What would be required to set up my own VoIP phone system at home?

[Invincible Sugar]

Hi! I see these units are really cheap: https://www.ebay.com/itm/403655548339 about $4/ea with shipping. They're meant for small businesses, I want to set up my own home phone network just for fun. I'm thinking maybe 8 of these with their own extensions, no need for them to be able to dial out to the rest of the world, just the ability to dial each other by extension. Is this something they can do on their own? Or would I need some sort of server or PC or something to make that happen? How much work would I be accepting if I bought these, and what more would I need to budget for in hardware? Thanks!

[fuzz0r]

The phones we have aren't where the magic happens at least at work.

It's the software you run and the licenses required for it to successfully work that costs bank is what basically controls the whole thing.

 

But again, this is from my limited experience at work.

 

Maybe someone can chime in with free software that could do the same thing?

[Invincible Sugar]

Just now, fuzz0r said:

The phones we have aren't where the magic happens at least at work.

It's the software you run and the licenses required for it to successfully work that costs bank is what basically controls the whole thing.

 

But again, this is from my limited experience at work.

 

Maybe someone can chime in with free software that could do the same thing?

Googling it I see mention of a PBX server being needed, but apparently it is possible to host your own on an older PC... but I don't know how hard that would be or if these phones support it.

 

I might buy them just to use as props tbh, if they look like they work that could be adequate. But if I can make them actually work, especially without spending more money, just using the XP machine already in use for this set as the PBX, that would be really cool. 

[fuzz0r]

2 minutes ago, Invincible Sugar said:

Googling it I see mention of a PBX server being needed, but apparently it is possible to host your own on an older PC... but I don't know how hard that would be or if these phones support it.

 

I might buy them just to use as props tbh, if they look like they work that could be adequate. But if I can make them actually work, especially without spending more money, just using the XP machine already in use for this set as the PBX, that would be really cool. 

https://www.freepbx.org/

 

Seems to be correct.

Don't know if it'll run of an XP machine though?
EDIT: Nah linux only.

[Invincible Sugar]

1 minute ago, fuzz0r said:

https://www.freepbx.org/

 

Seems to be correct.

Don't know if it'll run of an XP machine though?
EDIT: Nah linux only.

Hmm. I wonder if a cheap solution like a Raspberry Pi would work? Also thank you!

[fuzz0r]

2 minutes ago, Invincible Sugar said:

Hmm. I wonder if a cheap solution like a Raspberry Pi would work? Also thank you!

Seems to require only kernel 7.8.

Can't find any other requirements. I say give it a go on the pi.

[Invincible Sugar]

3 minutes ago, fuzz0r said:

Seems to require only kernel 7.8.

Can't find any other requirements. I say give it a go on the pi.

Thank you!

[Invincible Sugar]

Ok so I think of the Raspberry Pi as a commodity project PC for around $35 but apparently right now they go for way more so I will just wipe an old laptop and install Linux on it... 

[J_M_O_]

let me know how it goes, been curious about doing something like this myself