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+---
+layout: post
+title: "RasPBX: connecting with my Grandma"
+categories:
+- software
+- hardware
+tags:
+- "VoIP"
+- "SIP"
+- "RaspberryPI"
+- "Asterisk"
+- "FreePBX"
+---
+
+* content
+{:toc}
+
+
+# Background
+
+I have a grandma. She is already quite in her elderly and has some severe health issues.
+I live abroad for two years and due to some conditions, can't easily travel to my home country.
+My grandma is an amazing woman and I wanted to stay connected with her.
+The issue here, that she is unable use smartphones and can only use push-button cellphone.
+Another issue, it's expensive for both of us to call using traditional GSM network due to roaming.
+
+This article will tell you how I overcome these issues.
+
+# Disclaimer
+
+
+I've done some research on the available ready-to use options.
+Somehow I missed the options Microsoft provides with [Skype](https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/Russia).
+If I would know it in advance, I would use this instead of tinkering my solution.
+But after I implemented mine I'll not switch to Skype, since mine provides a few benefits I'll describe above.
+
+# The equation
+
+(1) I have a SIM-card in my local county with the local mobile number. The SIM-card is needed to connect with another SIM-card.
+(2) I can make a call using my SIM-card via smart phone.
+(3) When I think of my smartphone I see it as a small-sized computer with built-in GSM-modem.
+If I substitue a smartphone from (2) via small-sized commuter and modem from (3) I can use the result to solve (1).
+With those thoughts I started to look for the solutions.
+
+# The solution 
+
+Once upon a time I worked with [Asterisk](https://www.asterisk.org/get-started/) so I knew that there are protocols, that can connect phones to the internet.
+By using right keywords I found [RasPBX](http://www.raspbx.org/): the ready to use solution that one can roll out on a various system-on-a-chip hardware, like RaspberryPI or [BeagleBone Black](http://beaglebone-asterisk.raspbx.org/).
+
+Simply speaking, it's a [Raspbian](https://www.raspbian.org/) image with Asterisk with the admin interface provided through [FreePBX](https://www.freepbx.org/). And more importantly, it has the the drivers to connect a [GSM model USB-dongle](http://www.raspbx.org/documentation/gsm-voip-gateway-with-chan_dongle/).
+
+The list of supported dongles can be found [here](https://github.com/bg111/asterisk-chan-dongle/wiki/Requirements-and-Limitations).
+
+So, I ordered a second hand RaspberryPI 2 and Huawei E169 dongle which cost me approximately 50 euro.
+For the installation and configuration I simply followed [these steps](http://www.raspbx.org/documentation/#nextsteps) from the documentation.
+The installation was a little bumpy since some steps from the documentation seems to be missing. For example, I needed to create a user "asterisk" because the setup assume it exists. Anyway, the installation didn't take me long.
+
+Moreover, there is a very detailed manual hosted [here](https://github.com/MatejKovacic/RasPBX-install/blob/main/english.md). It's reach on images so can be a good place to find help.
+
+Don't forget to connect your RaspberryPI 2 (if you're using it) to the router via Ethernet cable, since it doesn't have built-in WiFi module.
+
+To simply the network part and the security I connected RaspberryPI to my VPN, so whenever I need to connect to Asterisk I need to connect to my VPN first.
+
+That's it. For the tests I called a few of my friends first...
+
+
+
+