Using freeSWITCH for VOIP using dial-up modem

mechanicalmetal · Mar 10, 2010, 2:43 AM

Hey guys/gals,

I have Magic Jack right now, and I am trying to eliminate having to have my windows machine on all the time just to use the phone. I really dont care about magic jack, getting a new phone number or anything else, My windows machine is running a 1000Watt power supply and is on 24x7 killing my electric bill.

Ok so forget magic jack, I want to setup pfSense for all of my VOIP calls etc. What I am wandering is, would it be possible to setup freeSWITCH and get my voip working etc, and plug my actual phone into a 56k modem that is built in on my pfSense box motherboard? Im sure its not possible, but I figured I would ask. I wanted to see if I could eliminate having to go out and purchase an ATA for my VOIP.

Sorry for the dumb question, but I was never really around during the dialup days, and I dont know what all a 56k modem can do :P

If someone can give me the most cost effective way to handle my phone through pfSense please advise! Even if I gotta go buy an ATA. (Crappy thing is, I own a clean ATA, but can't find the damn power supply.)

Thanks so much for any input!!!!

clarknova · Mar 10, 2010, 4:54 AM

Your modem won't work that way. I don't know why, but I've googled it a lot and apparently it's just not cut out for it.

If I were in your situation I would go find a power supply for my ATA. The dollar store here sells universal power supplies (switchable ends, switchable voltage) for around $10 (how they can call themselves a dollar store, I don't know).

Or you can get a Linksys PAP2T-NA for around $50.

Or you can get an FXS card for your freeswitch/pfsense box. You can plug your phone into it and it will do what you want your modem to do, which is show up as an extension under freeswitch. I forget what they cost but there's tonnes of them for sale new on ebay. Check the freepbx forums if you want to get a sense of the good brands. As I recall, there's basically one dominant manufacturer (digium?), and then there's a Chinese clone brand that is much cheaper and reputed to be quite good (openvox?). I suspect it would be cheaper to just buy another ATA though.

mechanicalmetal · Mar 10, 2010, 10:22 AM

Man you hit the nail on the head! Thanks for the info… Im just gonna go buy another ATA and stop being cheap :P

@clarknova:

Your modem won't work that way. I don't know why, but I've googled it a lot and apparently it's just not cut out for it.

If I were in your situation I would go find a power supply for my ATA. The dollar store here sells universal power supplies (switchable ends, switchable voltage) for around $10 (how they can call themselves a dollar store, I don't know).

Or you can get a Linksys PAP2T-NA for around $50.

Or you can get an FXS card for your freeswitch/pfsense box. You can plug your phone into it and it will do what you want your modem to do, which is show up as an extension under freeswitch. I forget what they cost but there's tonnes of them for sale new on ebay. Check the freepbx forums if you want to get a sense of the good brands. As I recall, there's basically one dominant manufacturer (digium?), and then there's a Chinese clone brand that is much cheaper and reputed to be quite good (openvox?). I suspect it would be cheaper to just buy another ATA though.

chpalmer · Mar 11, 2010, 4:36 AM

Go to a Goodwill store… Lots of PS there...

johnvan · Mar 17, 2010, 3:12 PM

I just bought a magicjack myself. I ordered a thin client which won't use much power.
Go to http://www.magicjacksupport.com/ and click on the buy/sell directory. A user there sells preconfigured thin clients for about $50. His handle is alpman.