Overhead Paging for RasPi on Incredible GUI

[Stepan Novotill]

These instructions configure 3 different ways to overhead page via your Raspberry Pi with Incredible GUI. You will need to plug an amplified PC speaker into your Pi. This has been tested to work out of the box on a fresh install. Nothing profound here but nevertheless hereby released under GPL.

1 - Call extension 789
or
2 - Dial feature code *51
or
3 - Directly from IVR

Note: Pi has no microphone input. If you need bidirectional sound then a USB sound card will be needed. If you need a doorphone then GPIO will need to be used to trigger an outbound call from the Pi paging extension 789(in this example) and with additional complexity to unlock the door remotely. Google the following phrase without any quotes for information how to do this: Raspberry Doorbell Asterisk
Example: http://pbxinaflash.com/community/index.php?resources/raspberry-pi-as-an-asterisk-doorbell.19/

It would be VERY cool if "doorphone" was one of the standard apps on IncrediblePBX for Pi2. (I'm not going to have time to implement that any time soon)

All configuration is done via the GUI, but the initial sound test is via command prompt.
 
(A) Configure built in ALSA sound card for Asterisk autoanswer:
Plug an amplified PC speaker into your Pi and test the sound via ALSA:
  SSH in as root and type: echo "Hello World" | flite
  If you don't hear anything then fix this first.
Other / Config Edit /etc/asterisk / alsa.conf
  (modify the following entries to be as shown)
  autoanswer=yes
  context=local
  extension=s
  ;input_device=hw:0,0
  output_device=hw:0,0
  noaudiocapture=true
Click: Update
Tell Asterisk to load ALSA at startup:
Other / Config Edit /etc/asterisk / modules.conf
  (modify the following entries to be as shown)
  load  => chan_alsa.so
  noload => chan_oss.so
Click: Update
 
(B) Configure overhead paging feature, feature code *51 was free on my system.
Add in (insert) a custom dial plan script under existing label [from-internal-custom]
so that we can access the soundcard as a paging port:
Other / Config Edit /etc/asterisk / extensions_custom.conf
  (insert the following entries under existing label [from-internal-custom])
  ;# // BEGIN Overhead Paging
  exten => *51,1,Flite("Please speak after the beep, then hang up.")
  exten => *51,2,playback(beep)
  exten => *51,3,Dial(console/alsa,20,A(beep))
  exten => *51,4,Hangup()
  ;In place of the "beep", you can put any gsm/ulaw audio file.
  ;# // END Overhead Paging
Restart Asterisk and test paging functionality (you may have to do this later)
  Reload the config via CLI: core reload
  Dial the "Paging Code"? *51 from any handy telephone.
 
(C) Register the Paging Application with FreePBX so it can be accessed in IVR
Applications / Misc Destinations
  Add Misc Destination
      Description: Overhead Paging
      Dial: *51
  Click Submit followed by Apply Config.
Applications / Misc Applications
  Add Misc Application
      Description: Overhead Paging
      Feature Code: *51
      Status: Enabled
  Destination: Misc Destinations  Overhead Paging
  Click Submit followed by Apply Config.
 
(D) Add it to your existing IVR
Applications / nv-ivr  (at far right))
    Add the IVR Entry: Misc Destinations  Overhead Paging
    Don't forget to update your original IVR announcement
 
(E) Optionally configure Custom Extension 789 (or any other) for soundcard output:
Applications / Extensions
  Device: Other (Custom) Device
  Click on Submit
Add Extension  |    Edit Extension
  User Extension: 789
  Display Name: Overhead
  CID Num Alias: <leave blank>
  SIP Alias: <leave blank>
Extension Options
  Queue State Detection: Use State
  Outbound CID: <leave blank>
  Asterisk Dial Options: Ttr  Override: No
  Ring Time: Default  (this extension is Auto Answer instead)
  Call Forward Ring Time: Default
  Outbound Concurrency Limit: No Limit
  Call Waiting: Enable
  Internal Auto Answer: Intercom
  Call Screening: Disable
  Pinless Dialing: Disable
  Emergency CID: <leave blank>
Assigned DID/CID
  DID Description: <leave blank>
  Add Inbound DID: <leave blank>
  Add Inbound CID: <leave blank>
Device Options
  dial: console/alsa
Call Camp-On Services
  Caller Policy: Generic Device
  Callee Policy: Generic Device
Default Group Inclusion
  Default Directory: Exclude
Dictation Services
  Dictation Service: Disabled
  Dictation Format: Ogg Vorbis
  Email Address: <leave blank>
Fax
  Enabled: No
  Fax Email: <leave blank>
  Attachment Format: pdf
Paging and Intercom
  Intercom Override: Force
Recording Options
  Inbound External Calls: Yes
  Outbound External Calls: Yes
  Inbound Internal Calls: Yes
  Outbound Internal Calls: Yes
  On Demand Recording: Enable
  Record Priority Policy: 10
User Manager Settings
  Assign to a Default User: None
Voicemail
  Status: Disabled
  Voicemail Password: <leave blank>
  Email Address: <leave blank>
  Pager Email Address: <leave blank>
  Email Attachment: <leave blank>
  Play CID: <leave blank>
  Play Envelope: <leave blank>
  Delete Voicemail: <leave blank>
  VM Options: <leave blank>
  VM Context: default
VmX Locater
  VmX Locater: Disabled
  Use When:  unavailable: No  busy: No  temp: No
  Voicemail Instructions: Standard Voicemail prompts
  Press 0: <leave blank>  Go To Operator: Yes
  Press 1: <leave blank>
  Press 2: <leave blank>
Optional Destinations
  No Answer: Unavail Voicemail if Enabled
  CID Prefix: <leave blank>
  Busy: Busy Voicemail if Enabled
  CID Prefix: <leave blank>
  Not Reachable: Unavail Voicemail if Enabled
  CID Prefix: <leave blank>
Click Submit followed by Apply Config.
 
If you skip the CLI reloads then you may need to reboot after configuring.