Support for other codecs in VOIP integration

Feature Requests
1

I’ve been struggling to get the VOIP Assistant feature working with ATA devices other than the Grandstream HT801. It appears that the primary blocker is the lack of OPUS codec support on other SIP devices. I am basing this on the troubleshooting info that specifies you have to put OPUS at the top of the list. https://www.home-assistant.io/projects/worlds-most-private-voice-assistant/#troubleshoot-grandstream and also this issue reported https://github.com/home-assistant/core/issues/92285 and my own experience.

I have been successful in configuring my Obi202 ATA adapter to autodial HA and the device and 3 entities show up and are configurable as expected, but upon connection there is some static which can happen when there is a codec mismatch.

Support for PCMU, PCMA, or G729 would greatly expand the number of ATA and SIP devices that could interface with the new VOIP integration and the new Assist functionality.

https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/voip/

2

I have to agree with @MrTechGadget on this. I am a VoIP implementation engineer, and while Opus is the up and coming protocol, the industry still revolves around G.711u (PCMU), G.711a (PCMA) and G.729 (even the ITU Standard G.722 “wideband” codec hasn’t got widespread adoption yet, despite it being out there a number of years). I have a couple of older SIP phones on my test bench and was considering using them for testing this, but haven’t had time yet - and knowing it requires OPUS puts a damper on that test.

3 Likes
3

Run Asterisk and create a trunk to HA, In Asterisk OPUS is supported.
The “only”. problem I have now is when dialing in, I get a short beep, but then nothing… not even an error message @#$@#%

4

Throwing my two cents in here as well. This is a limiting factor for me.

While my situation isn’t common, I do run an asterisk PBX at home that interfaces with some vintage phones (and regular old Grandstream GXPs) I’d love to be able to use with the new VoIP integration.

I’ve been tinkering with it for a while and finding that only having OPUS support is preventing it from working how I hoped. My system is PMCU and PCMA only to integrate with another vintage telephone network.

If anyone has ideas for getting this to work with Asterisk, I’d love to hear it. I suspect the PBX will have to transcode from OPUS to PCMU in my specific case.

5

Support for a greater codec variety gets my vote.

G.711/G.722 are still the default standard for many SIP handsets and would open up support way beyond ATAs. I have 2N answering units in my house for receiving video calls from visitors from a 2N IP Verso. To be able to add Home Assistant as a calling destination from these panels would be a great addition.

6

How are y’all connecting??

I have an obihai Obi300 ATA, and a freepbx instance.

I would prefer to connect freepbx to home assistant so I could just “dial” home assistant from any of my phone’s, is this possible ?

7

@MrTechGadget I also have an Obi202 that I am trying to get connected to HA. Would you mind sharing your settings. The large number of parameters has me confused and I don’t want to waste time hunting around. TIA

8

I have an older voip server and an fritzbox. both don’t support Opus.
if you want broad adoption, than there should allow more usefull codecs.

It would also make is better if hass can register itself on the voip server as an voip phone. (even Fritzbox supports this)