Well i've had several projects ideas in the past that would have used asterisk in different ways. So, the reason to get it installed for my personal 1-line use is really a first step in understanding asterisk's basics and since I will probably work and tweak it every day for a certain period of time, this would be an awesome learning experience.
I dont have a GF, yet, and the lady that might fill the position (soon?) wont have a word to say about that. haha But i clearly hear what you mean about the waste, I'm with you on this, but i also see it as an investment! Thanks a lot though, you brought some important points to consider! On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 4:57 PM, Michael Higgins <li...@evolone.org> wrote: > On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:30:52 -0400 > Simon <turne...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> hi there, >> i'm looking for suggestions and guidance. > > [] > > I tend to tell folks up front to never listen to me or believe anything I > say, so here's my... $.02. > >> I've looked into several ideas, but the last one that remains a good >> 'deal' is to set it all up myself, for free (but lots of work)! >> >> I'm thinking on setting up asterisk, > > [] > > Don't. Your GF will hate you for wasting your time. > >> I've read those, but I'm sure there are a lot of surprises not covered >> by these... >> http://www.voip-info.org/wiki-Asterisk+Linux+Gentoo >> http://www.gentoo-wiki.info/Asterisk >> >> Thanks for any help! >> > > Asterisk is unlike most other open source projects I've seen. Free help > doesn't exist, really -- there's just too much money to be made replacing > proprietary telco hardware for folks to enjoy educing that aha! moment. > > All would tell you, at your hourly rate, choosing to roll your own asterisk > install on Gentoo is probably the most expensive option available to you. > > Anyway, it can be done. #gentoo-voip are helpful folks, but unless you have a > real reason to know asterisk, really, don't bother... it's huge PITA for just > getting a phone. > > Even if you do decide to kill that gnat with a sledgehammer, you're better > off with Trixbox, astlinux or something you can pretty much expect some help > with. (So I hear.) > > If all you want is to use a SIP trunk, my local telco monopoly, for example, > will rent me a box to plug a phone into for a fixed monthly fee and unlimited > calling. Or, you can probably get any Dahdi compat fxs card and plug a phone > into your gentoo box. Or just get a SIP phone... plug into your router. > > Basically, there are so many options, it's bewildering. From my (limited) > experience with it, I'd say that Asterisk is really more of a place to create > telco appliances from computers, not an application you run with other things > as an afterthought, just because you can. > > But, then again, you already run Gentoo, so you are familiar with needless > self-inflicted pain as a pastime. Asterisk may be just for you, too! ;-) > > Cheers, > > -- > |\ /| | | ~ ~ > | \/ | |---| `|` ? > | |ichael | |iggins \^ / > michael.higgins[at]evolone[dot]org > > -- When Earth was the only inhabited planet in the Galaxy, it was a primitive place, militarily speaking. The only weapon they had ever invented worth mentioning was a crude and inefficient nuclear-reaction bomb for which they had not even developed the logical defense. - Asimov
