Skyetel/NerdVittles Promotion Instructions

NerdVittles is currently sponsoring a Skyetel promotion. They are offering $50 of credit for anyone interested in trying the service. Here's how to take advantage of it on your NPSTN server!

Why are we recommending Skyetel? Well, apart from the fact that they're offering $50 free credit to us NerdVittles geeks, the service is extremely reliable and we think you'll really like it! It's fast and easy to use. Their customer service is really the best in the industry (we're serious, instant chats are really instant and realtime, and contacting support has about a 5 minute turnaround or less, on average!).

A few tips before getting started:

  1. You will want to use your Skyetel trunk only for outgoing PSTN calls! There are companies that offer DIDs that are free or very cheap, which will provide you with unlimited free incoming PSTN calls. All Skyetel calls (incoming and outgoing) are charged and will use credit! Don't waste your minutes on incoming calls. We will help you set up a message that instructs callers to hang up and dial one of your Free DIDs. Skyetel allows you to set outgoing caller ID, so you may choose to set it to that of your free incoming DIDs as well.
  2. Toll-free calls are free (this isn't listed in the rates), but don't make test calls using this service and don't use it to war-dial! You will get charged extra for calls that are extremely short!
  3. Ensure you having meaningful caller ID sent out. By default, it is whatever it is when you reach the Dial statement. No verification is done and your call will go through, but you will be billed extra if your caller ID is blatantly meaningless (i.e. 0 or 1212 as opposed to an 11 digit US PSTN number).
  4. Don't get more than one phone number. You only get $50 of credit, and each number is a $1 one-time purchase, plus $1 per month. You won't be giving your Skyetel number out to anybody anyways. No point in wasting your credit in getting unnecessary numbers. You can use Skyetel to place an UNLIMITED amount of calls (there is no channel limit) using your number; only minute-by-minute usage is counted and billed.

So, what's the catch? There must be one, right?

Of course there are! Two, really!

  1. You need a valid US mobile phone number to verify your account. Google Voice numbers don't work. Not everyone has or wants a mobile, so this could be a problem for some. You don't need it afterward, though, so you can always ask a friend, as it's a one-time need.
  2. You need a debit or credit card to verify as well. Nothing is billed, but you do need a valid card. If you don't have one, you can also use a bank savings card or temporary card — i.e. use cash to buy a $5 VISA gift card and use that. Don't worry; auto-billing is disabled by default and you can remove your card immediately afterward.

Instructions

Part A: Registration

  1. Since only NerdVittles readers get this offer, not just anyone signing up for Skyetel, you need to fill out this prequalification form. When you sign up for Skyetel in a second and ask for your account to be credited, they'll make sure your information is entered in here. You must accurately enter all info. It must match the Skyetel signup form, which verifies everything.
  2. Sign up for Skyetel. You'll see a special link to do this once you complete step #1. Enter in all the same info as in Step #1. If the email address doesn't work, try a different one. Again, mobile numbers here will not work for verification; keep that in mind. You'll also need to enter your debit/credit card # at this point.
  3. Contact support. Once you're logged into your account, in the vertical menu, you'll see "Get Support" at the very bottom. Explain you are using the NerdVittles promotion so they know to credit your account with $50.

Part B: Setting Up Your Phone Number

  1. In the vertical menu, go to "Phone Numbers" and find a number. You can search by NPA-NXX. It can be in your NPA or not, your choice. Search around for one you like, as this is what your outgoing caller ID should be.
  2. Once you've bought a phone number, go to the number's Settings, then go to Features. Disable "Caller ID" and "Block Spam Calls". Why? These features cost extra, so turn them off so you can save as much as possible for your outgoing minutes. None of the features should be active, like so:
  3. In the same dialog, go to "General" and change SIP Format to the second option, 1NPANXXXXXX.
  4. Now, you'll need to set the Endpoint Group. In the vertical menu, choose "Endpoints", which is right above "Phone Numbers".
  5. When the submenu for Endpoints pops up, choose "Endpoint Groups".
  6. Click "Add Endpoint Group".
  7. Fill in the text fields with the right information, using "skyetel1" as the Name and Description, as shown:
  8. For IP address, enter your Asterisk server's public IP address. For port, enter your SIP port. If you have changed your bindport in sip.conf from the default, you need to use that port.
  9. Click "Add".
  10. Now, go back to "Phone Numbers" → "Local Numbers" and edit the settings of the number you bought. Set the endpoint group to "skyetel1" like so:

Part C: Connecting to Asterisk

WARNING: Don't try to take shortcuts with this code. We've already simplified it as much as it can be simplified. Copy everything verbatim with no modifications; otherwise, some features may be broken.

  1. Add the following to your sip.conf: 
    [SkyetelCA]
disallow=all
type=peer
insecure=port,invite
host=52.8.201.128
dtmfmode=rfc2833
context=from-skyetel
allow=ulaw
qualify=yes
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
 
[SkyetelTERM]
disallow=all
type=peer
qualify=yes
insecure=port,invite
host=term.skyetel.com
dtmfmode=rfc2833
context=from-skyetel
allow=ulaw
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
 
[SkyetelOR]
disallow=all
type=peer
insecure=port,invite
host=52.41.52.34
dtmfmode=rfc2833
context=from-skyetel
allow=ulaw
qualify=yes
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
 
[SkyetelVA]
disallow=all
host=50.17.48.216
type=peer
allow=ulaw
dtmfmode=rfc2833
insecure=port,invite
context=from-skyetel
qualify=yes
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
 
[SkyetelHC]
disallow=all
host=hc.skyetel.com
type=peer
allow=ulaw
dtmfmode=rfc2833
insecure=port,invite
context=from-skyetel
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
 
[SkyetelHC1]
disallow=all
host=52.32.223.28
type=peer
allow=ulaw
dtmfmode=rfc2833
insecure=port,invite
context=from-skyetel
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
 
[SkyetelHC2]
disallow=all
host=52.4.178.107
type=peer
allow=ulaw
dtmfmode=rfc2833
insecure=port,invite
context=from-skyetel
directmedia=no
directrtpsetup=no
sendrpid=no
canreinvite=no
  2. If you don't already have one, create a global public variable in extensions.conf containing the PSTN DID that you want people to call, like so: 
    [globals]
PUBLICDID=3034360093  ; change this number to your 10-digit Free DID (the number you'd like people to call, NOT your Skyetel DID)
  3. Add the following to your extensions.conf: 
    [from-skyetel]
exten => _1XXXXXXXXXX,1,NoOp()
	same => n,SET(IAXVAR(PUBLICDID)=${PUBLICDID:-10:10})
	same => n,Goto(IAX2/[email protected]/${EXTEN})
	same => n,Hangup()
  4. Now, add the following to your extensions.conf: 
    [skyetel]
exten => _1XXXXXXXXXX,1,Dial(SIP/SkyetelTERM/${EXTEN},45)
exten => _1XXXXXXXXXX,n,Dial(SIP/SkyetelOR/${EXTEN},45)
exten => _1XXXXXXXXXX,n,Dial(SIP/SkyetelCA/${EXTEN},45)
exten => _1XXXXXXXXXX,n,Dial(SIP/SkyetelVA/${EXTEN},45)
exten => _1XXXXXXXXXX,n,Hangup()
  5. Now, add the following to the context in which your local telephones are: 
    exten => 1XXXXXXXXXXXX,1,GoTo(skyetel,${EXTEN},1)

Part D: NPSTN Connectivity

  1. Add the following to iax.conf: 
    [skyetel]
type=user
context=skyetel

That's it! You now have a couple dozen hours of free long-distance at your disposal, enjoy!