[priller]

I got one of the new HT-503's. This is the next generation of the HT-488 FXO / FXS ATA.

You can see the full specifications here: ht503.html

I've only played around with it for an hour or so. Here are my first impressions, much of which is a comparison to the Linksys SPA-3102.

* The HT-503 is highly configurable and has all the tweaks necessary for most people. The SPA has more options, but not many people would ever use a lot of them.

* The HT-503 has a fairly complete dial plan. For example, you can craft a dial plan to send 911, local numbers and 800 numbers out the FXO (PSTN) and long distance out the VoIP. While you can configure a number/pattern to access the PSTN (example: dial 8; get second dial tone; route call out the FXO/PSTN) you cannot do similar to specifically direct a call out the VoIP. There is no concept of gateways, as in the SPA.

* CID -- I was not getting CID from PSTN calls. The CID levels on the FXS are a default of -14 (as I recall). I bumped that up to a -3 and CID started working. I wouldn't expect the default to be that far off.

* There is no indicator LED to provide registration status. The SPA "Line" LED will be on solid when registered; blink when is use. On the HT-503, the LED is normally off and blinks when in use. I really like to see registration status by looking at the box. My personal feeling is that this is a major flaw.

* Call quality was good on the the handful of test calls I made.

* There are no call statistics (packets lost, jitter, etc) like on the SPA. That is something I would really like to see.

* It will operate as a NAT router or in Bridge mode. I put it into bridge, in order to chain ATA's together, and it worked fine.


Bottom Line: The HT-503 would be sufficient for many people and looks pretty good for v1.0. However, for $20 more, I'd say go with the more complete and polished SPA-3102.

[Marceli]

Well as usual firmware is far from complete. 503 look okey (still i don't have time for full test now). Anyway thanks for survey

[priller]

Update to my original review

The HT-503 has been boxed and put on the shelf. There were a couple of issues that I couldn't resolve.

1) CID just plain stopped working for unknown reasons. Tried adjusting the FSK levels, but nothing worked.

2) PSTN hangups just keep ringing and ringing and ringing --- If you do not answer a PSTN call, the HT-503 keeps ringing the FXS after the caller hangs up. Never did find out how long it will keep ringing.

If I drop a SPA-3102 or Zoom 5801 into the same configuration, there is no problem. So, I'll keep an eye out for a firmware upgrade. For now, it's not usable. Gave me a big headache.

[moschops]

I've been using my HT503 since it became available, about three weeks if I recall. It took me a while to figure out all the ins and outs of configuration since I'm still pretty new to VoIP and ATAs (although by no means a techno-dunce!) I'm using mine in bridge mode since I already have a router and I only have a dynamic external IP (finally I get a use for multiple external IPs and I don't have them any more!).

Basically I'm happy with it and compared to my Linksys PAP2T the quality of voice calls is much better. Not sure why that is but it is. Unlike priller I don't have any CID problems but maybe only because I don't have CID on my FXO line (because I refuse to pay for it when it costs them nothing). CID on the FXS comes through fine.

The only problem I have right now is that I can't get number re-writing in the dial plan to work - I want to have any 7-digit only number to have my area code prepended but it doesn't work.

If I do {<=510>xxxxxxx|x+} my seven digit numbers don't go through, if I do {x+|<=510>xxxxxxx} my seven digit numbers go through but ten digit numbers don't. I have a feeling there is something else in the dial plan syntax they didn't tell us about, or its a firmware bug.

I notice my ATA status page says its firmware 1.0.0.5 but if you read their downloadable manual you'll notice it says 1.0.0.6 at the bottom of each page and in the screen shots for the status page. I can't find any HT-503 firmware available for download yet.

[moschops]

Originally Posted by priller

Update to my original review

2) PSTN hangups just keep ringing and ringing and ringing --- If you do not answer a PSTN call, the HT-503 keeps ringing the FXS after the caller hangs up. Never did find out how long it will keep ringing.

Priller, I was able to get the latest 1.0.0.6 firmware from Grandstream by contacting their support email. It took me a while to figure out how to do the upgrade but it worked in the end (phew).

Unfortunately it didn't fix my dial plan problem - I still can't get 7 digit numbers prefixed correctly.

However while I was searching for more info on the dial plan I did spot this bug listed on their site for another of their products:

"Fixed PSTN incoming call gets rings forever if sip profile is set to SIP Register No"

That was in the latest firmware release notes for the GXW410x which is a VoIP to PSTN gateway - I can imagine the same bug exists for the HT503 if they share code. Since I have not ever experienced that problem before I don't know if it was fixed by the 1.0.0.6 firmware, maybe it was. I suggest trying to change your sip profile register setting, and maybe getting the new firmware. Failing that you may get some joy from their support.

Good luck.

[priller]

Interesting find .... I'll have to take a look at that setting. Thanks.

[Marceli]

From my experiance: wait till 1.0.0.20 firmware at least
I tested first GXW4xxx and have o tons of problems. Anyway I think GXWxxxx and HT-5xx have similiar electroniks (much better than old).

I have 503, but have no power to fully test it

I'll try write somethink about GXP2020 soon (last one i killed ) Still it work nice, have similiar to GXP interface.

[priller]

moschops ... Support just sent me 1.0.0.7. No release notes. May want to ask for that and see if it fixes your problem.

I'll have to load that and see if it resolves the "ring for eternity" problem. The config change noted above did not.

[Marceli]

Hello,

There is new beta firmware:
Release_HT503_1.0.0.9

Anyone test it ?

[moschops]

1.0.0.9 must be official now - its listed on the downloads page, first firmware they have show for public download. I guess we have all been beta testing until now :-)

I will be giving it a try in the next day and will report back. Hopefully it will fix my dial plan problems.