configured,
> asterisk will send down options packets every so often. This keeps the port
> path through the router open and fresh.
>
> The Panasonic TGP family sends ONE registration at the dawn of time, and
> sends 42 byte SIP heartbeats every 30-90 seconds, for which there are no
> responses either defined or expected. Many times if these packets don't
> reach the asterisk pbx, the phone is blissfully unaware and will still say
> it is registered. It's ironic that I started using the Panasonic as a
> stop-gap for the m9... I currently have a semi-large installation where the
> customer acquired a bunch of TGP550's (handset + deskset), and after some
> period of time: could be days, weeks, months, the phone just decides to
> stop sending the heartbeat, and, 90 seconds later the router closes the
> path, and the phone has to be rebooted. I do have the attention of a
> 2nd/3rd level support tech within Panasonic looking at pcap files regarding
> this, but my confidence level is not high at present that it will be
> resolved in my lifetime.
>
> Some users like the m9 handset because it is light and small. Others like
> the meatier Panasonic or Aastra. Personal preference.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Ron
>
> On 8/13/2012 4:36 PM, David Kerr wrote:****
>
> Does anyone have any experience with wireless DECT phones for VoIP /
> Asterisk. A google search has turned up Snom M9r, Siemens Gigaset A580 IP,
> Panasonic KX-TGP500. The Gigaset is significantly cheaper than the other
> two but I can't find a good review/comparison of them all. One feature
> that I would want to use in the future, though maybe not initially, is
> intercom/paging... which means support for additional SIP header with
> answer-after=0 appended. It is not clear whether any of them will work
> with this, the only documentation I can find suggests that the Snom might
> work... but only if it is told that the IP PBX is the Snom ONE. ****
>
> ****
>
> Thoughts, or other alternatives.****
>
> ****
>
> David****
>
> ** **
>
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> _______________________________________________****
>
> Astlinux-users mailing list****
>
> Astlinux-users@lists.sourceforge.net****
>
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> ****
>
>
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> pay...@krisk.org.****
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>
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