Free Telephony Project
Open Telephony Hardware

Production IP04 and modules

IP04 IP-PBX

The IP04 is a 4 port IP-PBX that runs Asterisk and uClinux on a powerful embedded Blackfin processor. To build an Asterisk IP-PBX you normally need a x86 PC plus a PCI card for the analog ports. With the IP04 you get all of that functionality in a tiny, low cost, low power, silent box.

Unlike many other embedded processors, the Blackfin has enough DSP horsepower to handle multiple channels of echo cancellation and speech compression. This means that the IP04 is a complete IP-PBX with 4 analog ports. No PC required!

The 4 analog ports can be configured any way you like, using single port FXS/FXO modules. The IP04 auto-detects the module type when it powers up and helpful LEDs indicate what flavour (FXS or FXO) each port is.

Using the IP04 is similar to any other Asterisk box. You can telnet in, modify config files (or use the new Asterisk GUI). Setting up the IP04 is easier than a x86 PC based Asterisk system: you don't need to install Asterisk, or even Linux. The IP04 comes pre-loaded with Asterisk and uClinux, just telnet in to configure.

The IP04 is an open hardware design. This means the design is available for anyone to modify, improve, or hack. As it runs uClinux and Asterisk, the software is also free. The IP04 has been developed by a community of telephony professionals for community reasons. The Free Telephony Project has teamed with the good people at Atcom to put the IP04 into volume production.

By purchasing from this store you directly support the Free Telephony Project.

Skills

To use the IP04 is it recommended that you have (or be willing the learn) the following skills:

  1. Linux command line.

  2. Asterisk configuration using conf files.

Status

The status of the IP04 hardware and software is described here.

Getting Started with your IP04

Here are some notes on getting started with your IP04. If you have any questions, bug reports, or suggested improvements, please post to the Blackfin Asterisk forum or the Free Telephony Project Mailing List.

There an online IP04 and Asterisk training course, which covers basic dialplan configuration using command line and conf files on the IP04. The course is discussed in this blog post on a visit to East Timor where the course was first delivered.

Ordering an IP04

Note Make sure you choose one (and only one) of the Shipping options below. Contact me if you would like to make other shipping or payment arrangements.
Note The PayPal system used for this store also accepts credit cards - see lower left hand side of checkout screen. You do not need a PayPal account to use this store.
IP04 IP-PBX
IP04 IP-PBX - Assembled and tested Production IP04 with case, power supply and RS232 adaptor. The price does not include any FXS/FXO modules or shipping, please choose the FXO/FXS modules and shipping option you require below. 		USD$290
AUD$429
IP01 IP-PBX
IP01 IP-PBX - Assembled and tested IP01 with power supply. Single analog port version of the IP04. The price does not include any FXS/FXO modules or shipping, please choose the FXO/FXS modules and shipping option you require below. Important note for Australian customers re IP01 A-tick status. 		USD$160
AUD$240
FXS module Single port FXS Module to suit IP04 & IP01 USD$33
AUD$54.00
FXO module Single port FXO Module to suit IP04 & IP01 USD$35
AUD$57.00
AT-530 IP Phone Atcom AT-530 IP Phone to suit IP04 AUD$129.00
Air Mail Shipping option. Typical delivery time for international orders is 1-3 weeks. There is no tracking number. This is a good option if your local mail service is reliable. Express Post is used for Australian orders. USD$20
AUD$20.00
Courier Shipping option via EMS Courier. Typical delivery time is 1 week for international orders, 1-2 days for Australian orders. International orders can be tracked. USD$60
AUD$40.00

Notes:

  1. Australian customers please use the AUD$ option above If you are outside of Australia please use the USD$ option. Australian prices include 10% GST. Australian shipping prices are for delivery within Australia only.

  2. The modules you select will be fitted to your IP04 and the entire system tested before shipping.

  3. If you order more than 1 IP04 please email me with the specific module configuration of each IP04, as the online store can't capture this information (yet).

  4. Prices are exclusive of local taxes and import duties.

  5. The IP04 includes a universal power supply with a US-style (USD orders) or AU style (AUD orders) plug. You may need an adaptor for your country.

  6. IP04 Certifications: The IP04 has been tested to meet the following standards: FCC Part 68, FCC Part 15-B (USA); TBR-21, EN55022, EN60950 (Europe); S002, S003, CISPR 22, AS/NZS 60950.1:2003 (Australia).

  7. IP01 Certifications: None at present. Note that in your country it may be illegal to connect uncertified equipment to the PSTN. For Australian customers ACMA requires me to print this warning: 

    Do not connect this item to any telecommunications network of facility unless:

1. You have the written consent of the network of facility manager or
2. the connection is in accordance with a connection permit issued for
   this item or
3. a connection rule for this item has been made by the Australian
   Communications and Media Authority

The connection of this item to any telecommunications network or
facility may cause a hazard or damage to the network or facility, or
to users of the network or facility, and may result in you being
consequently liable to pay substantial compensation.

    This is a unfortunate, as the IP01 is basically identical to the IP04 which is A-ticked. However the compliance testing process requires us to repeat the same tests for the IP01 which is expensive ($5,000-10,000) and time consuming so we have no plans to A-tick the IP01 in the near future. We are still recovering from the IP04 A-tick process!

  8. Rowetel (well David) is the sole Australian distributor for the IP04. However if you are interested in distributing the IP04 in your own country/region please contact Edwin Chen, Technical Sales Manager at Atcom.

  9. Contact me if you would like to make other shipping or payment arrangements.

IP04 DIY Parts

If you are interested in hardware hacking how about building (as in soldering) your very own IP-PBX? This is a lot of fun but requires fine pitch surface mount soldering. To help you along I have bare (unsoldered) IP04 PCBs available, as well as pre-assembled and tested FXS/FXO modules, and a few other parts. There is also a parts list for the IP04 including Digikey part numbers that lists the other parts you need.

The DIY PCBs and modules are slightly different than the production (fully assembled) IP04 above, however they run identical software.

To understand what IP04 assembly is like I have blogged on the assembly of the BlackfinOne, a similar design. The IP04 is much simpler to assemble than a BlackfinOne, about 1 days work to build your very own uClinux/IP-PBX board. This blog post is consistently one of my most popular - due to the growing popularity of hardware hacking!

Open hardware hacking is actually getting easier. For example the tools for surface mount work are reasonably cheap (soldering iron and stereo microscope); there is free CAD software, low cost PCB fabrication, and web based components stores like Digikey.

AFAIK about 10-20 working IP04s have been constructed to date. It's hard for me to keep exact track as the IP04 design is open so anyone is free to make one.

The DIY IP04 is also a great project for general purpose (non-telephony) Blackfin and uClinux hacking. You are basically soldering your own uClinux machine from scratch. The PCB has break out connectors for SPORT, GPIO, 8 bit of the data bus, SPI and a programmable CPLD.

Bare IP04 PCB Bare (unsoldered) IP04 PCB. The price includes air mail to anywhere in the world. To build a complete IP04 you need to order all of the parts and solder them on. USD$25
DM9000A Ethernet Chip. Price includes Air Mail. USD$10
RJ45 MagJack. Combined RJ45 and magnetics to suit IP04. Price includes Air Mail. USD$10

Notes:

  1. The bare IP04 PCB is different from the PCB used for the production IP04s. The circuit (net list) is 98% similar, but the layout was changed mainly to support the production case.

  2. The IP04 FXS/FXO modules above can be used with the prototype IP04 PCB with a small modification (soldering two wires). The difference is the location of the two pin connector.