Robo calls keep coming

A couple of years ago we started seeing an increasing number of incoming "ghost" calls on our codecs. This only affected users who opened the SIP functionality on their devices to be compatible with SIP-based calling apps and WebRTC bridging. We cut some firmware to address this, by implementing a "blacklist" of common attributes of these calls. They got worse, and we couldn't keep up with all the new robo-dialers, so we killed G.711 support so most of these calls would be rejected. Some still make it through and can tie up the codec for a short time until they get rejected. Now, we have a new app, and there will be more SIP users and it's even more important to reject unwanted calls quickly. So here's our third try...

First some background--The calls come in over the SIP channel integrated into our codecs. For convenience the codec will respond to any calls it gets from the Internet, not just a provider. This way you don't have to worry about registering your SIP device and using a certain provider to dial in. You can make a direct call to your codec at it's IP address without any proxies or other nonsense. This provides for more reliable connections.

The new approach is to integrate a "whitelist" of user agents from the calling apps we know folks use. If the incoming UA doesn't match our list, the codec doesn't respond. We've populated the whitelist with everything we know about, and users can add or subtract entries.  It's turned on by default but can be disabled by the user. This is available in firmware release 4.0p17 and above.

If you're experiencing incoming ghost SIP connections, upgrade your codec firmware and you should be good!

FieldTap is now the best codec app

NAB 2018 is over and Comrex introduced four new products! One of them is a new codec app. We've been pointing folks to Linphone for years, and it's great and free, but we often hear it's too complex for non-techies to set up and use. Enter FieldTap!

Under the hood, FieldTap is Linphone. Go open source software! But it's been optimized for using with codecs the following ways:
* "broadcasty" interface with mic level meter
* stand-alone contact list (no need to share with phone's main contacts)
* No SIP registration required (and no annoying notices when not registered)
* accepts IP addresses, SIP URIs, and (when registered) phone numbers
*Simplified codec selection (Opus, G.722, G.711)
*Free and available on iOS and Android
*Works with Comrex ACCESS, BRIC-Link, STAC-VIP, VH2, and Earshot IFB* products

FieldTap is a breeze to use and sounds great. iOS will be up in a couple of weeks and Android coming late Spring 2018. Look for it and give it a spin.

*Bloggin about this new product soon

Hate Adobe Flash? We've got options

Comrex products like ACCESS, BRIC-Link and STAC-VIP each serve a rich webpage that functions as their main user interface. For a variety of reasons (that were perfectly sound at the time) these pages were designed with the Adobe Flash tool.

But Flash has gotten a (not entirely undeserved) reputation in recent years. Its constant need for updating the client to patch security exploits makes IT people nervous, and the browsers that support it are in the process of trying to actively minimize its use by throwing up warnings, and requiring it be manually enabled.

Flash is so embedded in the web that it's not going anywhere soon, but it's time to consider alternatives for driving Comrex products. For ACCESS and BRIC-Link, we're providing a free Windows and Mac app called Codec Commander.

Codec Commander is based on the premium Fleet Commander app we introduced last year. It has all the same features, and is compatible with the new 4.0 firmware we've been shipping with our codec hardware for the past year. So it will provide all the same utility as the web interface, including the really useful Crosslock stats and delay setting bar.

Codec Commander is available in beta form by contacting our support team at techies@comrex.com, and should be available universally on our web site within weeks.

Update 12/7/16: CC and FC are now available on the Comrex Website!

Broken Wifi Adapters got you down?

With our ACCESS portable and LiveShot portable codecs, we ship a a high gain Wifi adapter, the Edimax EW7811-UAC. It has an in-built antenna, conforms to all the latest high throughput standards, and is dual band.  It also sticks up a bit, which can result in a broken USB port (as shown) if the adapter is whacked or if the codec is dropped.

If your Wifi application doesn't require a lot of range or all these fancy standards, (e.g. you're using a wireless Hotspot fairly close to your codec) you might consider changing to something that isn't "out there" asking to be broken.

We've tested the Edimax EW7811-Un (pictured) and it works well, but on a single band and with the lower range you'd expect given it's form factor. But if that's all you need, it's available from lots of online retailers.

OnSIP/Comrex WebRTC issues by Codec Answer Guy

Q: I use OnSIP to bridge web calls to my codecs via this technote. It doesn't work anymore! What happened?

A; OnSIP (our favorite VoIP company) made a change to the way they bridge WebRTC to SIP calls. They now offer a new app at app.onsip.com to allow for this function.

Q: So I can just use the new app?

A: Not yet.  The app functions fine, but it changes a technical detail of how the call gets treated on the VoIP end of things. ACCESS and BRIC-Link can not answer these calls. STAC-VIP can answer them, but only using the narrowband G.711 protocol, so it sounds like a phone call.

Q: Give me all the details, I can handle it.

A: The old GetOnsip app offered VoIP calls with an "early offer" SDP protocol, and our hardware liked that fine. app.onsip.com uses a "late offer" scheme that we don't support.

Q: What's the fix?

A: The answer can only come in a firmware upgrade from Comrex. We’re working on it and hope to have something by the end of 2016. Until then, you can use SIP softphone apps, or one of the premium Hosted WebRTC Gateway services like ipDTL and Callme.fm.

Look here for updates as they develop!
Update 10/26/16: That was fast! Test code available. Contact Comrex support at techies@comrex.com

Update 12/9/16 Firmware 4.0p11 released today has this fix.

When the backup becomes the primary

It was nice to read this Radio World blog about Westwood One's operations during the Rio games. We're used to seeing big-time broadcasts like this done via ISDN, with IP codecs being relegated to the backup role. But it seems the script has flipped, and IP is now considered reliable enough to be the primary with ISDN taking backup. That's six of our Comrex BRIC-Link II's pictured in the remote rack, above the ISDN codecs.

Also of note was the ability of WW1's roving reporters to use local 4G LTE on ACCESS portable to be totally mobile.

Here in New England, we're excited for a different backup to take on the primary role this fall. Here's hoping he's just as reliable!

Copper is out, VoIP is in

If you're looking for every relevant fact ever known about Voice Over IP in an easily digestible format, check out our new primer available here. Pass it around, we worked hard on it, and hope you enjoy it.