Scanner feed over VoIP

[Inssomniak]

Hey all.

I own and operate an ISP, and have started to implement VoiP service as well.
I also operate my RR scanner feed as a hobby for the area.

I was thinking of a neat idea, that would allow customers to dial an extension/number, and a device will answer the phone and takes an audio input (a VoiP phone/ATA with an analog input). The audio input could be the output of a computer listening to the scanner feed from Radioreference.

If a customer saw something interesting, one of the easiest things to do is pick up a cordless phone and dial a 4 digit number, and listen in. Even better if the phone had speakerphone capabilities.

Has anyone else tried anything like this? Or know of any SIP hardware that has audio inputs?

 

[n5ims]

Done all of the time in small broadcast networks or "listen line" applications. There are devices that are certified for direct connection to the phone network that should do what you want easily and legally. One such device is this http://www.scmsinc.com/shop-item/st...0-comrex-9500-0250-tcb-2-auto-answer-coupler/

You simply plug the device into a phone line and your audio feed into the audio connection, set the levels and you're ready to roll. Be aware that some units (often those with a low price) will hold the line until the announcement is done so those won't work for you. You'll need a device that senses when the user hangs up and disconnects.

 

[webstar22]

If you run asterisk you can set it up to pull music on hold from an input and then that input can be setup as an extension you can dial.
OR
Put the scanner on a computer, put a softphone on the computer, join the softphone to a conference bridge and anyone can join that conference and listen in. Just make it so it mutes all other parties but the scanner.

There are multiple ways to do it.

 

[Bellingham_Scanner]

That seem like a well... redundant idea to put it nicely.

With all the free smartphone apps that pull the feeds directly why would anyone use their talk minutes to listen to scanner audio?

I was contacted by ZenoRadio a few months ago to add my feed, they are doing this exact thing already and I asked them the same question but got no response.

 

[Inssomniak]

That seem like a well... redundant idea to put it nicely.

With all the free smartphone apps that pull the feeds directly why would anyone use their talk minutes to listen to scanner audio?

I was contacted by ZenoRadio a few months ago to add my feed, they are doing this exact thing already and I asked them the same question but got no response.

Actually I wasn't talking about ppl using their cell minutes but landline phones.
Or perhaps ppl with cell phones that aren't smart?
Thanks for the ideas that's great!!

Anyone offhand know what kind of feed the RR feed is and if it can be used as hold music in asterisk?

 

[KLH]

I've been doing this for many, many years now, for my local feed.
I use a free service called IPKall.com to get a free number that forwards all calls to my Asterisk box.
From the Asterisk box, I have a conference room setup that automatically mutes all incoming calls, and from my computer I run a SIP client connected to the conference (unmuted) running 24/7.

Not everyone has a smart phone, and most carriers offer free nights/weekends or free calling to friends/family numbers, so they aren't wasting their minutes.

I also took it a step further and got a free google voice number to forward to my IPKall number. This way I have a local number (that I don't give out to anyone so it wont get overloaded) and I can use any phone (like work) and not use long distance.

 

[KLH]

And just another tidbit.
I tried many times to do the MOH thingy with Asterisk and the RR Feeds. I was able to get it to work about 10% of the time is all, and I eventually gave up on the idea. It was to buggy at the time(s) I always tried getting it to work. Doing the conference rooms was so much easier, but I was limited to just using MY feed.