Product description

This device connects a receiver, such as an "All Hazards" warning receiver, to an Asterisk PBX. The intended purpose is to allow the warning messages to be broadcast over the Asterisk paging system.

There are 3 connections

  1. Audio input. 2.5 mm jack, speaker level (not headphone level)
  2. Power input. 2.1 mm coaxial. Pin is positive. 12 - 16 vdc. (Power cube not included).
  3. RJ-11 connection to the PBX

Operation

  • Define an extension on the PBX that is connected to the ZAP port you intend to use. In my case, I called it extension "Alert 981".
    • Give it a custom context. I used "custom-ebs-alert".
    • Set "immediate" to "yes"
  • Edit "extensions_custom.conf"
    • Add a new context at the end of the file. This will perform the Page when the zap channel goes off hook. It will record the page for future replay.

[custom-ebs-alert]
exten => s,1,Noop(EBS Alert)
exten => s,n,Answer()
exten => s,n,Set(_FORCE_PAGE=0)
exten => s,n,Macro(user-callerid,)
exten => s,n,Set(_AMPUSER=${AMPUSER})
exten => s,n,Set(CALLFILENAME=/var/spool/asterisk/monitor/Alert-${STRFTIME(${EPOCH},,%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)})
exten => s,n,Set(DB(alerts/time)=${EPOCH})
exten => s,n,Set(DB(alerts/file)=${CALLFILENAME})
exten => s,n,Monitor(wav,${CALLFILENAME})
exten => s,n,Page(LOCAL/PAGE202@ext-paging)
exten => h,1,Noop(EBS Alert - hungup)
exten => h,n,System(rm ${CALLFILENAME}-out.wav -f)

  • Under [from-internal-custom], I added an extension 981 so that I could call-back and replay an alert if I need to hear it again. Call 981, it will announce the time of the last alert, then play the alert to you.
  • Playback the last EBS Alert message
exten => 981,1,Noop(EBS Alert - replay message)
exten => 981,n,Answer
exten => 981,n,Wait(1)
exten => 981,n,SayUnixTime(${DB(alerts/time)},,Q\'at\'IMp)
exten => 981,n,Playback(${DB(alerts/file)}-in)
exten => 981,n,Hangup
  • Connect the board
  • Connect a 12vdc power supply to the board
  • Connect a speaker-level source the audio jack
  • Connect the board to the PBX extension
  • Testing
  • Turn on the radio so that audio plays to the board. The LED should light. Turn off audio, the LED to turn off in 3 seconds.
  • With the audio on, the PBX should have activated the paging group you defined. Set the volume level on the radio so that the page is a comfortable level.
  • Repeat testing.