Crosstalk Solutions blog

Networking and VoIP, from the field

Guides, reviews and opinions from Chris Sherwood and the Crosstalk Solutions team, based on the networks and phone systems we design and support every day.

Latest posts

WiFi

Solar Powered WiFi Part 3: Companion Guide

Wiring diagram and full parts list for a solar powered WiFi bridge: Renogy panel, Victron MPPT controller, battery, PoE and NanoStation M5s.

Security

Let's Encrypt UniFi

How to install a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate on a self-hosted UniFi Controller, with automatic renewal through cron.

UniFi

15 Minute Hosted UniFi Controller Setup

Set up a hosted UniFi Controller on a Digital Ocean droplet in about 15 minutes: Ubuntu, SSH hardening, firewall, swap and the UniFi install.

Smiling telemarketer in a headset surrounded by flames and lava
Phone Systems

Send Telemarketers to Hell

How to install the Blacklist Loser module in FreePBX and build an x666 ring group that blacklists telemarketers live and sends them to Lenny.

Polycom VVX 400 desk phone with a color screen showing the Directories app
Phone Systems

FreePBX Polycom Directory Automation

A bash script and cron job that build a FreePBX Polycom directory XML file from your extensions, so every Polycom phone's directory updates hourly.

Phone Systems

HowTo: Stream Music on Hold in FreePBX

How to stream music on hold in FreePBX from an internet radio station using a streaming category, mpg123 and an inbound route.

Laughing older man in a flat cap looking at his phone under Pwn Telemarketers With Lenny text
Phone Systems

HowTo: Pwn Telemarketers with Lenny

How to set up the Lenny telemarketer bot in FreePBX with an Asterisk custom context, Lenny sound files and a custom destination.

Blue Webmin logo with the webmin wordmark
Phone Systems

HOW TO: Install Webmin on FreePBX

How to install Webmin on FreePBX with the Webmin yum repo: add the repo file, import the GPG key, install and log in on port 10000.

WiFi
WiFi

How to Create a Wireless Bridge

How to create a point-to-point wireless bridge by unboxing and configuring a pair of Ubiquiti NanoStation Loco M2 radios.

Hand holding a flip phone with dollar bills spilling out of its screen
Opinion

Beware of Shady VoIP News

Why VoIP lead-generation articles like VoIP News can mislead businesses, and why not every network is ready for a VoIP phone system.

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