Extensions

• Casey Diers - KV3T
  • 5811 - Main Extension
  • 5812 - Testing / Soft Phone
• NS9RC Phones - Testing and Demos
  • 6711 - NS9RC 1
  • 6712 - NS9RC 2
• Randy Smith - WU2S
  • 8811 - Main Extension

MeshPhone Info

This PBX is connected to the N2MH MeshPhone network. We have the 847 prefix as our NPA (number planning area, or “Area Code”). So all local extensions above are available at that extension with the 847 prefix. So for example, from the local pbx you can reach Casey at 5811, or from a different MeshPhone connected network, you can reach Casey via 847-5811.

Setup Instructions

Register with the PBX

The first step in getting connected is to get an extension[s] registered with the PBX. This is currently managed by Randy - WU2S. He can be reached on the CAREDN groups.io page, or via his email address which is accessible via QRZ.

Phone numbers are assigned via the first four digits of your callsign, via the letter to number mapping on virtually all phone number pads. As an example, Casey’s callsign is KV3T. K = 5 and V = 8, therefore Casey’s phone extensions begin at 5811. Let Randy know how many phones you plan to register with the PBX, and he will setup the extensions and send you the credentials to get connected.

Hard Phone Setup Instructions

FIXME: Fill in this section

Software Phone Setup Instructions

Linphone or similar Setup (on phone, tablet or PC) Go to account assistant, click on use a sip account, and fill in the following information:

SIP Address: [Your Extension]

SIP Domain: wu2s-pbx.local.mesh

Password: [Your Password]

Transport: UDP

Voicemail

The PBX system has the full capability to do voicemail just like any other phone system. Upon activation of your line, dial the voicemail system “*97” or there may be a specific button on your phone to do so. You will be prompted to record your outgoing messages and to save a pin code. After the system is setup, your mailbox will accept and store messages, and your phone will notify you when you have voicemail waiting for you.

Feature Codes and Functions

FreePBX Feature Codes

The Mesh PBX system is a standard install of the open source FreePBX system. Basically anything that FreePBX can do, this system can do. Feel free to explore the system, and reach out to Casey with any questions or additional features you would like to have included. Below are some of the most common features codes you will use:

• *97: Access the voicemail of the extension you are calling from.
• *98: Access the voicemail of any extension on the system. You will be prompted to enter a mailbox number.

Test Kit Functions

The PBX as current configured provides a number of test functionalities:

DTMF Test - Extension xx91.

When you call this number you will be prompted to enter DTMF digits. When finished entering digits, dial #. Alison will read back the DTMF digits she decoded. This is useful if you have trouble getting your dialled DTMF digits through the network. If you do have problems, it is sometimes useful to repeat the test and hold the dialpad keys down a little longer.

Date and Time - Extension xx92.

Dialling this number will give you your local date and time as set in your Linux operating system.

Echo Test - Extension xx94.

Dialling this number will loop your audio back to yourself. This is useful for estimating network delay as well as dropouts. It is also useful if you like talking to yourself.

Milliwatt - Extension xx95.

Dialling this number will return a steady 1000 Hz tone. This is useful for setting analog levels or for determining network dropouts. (If you hear anything but a steady, constant tone, you have dropouts.) It should also be useful for estimating distortion. However, no information is available as to the tone’s actual level, frequency, or distortion spec.

Tone Slope - Extension xx96.

Similar to milliwatt, this number will return 3 tones: 300 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2804 Hz, each lasting for about 10 seconds. This pattern will continue for about 5 minutes. This is useful in the analog world for estimating equalization of a circuit.

PBX Identification - Extension xx97.

This number will return a CW message with the PBX identification.

Extension Identification - Extension xx98.

Allison will read back your extension number. A similar block of utility extensions is present on every MeshPhone PBX. See the Network Test Numbers page for the list of PBX’s and their test numbers.

These tests, especially the tone test, milliwatt tone slope and DTMF tests enable a PBX manager to determine the quality of the voice circuit.

Hardware Recommendations

AREDN has some guidance on hardware to be used available here:

https://www.arednmesh.org/content/ip-phones-used-mesh

Also, old analog phones can be used on the mesh using the grandstream Analog Telephone Adapter (such as the Grandstream HT502).

Many of the phones on the AREDN recommendation list are available inexpensively on eBay.

What is MeshPhone

MeshPhone as explained by Mark N2MH, June 18, 2018.

MeshPhone can simply be called any phone (hard, soft, or adapter) that is on the Mesh and can call another phone on the Mesh.

Or, it can refer to the MeshPhone VoIP Network that connects a number of PBXs networked together with a common number plan. It has more than 15 PBX’s networked together on many different Mesh networks. Any one user can dial any other user on the Network by dialing a unique 7 digit number. Most PBX’s are running some variant of asterisk (FreePBX, AllStar, raw asterisk). Little known is the fact that asterisk can also be used as a network device in addition to being a telephone server. Thus, each PBX does not need to have connectivity into every other PBX. It can funnel its traffic through a common PBX (or PBX’s) to set up the end-to-end call.

Thus, MeshPhone is not an App but clever use of many copies of an App to make something bigger and provide service to a number of people or organizations. Already, there are a number of extensions installed in Red Cross Chapters, county EOC’s, and other first-responder agencies. Some people have put together portable / mobile PBX’s for field use which connect back to the main network when needed. \

Additional MeshPhone information can be accessed here: http://n2mh-meshphone2.local.mesh/meshphone/index.html

In order to reach outside lines beyond the CAREDN PBX, you simply dial “78#” you will then receive another dial tone. This is the MeshPhone dial tone. You can now type in a MeshPhone planning area number, or MeshPhone “Area Code” and then the extension you are trying to reach on that PBX.

For example, to call Casey from within CAREDN, you simply dial the [extension], or 5811. However, from a different PBX on the MeshPhone network, you would dial “78#” …and pause for dial tone. Then dial [number planning area] or “847” then [extension] “5811”. So 78# pause 547-5811. You can test this by dialing the local time test function on the N2MH PBX by dialing 78#, wait for dial tone, then NPA 973 then extension 2192. So 78# pause 973-2192