Wireless VoIP for PC based system

[systemkeeper]

I need a small (2-4 phones, 1 CO Line) wireless system to cover about a 200 acre field. It seems that I would need several wireless nodes to cover the area. AC Power is not a main concern for the nodes. I would like to use VoIP and a router or PC to control calls between phones and to have the phones access the CO line. Am I wishing for something that is not made or is outpriced for the small number of users? It needs to operate like a set of Cell sites.Small handheld phones with good coverage.

I would settle for less than VoIP but it seems that it would make the best choice for the long term.

 

[pansophic]

You could look at Asterisk, an open-source VoIP phone system. If you are really interested in VoIP, you could run 802.11(a, b or g) to a PDA with a wireless card.

http://www.asterisk.org

Still, it is not very cost effective IMHO. A multi-handset 2.4G Hz or 5.8G Hz wireless system could be purchased for the cost of a wireless AP and PDA.

http://www.vtechphones.com/vtechui/products/

pansophic

 

[systemkeeper]

pansophic,

The Asterisk product looks like what I am looking for in an IP environment. I will have to pursue it further.

The Vtech phones would work great and be less of a headache to set up but can I use three or four of the base units tied to one phone line? I have a 2.4 GHz spread spectrum now that gets me about one third of the way (about 1000 feet). I need to be able to walk around inside of a rectangle of roughly 2000 by 4000 feet. I put the spread spectrum in the middle but it can't reliably cover the end points. And also I can't make calls from handset to handset.

Thanks for the info. I have not been able to find any products that where less than 500.00 for one handset.

 

[pansophic]

You would need to replace the antenna(s) on the 2.4G Hz cordless systems to get the range that you need. You should be able to use an 802.11b antenna, like a high gain omni. It should get you the range that you need, all the way out.

Wireless ISPs use these antennas to get about a 1/2 mile (2,500 ft) through buildings. You'll need some height as well, but if you are on a farm, putting the antenna on the roof of your barn will probably give you enough range.

And my Vtech phones allow handset to handset calling. 12 handsets per system. And each handset was under $100.


pansophic

 

[sipvoip]

Xten.com also makes WiFi VoIP software available for Pocket PC. It's compliant with Asterisk.

http://www.xten.com