asterisk users - May 2005 - OT: carrying a router, firewall, switch, server, some phones with me on flight to Europe

Dear Fellow *-ers,

First, you guys are fantastic. Keep fighting the good fight.

Second, it sounds like comments in the code are coming, which sounds
welcome by all, even those of us who couldn't code their way out of a
papersack, but who need to read the source.

Last, I might be traveling to Europe (from US) & want to tow along
hardware & haven't done this before & was wondering what experiences
you
have had & what tips you have. Since this is a bit off topic, feel free
to reply & not bother the list. (I apologize for wasting everyone's
bandwidth with this it if is too OT, but I also knew that someone could
kill this thread in short order, I hope that happens & doesn't create a
long thread.)

Peace. Love. Linux.
 
Jason Sjobeck
ICQ 5579183 
FWD 253266

> Last, I might be traveling to Europe (from US) & want to tow along
> hardware & haven't done this before & was wondering what
experiences you
> have had & what tips you have. Since this is a bit off topic, feel free
> to reply & not bother the list. (I apologize for wasting everyone's
> bandwidth with this it if is too OT, but I also knew that someone could
> kill this thread in short order, I hope that happens & doesn't
create a
> long thread.)
Could be useful info so I'll reply to list. I never come back to
Europe without a bunch of gadgetsn usually both in checked bags and
carry-on. (Assuming you are not travelling by ship?)

The current climate in the US at security checkpoints is ahem,
variable, but I have never had an issue stronger than "what is that?".
This last trip my suitcase was inspected, but repacked neatly and the
neither the Digium cards nor the phones suffered.

There is of course one obvious issue, that of powering your equipment
at 220V/50~ and the plug convertors if your are lucky enough to have
power supplies that do 100-250v.

hth

Hi,
> There is of course one obvious issue, that of powering your equipment
> at 220V/50~ and the plug convertors if your are lucky enough to have
> power supplies that do 100-250v.
and the plug format is different 
(UK, germany+NL, France+Belgium, Italy, ...)
there are some 'universal' plug changers

good trip

Shaoul Jacobson
Senior VoIP Consultant
Tellink
Tel :	+32 3 201 96 36
Fax : 	+32 3 227 09 81
e-mail	shaoul@tellink.com

> Subject: RE: [Asterisk-Users] OT: carrying a router, 
> firewall, switch, server, some phones with me on flight to Europe
> 
> 
> Well here's a suggestion - a little crazy - but works... Most 
> equipment is
> taking the 120vac and converting it into DC voltage. So why 
> not just feed it
> DC voltage directly???
> We had a situation where our field techs needed to test dsl 
> circuits and
> voip ata from the demarcation point outside a house or 
> business. A UPS might
> have worked - but the down conversion of 12v dc battery in 
> ups up to 120vac
> to power the plugs on the ata and modem - just to convert 
> back down to 12
> and 5.. Make sense... Common electronics theory tells you 
> that there is
> waste in step-up/step-down === heat...
> So maybe that's an idea... I took a UPS battery and a small 
> project case
> from common electronics retail store... Then bought me a very 
> small voltage
> regulator and soldered it in the case.... I was able to split 
> off 12v and 5v
> from the ups battery and run for days...
> Sounds like weird science - but it works!!
> 
Sounds fun, a lot of equipment is becoming available now with 5/12V
power connectors these days.

Couple of notes:

* While most PC PSUs these days are 100-240V, and they seem to have no
problems operating both in Europe and the US. UPSs are different,
however, they are almost universally either 110V or 240V only, and
there's not even a switch to switch between the two voltages. APC will
sell you either a US or a EU version, and usually only if they're
shipping to the destination.

* Just a small UPS will probably do your baggage allowance in as well
:-)

Run it all 12v/5v, bring an invertor, and buy a cheap car battery and a
charger in Europe.

Chris Mason
www.anguillaguide.com
Tel:  (305) 704-7249 Fax: (815)301-9759