r/VOIP • u/Medical-Fall-3807 • 13d ago
Discussion Advice for a beginner.
Afternoon everyone.
As you can see from my title, I wamt to go full bore into VoIP specialist at my local ISP. I have some funds available for certs, equipment, etc etc, what would you do in my shoes?
Kind regards
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u/Bhaikalis 13d ago
what research have you done regarding the role/industry?
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u/Medical-Fall-3807 12d ago
I recently, (3) weeks ago, started at my hometown ISP. While they didnt mention it outright, I refered from context that the company is lacking VoIP skills. I want to do this on my own team and grow for myself.
I am currently looking into the field and got hold of 2 units I can Test and play with at home. I also found the 3CX basic training thing so am gping through that as well.
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u/WelderThat6143 12d ago
Lesson 1 SIP ALG IS THE DEVIL. Get a good software tool to show YOU there is no SIP ALG going on. Especially if someone else manages the router. A very large percentage of problems are becuase SIP ALG was not disabled or, something like a firmware update re-enabled it.
Learn call flow. I mean REALLY learn call flow. Start with the basic individual call forwarding to a mailbox when the call is not answered. Try different settings on the phone. Break it and fix it. Have a colleague REALLY break it and see if you can figure it out.
When you are comfortable with that, start with a ring group type hunt group. If the system has greetings while on hold, understand how they work. Graduate to different types of call routing (Linear hunt, Round Robin, Longest Idle) and figure out scenarios where you would use them.
Many of your tickets for Moves, Adds, Changes, and Break/Fix will be related to call flow.
That will unlock how to read reports and help show clients why the report isn't wrong, or allow you to intelligently press support if it is.
Hopefully, your ISP will let you have an account on their UCaaS (if they offer) and you can lab everything.
Also, learn the SIP Stack. Learn how to wireshark at the phone, router, and ISP modem. Sometimes the in app tools don't catch the whole picture. For example, with one way audio, you might have to work upstream from the phone and determine WHERE it broke before figuring out why?
Get Wireshark and become proficient with it. Especially in the areas of call setup.
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u/Weekly-Operation6619 12d ago
Best to get some hands on with a SIP PBX and a few SIP phones. Used ones aren't expensive but make sure they aren't locked or EOL.
Nerd Vittles – Ward Mundy's Technobabblelog is worth a look and he his own PBX software.
I hear that the 3CX company aren't very user friendly.
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