Help on getting hardware

[webgurru]

Hi,
I am really new to VICIDIAL. I want to setup this for up to 50 agents. My full requirements are below

Total Agents: 50
Maximum simultaneous calls: 50
Dialing: Outbound only
Dial type: Predictive, Power and Preview
Recordings: All calls
Call through: Telco lines (not voip)

Could you please suggest me required hardware including computer(s), dialling card(s), phones and any other card/box to connect to regular ISDN lines.

I'll be thankful.
Best regards,
Webgurru

[marcin]

do not use tc400b

[webgurru]

Hi Marcin,

Thanks for your reply any specific reason not to use this card? Could you please also tell me about other hardware.

Best regards,
Webgurru

[marcin]

I ran in to big problems when using tc400b with asterisk 1.2.24 and 1.4.21.2 . zaptel is unable to handle amount of calls on tc400b that was design for. In both cases the asterisk stop working in 5-7 hours.
Digium answer to a problem was : UPGRADE.

50 agents and 50 calls, are you planning to call 1:1 ratio?
In reality you will be calling between 1:1.5 to 1:3 depend on quality of your leads. This creates need for about 150 channels to be open at once. AND full recording. What you would need to do: is setup at least 4 servers:
Web server serving pages to your agents.
Database server holding your mysql records/leads...
and at least two asterisk servers for your agents to log on to.
In addition it may not be a bad idea to get a "big" nas server to store all the recordings.
web and db server may be little less powerful i.e. dual 2.4 gig with 2-4 gig of ram but your asterisk servers should be better. To save cost you may split the asterisk in to 3 servers and have about 20 agents log on to it at once. In that case similar servers would be fine.

[marcin]

In regards to your telco connection. 150 lines, you are looking at 6 pri, 2 if you going to use only 47 or 59 lines. I am not sure what country are you in.
If you want to use ISDN connection I would not recommend, see http://voip-manager.net/asterisk-isdn.php .
With the number of connections I would recommend voip and a termination service. With g729 codecs you may fit up to 140 open channels via single T1 line (1.54 Mbps) or similar type of connection. Let me know what is available.

[webgurru]

Hi Marcin,

Thaks for your quick replies. I am not an expert in phone lines and types. I have to find a cheapest way to get about 50 agents online in ratio of 1:1.5 or max 1:2. Please suggest me if VOIP (quality should not be compromised) is the best and cheap. I want to set this up in UK. Also please guide me if I want this for 25 agents.

Best regards,
Webgurru

[marcin]

25 agents and 1:2 ratio requires 50 channels. In UK I believe the pri line is a E1 30 channels 59 available with 2 E1 lines. If quality is up most important you should use PRI, but it will be very expensive. Check with your local telephone company.
If you may compromise a sound quality a little; do some testing; you may use 1 E1 internet line and fit about 180 channels using IAX to your provider. This option will be lot less expensive.
For 25 agents you are looking at minimum two servers: asterisk and web/mysql and they need to be at dual 2.8+ gig with 4+ gig of ram given-take. Again it will depend on type of connection and codecs.

[webgurru]

Hi Marcin,

I decided to go for VOIP with 25 agents in start. Please suggest what other cards/box besides 2 servers I require and which would be best to choose and easy to upgrade afterward to 50 or more agents. What type of internet connection I require? I am sorry to ask so much as I am new to this business. I am good in computers and software but not in phone system etc.

Best regards,
Webgurru

[marcin]

For VOIP you do not need any cards other then Network cards (NIC) and a symmetric internet connection with at least 1Mbps speed, up and down.
voip phones or softphones and a desktop computers at each desk for each agent.

[Op3r]

The biggest and fastest server should always be the database.

[webgurru]

Hi Marcin,

Once again thanks for your reply and I looked one service provider with 2MB SDSL. But in their description they are saying only 14 simultaneous calls. Could you please check it (I am not allowed to post link, I'll try to send this link in your PM) and suggest how many agents will be online with this capacity forgetting about server computers.

Best regards,
Webgurru

[marcin]

your provider is refering to alaw/ulaw codecs. You may want to check with them if g729 is supported.
I got the link via pm. will respond to it at the later time.