Need an auto-dialer program just to check for bad numbers

[joshtrico]

I know this question is potentially not directly about Vicidial, but this was one of the most likely message boards I found to help me.

I have a large database of contacts, but many of the phone numbers are disconnected/ out of service. I would like to be able to run an auto-dialer program on a computer with a modem (NOT VOIP, just dial out from a modem; I have regular phone service so I don't need a VOIP subscription on top of that just for this task) that would just dial the list of numbers just to detect if it gets an out-of-service message/sit tone or if the call goes through and is a good number. I've done a ton of searching around already, but every auto-dialer program I've encountered is a fancy expensive system that plays automated messages and routes calls to live telemarketers, etc. Vicidial as well seems like a very complicated system for such a simple task, and is VOIP-based too, correct? All I want is a simple program that checks if a phone number is good or if it's a disconnected number, and let me know in the results log, and I don't want to pay an outlandish amount of money for something designed for professional telemarketing companies that does a lot more and/or is much more difficult to set up. Is there anything out there for my purposes? Or can Vicidial actually serve this purpose without a ton of headache?

I greatly appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks.

[williamconley]

Vicidial will perform this task, of course, quite easily. But Vicidial does not properly detect Disconnected numbers on SIP. However, if you were using a PSTN card or somehow managed to get a modem working with Asterisk, the PSTN hardware may do a better job of detecting disconnected numbers.

You could also try a "fax blaster" package but see if you can modify it to not send a fax (terminate call immediately upon answer?).

It would be pretty easy to write a simple asterisk dialplan that would accomplish the task, but asterisk is not functional with Modem.

There are "old" windows-based "answering machine/phone system" packages that worked with modems that may be helpful. OLD, though, LOL.

I believe FreePBX has a "message broadast" module these days that may also perform this task. Happy Hunting. Enjoy your visit from the FCC if you get caught using an autodialer to call people and hang up. And don't say you weren't warned! LOL

Consider: What if you made a deal with a Charity and broadcast Public Service Announcements instead?