Grandstream HandyTone FXS Configuration with sipXecs

Grandstream's lineup of terminal adaptors (FXS gateways) includes the following five models. Note that the HT-488 includes an FXO PSTN gateway that is able to terminate VoIP calls.

Models HT-286 and HT-486 use the same firmware as the BT-101/102 BudgeTone phones, while the new models HT-386, HT-488, and HT-496 use a different firmware.

The Grandstream HandyTone terminal adaptors (FXS gateways) are solid products. They work well in a SIP environment and support many important features. Especially the number of codecs supported is impressive.

Status for Different Models of the HandyTone TA

The vast majority of features are common between the different models of the HandyTone terminal adaptor as well as the Budgetone phone. All these common parameters can be configured using the sipXecs Configuration Server release 3.0. Some additional parameters are specific to the model and they are discussed below:

FXO Port of the HT-488

The HandyTone HT-488 terminal adaptor offers both an FXS port as well as an FXO port. An FXO port represents a line side (central office side) port that connects to an incoming PSTN line. The idea is to offer call termination and origination in the PSTN using the HT-488 as a gateway between the PSTN and the VoIP network.

The inbound functionality of the HT-488 (from the PSTN to the VoIP network) seems to work as intended. Incoming PSTN calls are routed to a pre-defined SIP URI (or internal VoIP extension) that is pre-configured in the terminal adaptor. This is typically an auto-attendant or a specific extension number that uses this PSTN line as a direct inbound line (DID).

The outbound functionality is more problematic. The HT-488 allows a PSTN number to be pre-configured. In order to reach this PSTN number a caller on the internal VoIP network has to dial the internal extension (or SIP URI) of the FXO port. The terminal adaptor then dials the PSTN number. This is clearly not what you would expect from an FXO gateway.

An FXO gateway does not have an extension number or SIP URI and it does not register a line with sipXecs. Instead it is a gateway to which calls are routed according to a dial plan. Any external PSTN number can then be called and not just the one number pre-configured in the gateway.

Automated Configuration using the sipXecs ConfigServer

Starting with release 3.0 of sipXecs automated plug & play configuration of Grandstream HandyTone terminal adaptors is supported by ConfigServer (thanks to Hannu Strang for his valuable contribution). Model HT-286 is fully supported with all of its parameters. Model HT-486 is supported except for the additional parameters that configure the internal router and PSTN pass-through functionality.

From the sipXecs ConfigServer administration portal:

1. First add a New User for every FXS line supported by the HandyTone terminal adaptor

1. Add a New Phone and select the Grandstream HandyTone terminal adaptor from the drop-down menu.
2. Enter the proper serial number

1. Assign a line to the terminal adaptor by selecting the appropriate user. If the terminal adaptor supports two lines, assign two different users
2. Generate profiles (configuration files for the terminal adaptor). Default parameters should result in a working setup. From within ConfigServer you can change parameters later and re-generate the profile.

1. Reset the terminal adaptor to factory defaults manually
2. Manually reconfigure the correct address for the TFTP server. The terminal adaptor does not pick it up through DHCP. You can configure the TFTP server address using the Grandstream Web interface.
3. Manually reboot the terminal adaptor. The terminal adaptor should now pick up the profile generated by ConfigServer and register with sipXecs

Grandstream HandyTone Configuration Management:
ConfigServer provides comprehensive management of all the parameters of the Grandstream HandyTone terminal adaptor. When using ConfigServer the built in Web server should not be used for configuration changes in order to maintain consistency as parameters generated by configServer will overwrite manual settings.

Additional Features

Message Waiting Indication (MWI)

Message Waiting Indication (MWI) works "out-of-the-box" based on default settings defined in the sipXecs Configuration Server profile for the HandyTone terminal adaptors.

Firmware Upgrade

It is recommended that you upgrade to the latest firmware version.

To upgrade software, the HandyTone terminal adaptors can be configured with a TFTP server on which the new code image is located. It is recommended that the TFTP server has either a public IP address or is on the same LAN segment with the TA.

The TFTP server can be configured via the TA's Web configuration interface. On the configuration screen Advanced Settings enter the TFTP server IP address in the designated field towards the bottom of the configuration screen. Apply changes by selecting update. Once the TFTP server is configured and the image is located in the TFTP server's root directory, reboot the TA.

The TA only contacts the TFTP server during its initial power up or reboot. If the configured TFTP server is found and a new code image is available, the TA will attempt to retrieve it. After verification of the checksum, the new code image will be stored into flash memory.

Check successful upgrade by going to the TA's Web interface Status screen.

• Stable firmware download page
• Beta firmware download page

Using the sipXecs TFTP server

It is recommended to use the TFTP server built into your sipXecs server already to distribute firmware updates to your Grandstream HandyTone terminal adaptors in a controlled and reliable way.The sipXecs TFTP server is used to manage Polycom and other phones and can be used for this purpose.

TFTP root directory: /var/sipxdata/configserver/phone/profile/tftproot on your sipXecs server

Copy the Grandstream HandyTone firmware image into the TFTP server's root directory. For example to get Release 1.0.6.7 (HT-286, HT-486) issue the following commands on your sipXecs host:

HandyTone HT-286 / HT-486:

HandyTone HT-386 / HT-488 / HT-496:

Reboot the TA. Use the Web interface to check what firmware release is running after the upgrade.

Reset to Factory Defaults

Restoring to Factory Default Setting will erase all configuration information of the device.

• Step one: Find the MAC Address of the device. The MAC address of the device is located on the bottom of the device. It is a 12 digits hex number.
• Step two: Encode the MAC address to decimal digits. The encode rule is:
  • '2' is the first letter on the button '2' so its encoding is '2'.
  • 'A' is the second letter on button '2' so its encoding is '22'.
  • 'B' is the third letter on button '2' and its encoding is '222'.
  • 'C' is the fourth letter on button '2' and its encoding is '2222'.

    For example, for MAC address 000b8200e395, the user should encode it as '0002228200333395'.

• Step three: Access the voice menu, then dial '99' and get the voice prompt RESET
• Step four: Key in the encoded MAC address decimal digits after hear the IVR prompt. Once the correct encoded MAC address is keyed in, the device will reboot automatically and restore the factory default setting.