Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 3/30/11 8:15 AM, ken wrote: > >> >> This description does sound like it uses the cell's in/outbound connection: >> http://www.frys.com/product/5916034 >> > > Again, I remember reading that bluetooth's range was 20 feet max. > That's not much. It'd be cheaper and easier and better just to get a > cordless phone... or? The point of these systems is that only the base station needs to be in bluetooth range of the cell phone. The extensions are DECT which has the same range as wifi and can be scattered around the house without worrying about wires. -- Les Mikesell lesmikes...@gmail.com ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 03/30/2011 08:55 AM Les Mikesell wrote: > On 3/30/11 6:04 AM, ken wrote: >> >> On 03/29/2011 05:23 PM Les Mikesell wrote: >>> >>> What tames my enthusiasm about bluetooth though is its maximum range is said to be 20'. Gimme a wifi phone. >>> That was the point of the base station with wireless handsets. I've >>> seen those with 3 or 4 handsets for well under $100. They are intended >>> to be used as house extensions while your cell phone is charging near >>> the base. And at least some take a landline too. >> Les, >> >> I'm not understanding the role your cellular phone is playing here. > > That's just what the base station with remote extensions are designed to use > because they are common. > http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG7623B-Bluetooth-Cordless-3-Handset/dp/tech-data/B004N4MH14/ref=de_a_smtd Okay, when you said "cell phone" you were talking about bluetooth. I was taking you too literally, thinking you knew some way to connect an actual cell phone, like an iPhone or Blackberry, into the system. Okay, I think we're in sync now. > > Maybe I misunderstood - I thought they could use the cell phone's connection > for > calls, and you could possibly replace that with a GV->asterisk-bluetooth path > but maybe these go the other way and use the cell phones as extensions. > > This description does sound like it uses the cell's in/outbound connection: > http://www.frys.com/product/5916034 > Again, I remember reading that bluetooth's range was 20 feet max. That's not much. It'd be cheaper and easier and better just to get a cordless phone... or? ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 03/30/2011 09:04 AM Stephen Harris wrote: > On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 06:57:04AM -0400, ken wrote: >> What I'd hope to do is plug the analog output from the ATA into the >> input of my home's POTS (Plain Old Telephone System, i.e., the 1970s >> technology). That way all the cabling I have for extensions into nearly >> every room could still be used. Why abandon all of that? The only >> downside would be that I would be providing electric to all of that >> (rather than pulling all that power from AT&T). Would the ATA mentioned >> on your webpage handle that? I mean, I wouldn't be using all the phones > > That's kinda what I'm hoping it will do. But I haven't tested, yet! > > Remember you'll need to cut the wire to AT&T before re-using the internal > wiring. Yeah. Good point! You might fry your ATA before you even get to use it! In fact, it would be good to test the ATA by plugging a phone directly into it before doing anything else. ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On Wed, Mar 30, 2011 at 06:57:04AM -0400, ken wrote: > What I'd hope to do is plug the analog output from the ATA into the > input of my home's POTS (Plain Old Telephone System, i.e., the 1970s > technology). That way all the cabling I have for extensions into nearly > every room could still be used. Why abandon all of that? The only > downside would be that I would be providing electric to all of that > (rather than pulling all that power from AT&T). Would the ATA mentioned > on your webpage handle that? I mean, I wouldn't be using all the phones That's kinda what I'm hoping it will do. But I haven't tested, yet! Remember you'll need to cut the wire to AT&T before re-using the internal wiring. -- rgds Stephen ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 3/30/11 6:04 AM, ken wrote: > > > On 03/29/2011 05:23 PM Les Mikesell wrote: >> >> >>> What tames my enthusiasm about bluetooth though is its maximum range is >>> said to be 20'. Gimme a wifi phone. >> >> That was the point of the base station with wireless handsets. I've >> seen those with 3 or 4 handsets for well under $100. They are intended >> to be used as house extensions while your cell phone is charging near >> the base. And at least some take a landline too. > > Les, > > I'm not understanding the role your cellular phone is playing here. That's just what the base station with remote extensions are designed to use because they are common. http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KX-TG7623B-Bluetooth-Cordless-3-Handset/dp/tech-data/B004N4MH14/ref=de_a_smtd Maybe I misunderstood - I thought they could use the cell phone's connection for calls, and you could possibly replace that with a GV->asterisk-bluetooth path but maybe these go the other way and use the cell phones as extensions. This description does sound like it uses the cell's in/outbound connection: http://www.frys.com/product/5916034 -- Les Mikesell lesmikes...@gmail.com ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 03/29/2011 05:23 PM Les Mikesell wrote: > > >> What tames my enthusiasm about bluetooth though is its maximum range is >> said to be 20'. Gimme a wifi phone. > > That was the point of the base station with wireless handsets. I've > seen those with 3 or 4 handsets for well under $100. They are intended > to be used as house extensions while your cell phone is charging near > the base. And at least some take a landline too. Les, I'm not understanding the role your cellular phone is playing here. ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 03/29/2011 05:10 PM Stephen Harris wrote: > On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 05:02:47PM -0400, ken wrote: >> This was one feature I was interested in with the "answering machine" I >> spoke of before: I'd want to be able to pick up an incoming call with a >> bluetooth phone so I could walk around and not be tethered by a phone >> line. A friend of mine got a bluetooth/skype phone which works on PCs > > That's what standard cordless phones are for. I plugged my existing > 4-handset DECT basestation into the ATA, and it worked as expected. > Any of the 4 cordless handsets could use the line. I like it! As far as home telephony goes, a POTS cordless phone is much better technology than a bluetooth hand- or headset. And much less expensive. What I'd hope to do is plug the analog output from the ATA into the input of my home's POTS (Plain Old Telephone System, i.e., the 1970s technology). That way all the cabling I have for extensions into nearly every room could still be used. Why abandon all of that? The only downside would be that I would be providing electric to all of that (rather than pulling all that power from AT&T). Would the ATA mentioned on your webpage handle that? I mean, I wouldn't be using all the phones at the same time... mostly just one phone at a time. It would just be a significantly longer distance to push the DC voltage than plugging a phone straight into the ATA. ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 3/29/2011 4:02 PM, ken wrote: > Exactly correct. It also works the other way; pick up the phone and dial a number and asterisk routes it via google chat so you get your free US calls and cheap international calls. >>> Do you know if asterisk (freeswitch, 2600hz, etc.) can do this over >>> bluetooth? I've seen some base stations with wireless extensions that >>> can connect to a landline and/or pair with a bluetooth phone that would >>> ordinarily be your cell, but it would be kind of neat if it could be >>> asterisk without the ATA intermediate or even a direct hardware connection. >> >> In my mind, it'd be very unlikely that Asterisk would talk bluetooth >> directly; that's not the Linux way. Instead you'd probably want to >> make your BlueTooth phone pair to the Linux server, and create an IP >> connection between the two, and then use any SIP client on the phone. >> >> But I could be wrong :-) I'm an asterisk newbie. > > Les, > > This was one feature I was interested in with the "answering machine" I > spoke of before: I'd want to be able to pick up an incoming call with a > bluetooth phone so I could walk around and not be tethered by a phone > line. A friend of mine got a bluetooth/skype phone which works on PCs > and Macs, a Qpe. I'd think if that phone would connect with skype, why > not with something else like asterisk? Well, the answer depends on the > state of development of the bluetooth drivers. Somebody on > http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-software-2/bluetooth-headset-and-skype-330929/ > said he got his bluetooth headset working with skype using the > bluetooth-alsa driver from http://bluetooth-alsa.sourceforge.net/. That > site says: > > "What we have working now is a scheme with two independent alsa-lib > plugins and two independent daemons to run things. When you switch to > the alsa-lib device that provides SCO (headset in the example > configuration), you can do voice calls and two-way audio. When you > switch to the device for a2dp (a2dpd in the example), you get one-way > stereo to the headset." I haven't kept up with asterisk, partly because they kept changing the apis all the time so it was hard to use it for anything, but I thought that even a long time ago someone had it connecting the 'other' way through a cell phone - that is to use the cell connection as one of its lines. I'm not sure about about using the dialer and audio side, though. > What tames my enthusiasm about bluetooth though is its maximum range is > said to be 20'. Gimme a wifi phone. That was the point of the base station with wireless handsets. I've seen those with 3 or 4 handsets for well under $100. They are intended to be used as house extensions while your cell phone is charging near the base. And at least some take a landline too. -- Les Mikesell lesmikes...@gmail.com ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 05:02:47PM -0400, ken wrote: > This was one feature I was interested in with the "answering machine" I > spoke of before: I'd want to be able to pick up an incoming call with a > bluetooth phone so I could walk around and not be tethered by a phone > line. A friend of mine got a bluetooth/skype phone which works on PCs That's what standard cordless phones are for. I plugged my existing 4-handset DECT basestation into the ATA, and it worked as expected. Any of the 4 cordless handsets could use the line. -- rgds Stephen ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 03/29/2011 04:32 PM Stephen Harris wrote: > On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 02:52:16PM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: >> On 3/29/2011 1:37 PM, Stephen Harris wrote: >>> Exactly correct. It also works the other way; pick up the phone and >>> dial a number and asterisk routes it via google chat so you get your >>> free US calls and cheap international calls. >> Do you know if asterisk (freeswitch, 2600hz, etc.) can do this over >> bluetooth? I've seen some base stations with wireless extensions that >> can connect to a landline and/or pair with a bluetooth phone that would >> ordinarily be your cell, but it would be kind of neat if it could be >> asterisk without the ATA intermediate or even a direct hardware connection. > > In my mind, it'd be very unlikely that Asterisk would talk bluetooth > directly; that's not the Linux way. Instead you'd probably want to > make your BlueTooth phone pair to the Linux server, and create an IP > connection between the two, and then use any SIP client on the phone. > > But I could be wrong :-) I'm an asterisk newbie. Les, This was one feature I was interested in with the "answering machine" I spoke of before: I'd want to be able to pick up an incoming call with a bluetooth phone so I could walk around and not be tethered by a phone line. A friend of mine got a bluetooth/skype phone which works on PCs and Macs, a Qpe. I'd think if that phone would connect with skype, why not with something else like asterisk? Well, the answer depends on the state of development of the bluetooth drivers. Somebody on http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-software-2/bluetooth-headset-and-skype-330929/ said he got his bluetooth headset working with skype using the bluetooth-alsa driver from http://bluetooth-alsa.sourceforge.net/. That site says: "What we have working now is a scheme with two independent alsa-lib plugins and two independent daemons to run things. When you switch to the alsa-lib device that provides SCO (headset in the example configuration), you can do voice calls and two-way audio. When you switch to the device for a2dp (a2dpd in the example), you get one-way stereo to the headset." What tames my enthusiasm about bluetooth though is its maximum range is said to be 20'. Gimme a wifi phone. ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 02:52:16PM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: > On 3/29/2011 1:37 PM, Stephen Harris wrote: > > Exactly correct. It also works the other way; pick up the phone and > > dial a number and asterisk routes it via google chat so you get your > > free US calls and cheap international calls. > > Do you know if asterisk (freeswitch, 2600hz, etc.) can do this over > bluetooth? I've seen some base stations with wireless extensions that > can connect to a landline and/or pair with a bluetooth phone that would > ordinarily be your cell, but it would be kind of neat if it could be > asterisk without the ATA intermediate or even a direct hardware connection. In my mind, it'd be very unlikely that Asterisk would talk bluetooth directly; that's not the Linux way. Instead you'd probably want to make your BlueTooth phone pair to the Linux server, and create an IP connection between the two, and then use any SIP client on the phone. But I could be wrong :-) I'm an asterisk newbie! -- rgds Stephen ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 3/29/2011 1:37 PM, Stephen Harris wrote: > On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 01:24:47PM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: >> The latter. If I followed the scenario correctly, the asterisk server >> (which acts as a PBX) logs into the google chat session pretending to be >> you at your browser, and when a voice call comes to the chat session it >> forwards it to a sip/voip phone. If you don't have a sip phone, the ATA > > Exactly correct. It also works the other way; pick up the phone and > dial a number and asterisk routes it via google chat so you get your > free US calls and cheap international calls. Do you know if asterisk (freeswitch, 2600hz, etc.) can do this over bluetooth? I've seen some base stations with wireless extensions that can connect to a landline and/or pair with a bluetooth phone that would ordinarily be your cell, but it would be kind of neat if it could be asterisk without the ATA intermediate or even a direct hardware connection. -- Les Mikesell lesmikes...@gmail.com ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 01:24:47PM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: > The latter. If I followed the scenario correctly, the asterisk server > (which acts as a PBX) logs into the google chat session pretending to be > you at your browser, and when a voice call comes to the chat session it > forwards it to a sip/voip phone. If you don't have a sip phone, the ATA Exactly correct. It also works the other way; pick up the phone and dial a number and asterisk routes it via google chat so you get your free US calls and cheap international calls. -- rgds Stephen ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 02:17:58PM -0400, ken wrote: > > On 03/29/2011 01:21 PM Stephen Harris wrote: > >> phone line. Indeed I just wrote up a process :-) > >> http://sweh.spuddy.org/gvoice/ > >> > >> But I think that's getting a little off-topic :-) > Just read your webpage. It answered my one question and a couple others > I didn't ask. > > It's not what I'm looking for right now, but way cool enough that I'll > have to check it out anyway. I didn't know a VoIP <-> POTS appliance > could be had for $30. Last I checked (some years ago) just a card was > something like $1000. How much is an actual phone number these days... Line cards for PCs are still pretty expensive. They tend to be bespoke and modular (eg the PCIx card is essentially a carrier, with 4 or more plugin components). Also some of these cards need telecoms approval because they may plug into POTS, which adds to the cost. Simple ATAs are network-only equipment and so may not need regulatory approvals and so are cheaper. > if I don't care for google voice? Normal phone numbers? Depends on your provider. Verizon may charge up to $50/month, depending on the service you get. VOIP providers such as Vonage charge $10/month (200 minutes/month) to $25/month (unlimited). -- rgds Stephen ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 3/29/2011 12:37 PM, ken wrote: > > On 03/29/2011 01:21 PM Stephen Harris wrote: >> On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 12:08:33PM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: >>> GV has been around for years - but previously you had to get an invite >>> from an existing user or go on a waiting list. Now you can just sign up >>> and get a free number which you can send where you want with/without >>> screening and when it acts as an answering machine it transcribes the >>> message and emails it to you. Recent additions are that you can make >>> (and I think answer) calls from your computer while signed in to your >>> gmail account and if you have Sprint Cell service you can use that >> >> With the right software and hardware (asterisk and an ATA) you can even >> use the conjunction of google voice and google chat to act as a "real" >> phone line. Indeed I just wrote up a process :-) >>http://sweh.spuddy.org/gvoice/ >> >> But I think that's getting a little off-topic :-) > > OT OK. So how does this conglomeration work? Say I have an OpenMoko > phone (openmoko.org) and connect to google voice on the web... can I > talk like a human on a landline? What phone number do the other humans > get... to call me? You probably need to understand bare GV first: they give you a new number (with the Sprint service exception or they can port other existing cell numbers which ends the contract with a likely termination fee), and a web page where you control what happens when people call it, which is generally forwarding to some other number(s) where you might answer. But it can also forward to a computer running google chat where you have the voice module installed, using the speaker/mic, a headset, or perhaps a bluetooth headset. > ATA means > https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/AT_Attachment or > https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Analog_telephone_adapter > or something else? The latter. If I followed the scenario correctly, the asterisk server (which acts as a PBX) logs into the google chat session pretending to be you at your browser, and when a voice call comes to the chat session it forwards it to a sip/voip phone. If you don't have a sip phone, the ATA adapter lets you use an analog phone instead. These would generally be land-line phones, although you can probably do sip over wifi. For cell phones, there are google voice apps that make outgoing calls show the GV number on the caller ID but I think they still use the cell plan voice minutes. -- Les Mikesell lesmikes...@gmail.com ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On 03/29/2011 01:37 PM ken wrote: > On 03/29/2011 01:21 PM Stephen Harris wrote: >> On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 12:08:33PM -0500, Les Mikesell wrote: >>> GV has been around for years - but previously you had to get an invite >>> from an existing user or go on a waiting list. Now you can just sign up >>> and get a free number which you can send where you want with/without >>> screening and when it acts as an answering machine it transcribes the >>> message and emails it to you. Recent additions are that you can make >>> (and I think answer) calls from your computer while signed in to your >>> gmail account and if you have Sprint Cell service you can use that >> With the right software and hardware (asterisk and an ATA) you can even >> use the conjunction of google voice and google chat to act as a "real" >> phone line. Indeed I just wrote up a process :-) >> http://sweh.spuddy.org/gvoice/ >> >> But I think that's getting a little off-topic :-) > > OT OK. So how does this conglomeration work? Say I have an OpenMoko > phone (openmoko.org) and connect to google voice on the web... can I > talk like a human on a landline? What phone number do the other humans > get... to call me? > > ATA means Just read your webpage. It answered my one question and a couple others I didn't ask. It's not what I'm looking for right now, but way cool enough that I'll have to check it out anyway. I didn't know a VoIP <-> POTS appliance could be had for $30. Last I checked (some years ago) just a card was something like $1000. How much is an actual phone number these days... if I don't care for google voice? Thanks much! ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Re: [CentOS] OT: google voice + chat <- Re: finding the right serial port, enabling & configuring it [was: Re: fax software]>
On Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 01:37:22PM -0400, ken wrote: > > On 03/29/2011 01:21 PM Stephen Harris wrote: > > With the right software and hardware (asterisk and an ATA) you can even > > use the conjunction of google voice and google chat to act as a "real" > > phone line. Indeed I just wrote up a process :-) > > http://sweh.spuddy.org/gvoice/ > > > > But I think that's getting a little off-topic :-) > > OT OK. So how does this conglomeration work? Say I have an OpenMoko > phone (openmoko.org) and connect to google voice on the web... can I What I described, above, is how to make a real phone work with google voice. You pick up your phone and dial a number and it calls out via google chat; someone calls your google voice number and your phone rings as normal. Basically it looks and acts like a phone line, but it's using google to do all the work. With OpenMoko you need a SIP client and configure it to talk to the asterisk server (I'd _guess_ because I've never tried it). It's possible you might find software for OpenMoko that can do the googlevoice/googlechat juggling all inside the phone. Dunno. But I'm not sure this is the best solution for a _mobile_ device. You might just want to make your googlevoice number ring your cellphone for incoming calls (which will use minutes), and use a SIP client for outgoing calls (which will use data). > talk like a human on a landline? What phone number do the other humans > get... to call me? When you sign up with google voice you can pick (from their options) the phone number you want. > ATA means [...] > https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Analog_telephone_adapter This one; it's a small device that lets you plug in a real phone and it will talk to a SIP server (asterisk, in this case). -- rgds Stephen ___ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
