Using My PC For Plain Old Telephone Service? 248
TheJerbear79 writes "I recently accepted a work-from-home job that will involve using my landline to talk to customers. When I log into the phone queue, my landline will ring, I'll put in a three digit code, and then calls are routed to the phone line I'm on. It essentially turns my landline into a softphone. Rather than using a regular handset or obtaining a nice business phone with a headset and speakerphone, I would like to use my PC's modem in conjunction with a normal PC headset and soundcard. I know the hardware is capable, but the modem didn't come with appropriate software. Has anyone found anything cheap/free that would suit this kind of usage? Just for clarity, I don't want to use a VOIP solution; I need to use my plain old landline. My reason is this: if I'm watching a movie or listening to an MP3 while I'm waiting for a call, I don't want it to ever be apparent to the person who is on the phone with me, and I want to route all the audio I use through a single headset. I've scoured Google for anything close to this application, and all I've managed to find is information on VOIP software or programs that turn my PC into an answering machine, neither of which will work."
Perhaps a better solution... (Score:5, Informative)
This is probably better to do in hardware than in software. Here's what I'd try:
Get a phone that has a jack for a headset. These are usually a 3/32" connector that carries both microphone and audio. Connect to this an adaptor that splits it into two 1/8" connectors, one for headphones and one for mic. You probably have some headphones with a boom mic attached that has separate lines for audio and microphone. Just run the mic line into the mic port on the splitter, or use a lapel mic. Take the audio from the telephone, and feed it into a hardware mixer--just pick up any cheap mixer from Radio Shack. Then you can mix your computer's audio into the headphones as well. That way, you're not dependent on the computer working properly to be able to do your job, you can control audio source volumes quickly and independently from each other, and you could even add something like a DVD player or stereo to your mixer and be able to listen to that as well.
If you wanted to get really fancy, you could throw an audio compressor with sidechaining, such as the Alesis 3630 [alesis.com], into the pipeline. Route the telephone's output so it goes through the compressor's sidechain channel, and run the computer's audio through the main input on the compressor. Then, whenever audio comes in through the phone line, the sound of the computer will automatically lower.
Re:Asterisk? (Score:5, Informative)
Addition:
I suggest that you take a look at http://www.asterisknow.org/ [asterisknow.org] for Asterisk as an appliance.
Add a TDM410 [digium.com] card to be able to connect your POTS line.
The use of a softphone like Express Talk [nch.com.au] will allow you to use your headset. Some softphones will automatically mute your movie or music when a call arrives.
Go with Plantronics... (Score:1, Informative)
Plantronics makes great phone headsets for the call center industry. They have some models that take audio from a phone and audio from a PC, so you can listen to audio from your PC while you wait for a call.
It sounds like you're unfortunate enough to work for a very cheap company that forces its call center employees to work from home, and won't even buy/loan you a decent phone.
I'd look for another job asap.
Here's an even simpler option: get one of the multimedia USB keyboards with many extra buttons. One of them is usually the volume/mute button.
Re:Asterisk? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Asterisk? (Score:3, Informative)
You are new to telephony aren't you. Echo is not always between speaker and mic.
Re:Not a softphone (Score:5, Informative)
The reason he didn't ask your suggested question is simply because that is not what he wants to know.
He is asking what software is required to route the internal modem's POTS audio to the speakers and mic.
Most decent modems used to come with the necessary dialler software, however it is rapdidly disappearing.
He is NOT asking for external hardware to manage the relative levels of the PC audio and a separate POTS system.
Voice/Speakerphone modem software (Score:2, Informative)
I think the info you're looking for is here: http://www.modemsite.com/56K/voice.asp
Quoting: "Voice modem chipset makers include in the driver or firmware code to interface to the wave device, but do not develop the software that provides voice functionality. The modem makers generally bundle "compatible" third-party voice modem software. Some voice modem software offerings: Ring Central, BVRP, and Messaging Software."
Perhaps something here? (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.GNUtelephony.org/
Get Real! (Score:1, Informative)
If you want to do business... do business... don't be cheap.... and stop playing around with
"soundcards and what if I'm listening an mp3... and what if whatever"
Get an asterisk setup... connect your land lines in there.... set up an auto attendant and a voice mail for when you are not near the phone to pick up.
Get a PHONE... if you want quality with your paying customers, get a phone.... what's the big deal? A cisco 7940 is like 50 bucks in ebay this days.... is compatible with most "real" headsets, and will give you the best voice quality in the market.
I mean.... a cheap computer to run asterisk with one of those Intel Modems (15 bucks) to connect your land line.... like 80 bucks for an old machine (any old P3 or P4 will suffice)... a cisco phone, like 50 bucks.... total budget 145 bucks (ebay)....
What do you get with that? proven performance that is business quality, that everyone knows that works.... when I'm doing business that is what I want.
do you want to start a company with less than 145 bucks for phone infrastructure? come on! get real!
Re:Asterisk? (Score:3, Informative)
The hardware hack in the first post is the way to go, but you'll learn something from using Asterisk (this means it's hard to use... incredibly cool, but with great power comes the occasional configuration headache: it does not know what you mean). If you use it, you don't need an external softphone. You can dial or receive calls from the Asterisk console.
If you don't want to do this in hardware and you don't want to buy a digium card (or its equivalent) and discover The Future of Telephony, consider calling in to the queue through a VOIP service from any old softphone. If you're a Windows user, I recommend X-lite, but they're mostly created equal. If you have to forward your home phone to your VOIP service, that's not so hard. Your friends who have recommended this option are not stupid.
I can't recommend a free VOIP service (Free World Dialup is now no longer free), but there are many that are pennies a day.
Re:Asterisk? (Score:4, Informative)
Works better, it doesn't have deadlocks, it's SIP stack is 100% RFC compliant, complete, all follow all the standards.
FreeSWITCH developers also don't re-invent the wheel every time they add something, they re-use stuff, like PCRE, Apache Portable Runtime (APR), SQLite, Sofia-SIP, etc.
I highly recommend FreeSWITCH instead of Asterisk.
http://freeswitch.org/
How does FreeSWITCH compare to Asterisk?
http://freeswitch.org/node/117
Re:Your hardware probably isn't capable at all. (Score:3, Informative)
Yes, I use vgetty as an answerphone --- I have it set up so that messages get ogg compressed and emailed to me (because I'm much more likely to actually *get* them that way than I would if I simply relied on noticing the flashing light on the answering machine).
What software is available that can make use of the modem in full duplex mode? I know, for example, that Asterisk can't, and requires weird proprietary hardware rather than a standard modem, which is a shame, because modems are practically free these days.
Something like this... (Score:1, Informative)
I think the poster is looking for something like this, though perhaps cheaper.
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/win/20024
I'm also rather surprised this basic functionality isn't more widely available, or built into an OS as a gimmick. I remember my first laptop back in '95 came with something similar preinstalled.
VoIP router (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Asterisk? (Score:2, Informative)
This is overkill as a solution, and does involve VoIP, but since it runs on Linux, and this is /., well, why not.
I'd recommend PBXinaFlash [pbxinaflash.com]. It's the best way to get up and running in an hour or less. Very painless install, and a solid solution that does everything and more out-of-the-box.
Telephony Box (Score:2, Informative)
http://www.exceletel.com/support/hardware/VoiceModems/index.htm [exceletel.com]
Telephony cards are not cheap but I finally found a company that makes a external telephony box that did exactly what I wanted. It isn't cheap though but it will give you complete control over the telephone line via your PC.
http://www.way2call.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=9 [way2call.com]
You can program it using their supplied API or using Microsoft TAPI. If that is too daunting then I would recommend using software from this company.
http://www.exceletel.com/products/teletools.htm [exceletel.com]
Good luck!
Re:Asterisk? (Score:3, Informative)
Asterisk in whatever solution you choose will turn your machine into a full-fleged PBX system capable of delivering a voice menu to your users and doing least cost call routing. For a while I had mine set up with a VOIP service and it would route 800, local and 911 calls out the landline (Which also has a plain old non-wireless telephone plugged into it for emergencies.) If the call wasn't local it would check enum to see if the phone number had an IP address associated with it and would establish a direct connection if that were the case. Finally it would try the voip service.
On the inbound side, I had a Nokia E70 mobile phone that would register on my wlan and connect to the asterisk box when I was at home. Calls to my landline would ring it if I was home or re-route through my voip service to my cell number if I was anywhere else.
Turns out I don't call people or get called enough to keep it all running, but it was very fun to set up. Dedicated PBX systems will cost a lot more than your PC plus the cost of even a digium card, will be harder to configure and will offer a lot less functionality than the Asterisk solution.
Re:Telephony Box (Score:3, Informative)
The HiPhone desktop at way2call works for what you want to do. They have a very good SDK as well.
Having used modems with Asterisk you really want a purpose built product, and even the HiPhone is pushing it. After a few years of use the HiPhone will develop hiss and the sound quality decreases.
We migrated to VoIP (I could get you a deal on the HiPhone having many many of them), but we keep all the IP on our Lan.
Good luck.
Try SuperVoice Pro (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.supervoice.com
Seems to do what you want. You might need to run a wire from your modem to the TAD connector on your sound card.
Cheers!
Get an FXO device (Score:3, Informative)
I had previously done research on this for a contract and the fact was the only modem that supported voice on POTS was discontinued some years ago. Probably the best solution you will be able to find that is supported, especially on Linux, is the Grandstream HandyTone HT-503 device.
The non-obvious secret to these devices is that there are two kinds of PSTN connection devices. The first is the simple dial-out-only devices called FXS. You don't want those because they are unable to accept incoming phone calls--they just hook to your telephone desk sets.
What you want is an FXO device, but be careful. Some devices only accept incoming calls and some only dial out. You want the one that does both, and one that has both FXS and FXO ports on it so you will only need one device for everything you want. The Grandstream HandyTone HT-503 device is that device. (This is the new version of the discontinued HandyTone 488.)
I actually have a device that might do that... (Score:4, Informative)
Up in my closet somewhere I have a PC/POTS switch. It allows you to flip a switch between receiving audio input from the PC and audio input from a POTS system, all on the same headset. It's really simple and I've never used it but I recall that it does work.
It's remarkably simple and I can't remember the name of it for the life of me.
If you want it, my email address has been unmasked enough for you to email me. I'll send it to you for cost of shipping.