Grandstream's HT818 for Asterisk Deployments with Numerous Analog Devices
When deploying an Asterisk
IP-PBX with numerous analog endpoints,
the best solution is a FXS gateway device that offers numerous ports. An
example of such a deployment would be a facility that has offices, each with an Ethernet (RJ-45)
connection for direct IP access, (the IP phone and PC can be share the
line through the Ethernet phone port), but may also have a warehouse or operations
area where analog phones exist and running new cables would be expensive.
Cables can run anywhere from $180.00 to over $300.00 per cable depending on
logistics, ceiling height and if a lift would be required.
Many hybrid phone system installations require gateways from one type of protocol to another. Grandstream is known to produce quality affordable gateways among their many products.
Phones in warehouse environments like these are typically distributed in various areas along walls or on vertical steel beams where employees, who don't use the phone often, take or make an occasional call. Some phones may be required by OSHA. In any event these analog phones and other devices will remain analog and be connected from a FXS (RJ-11) port (SIP to analog) connection in the phone closet. In some installations it's not unusual to have 8, 12 or more analog devices. Rather than using multiple 2 port ATAs, where two or even three would be acceptable, using a FXS gateway device with multiple ports has advantages. Grandstream's HT818 offers 8 FXS ports and has proven to be a solid cost effective solution. The HT818 offers dual Gigabit ports, an integrated NAT router and QoS for more stable VoIP services.
Configuration for Grandstream HT818 with Asterisk
Grandstream Analog-VoIP converter, the HT818 is a 8-port VoIP gateway with 8 FXS ports and an integrated Gigabit NAT router.
Gets the job done. Affordable & Well built.
The Grandstream HT818
FXS gateway offers an array of
advanced settings through the built in GUI, however in most cases the
settings that most installations require are rudimentary. By using the user's
guide along with the installation video below configuration should be fairly straight
forward. Resources are available from Grandstream, which makes this
multiport FXS gateway a go to solution.
Here's some primary features of the Grandstream HT818:
- Supports 2 SIP profiles and 8 FXS ports
- 3-way voice conferencing per port
- Exceptional voice quality with wide-band HD codec
- Security Protection
- Support for T.38 fax
- Supports dual Gigabit network ports
NOTE: By default the GUI of the HT818 device is disabled. The first thing to do when installing one is to get connected by setting up your IP address and connect with a analog phone connected to an FXS port, then using the dial menu to enable the GUI interface.