Streaming TalkShoe to Squeezeboxes

ricko73 in the VoIP Users Conference asked for a write-up on how to stream the VUC conference call to his SqueezeBoxes. The write-up is mostly a rehash of stuff that I've written about before, with a couple new things (e.g., command line dialer) thrown in. The notes are here.

Invalid database specified

If you've upgraded Asterisk to the most recent version (1.6.0.5) and you're suddenly receiving the "MySQL RealTime: Invalid database specified: asterisk" error, it's because the configuration file parser was tweaked. Where previously, an entry in /etc/asterisk/extconfig.conf of "extensions => mysql,asterisk,extensions_table" would indicate "use the extensions_table table in the asterisk database on MySQL", the second field now denotes the context in /etc/asterisk/res_mysql.conf.

In other words, if you've used the default "[general]" context in res_mysql.conf, your line in /etc/asterisk/extconfig.conf should look like "extensions => mysql,general,extensions_table".

Thanks Digium! (or How I can't win for losing)

So the in-laws came to vist, last Thanksgiving, and stayed to visit all the way through to this past weekend. Which means that we reorganized the den to allow for opening the sofa sleeper. Which means that we moved the other couch into the office. When means that my wife and I traded desks and I moved my computer, with the smaller desk, into the spare bedroom. Which means she ended up with my Digium mouse pad.

To shorten the story: last week, my wife noticed waxy-looking circles in the middle of her (my!) mouse pad. She promptly declared them to be mold and forced me to throw it out (she wouldn't touch it)(this cost me spouse-points). I'd rec'd that mouse pad with my TDM400 card that I'd bought direct a couple years back. It was a nice mouse pad. She'd had it for at least two months before the mold showed up. (Pointing this out cost me additional spouse-points.)

Of course, I ratted her out on Twitter (this too cost me spouse-points).

To get to the punchline: Digium heard my plight (we're both in the VoIP Users Conference Twitter group) and sent me not only a mouse pad but a sticker, a patch, and a pen! This all arrived today via Fed Ex and, some how, I've managed to lose even more spouse points (she opened the package). Okay, I might have resurrected the "that wasn't mold" argument for entertainment purposes but I did say it was a nice mouse pad, didn't I?

In any case, thanks for the swag, Digium!! The pad is on my desk, the sticker is going on my car, and the pen is going to work with me.

Me? I'm still in the dog house.

Amen! Halaluea!

An open letter from geeks to IT recruiters.

Grandstream's rep?

I've only started working with Asterisk recently (within the last two years). My fascination with Asterisk increased recently, having been lent a hard phone earlier this year. In talking with various Asterisk geeks, it appears that I'm the lowest of the low: a Grandstream user.

For the longest time, I didn't understand the invective heaped upon my poor BT200. I believe I may have figured out the reason behind the bias, unjustified as it may be.

In setting up a recently acquired GXP-2000 (I love my friends! They keep an eye out for this stuff!), I noticed that the volume continually cycled up and down, repeating every 3-5 seconds.

The problem was both extremely annoying and very easy to fix (firmware upgrade!). I can imagine that someone without the knowledge and/or resources to acquire the new firmware might become frustrated with the phone's issues. However, those issues aren't permanent and neither should the bias against the phone.

Alternative attitude: most of my Grandstream's were given to me (they were free), so bite me! (heh)

Icecast relay

Figured out how to run Icecast in single-broadcast relay mode, leeching live audio off of Spark's server and distributing off of mine. I'm wondering how obnoxious of a set up we can get if we run slaved mode...

In any case, the single-broadcast relay is quite simple. Just uncomment/edit the example included in the default icecast.xml and point it at your icecast source of choice. No additional configuration is needed for the source.

Wait! Wut?

So the official fix for your dead Zune is time (i.e., wait until the new year starts)?! I guess MS expects you to not have your Zune when the next Leap Day rolls around.

If this issue can't be fixed via firmware upgrade, this will be a PR, technical, and logistical nightmare (think: having to repair devices without losing DRM'd music).

Mark your calendars kids! If this doesn't get fixed, and you still have your 30GB Zune on December 31st, 2012, it'll probably be dead again.

Ices and PulseAudio

Contrary to what Burkhard over at Truth or lies has stated, PulseAudio play nicely with Ices and Icecast. Creating a special entry in .asound is not required. Just use the OSS module for Ices. my notes and a config file are in the wiki.