Trying to make a phone proxy
from MTK@lemmy.world to selfhosted@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 09:25
https://lemmy.world/post/33130523

I am tired of paying for roaming, of being location tracked by my provider and running out of SIM slots.

So I have decided to connect some SIM capabilities to my server and set it up as a sort of proxy that I could access over the internet to send regular SMS and make regular calls through the server.

As far as I can tell it seems to be really complicated to do in linux and I just couldn’t find anyway that would actually support sound over calls.

The only solutions I found right now are to get an old phone (not ideal because of the price, battery and reliability) or use something like

makerfabs.com/maduino-zero-4g-lte-sim7600.html

Which can be connected to the server on the aux and serial ports. This is not too pricey but still seems like a bit much for my needs.

My question is, are there better ways? Really all I need is SMS and calls.

#selfhosted

threaded - newest

Im_old@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 09:47 next collapse

I suspect what you are looking for is a gsm gateway. There are many standalone implementations, some ready made, some a bit more DIY

MTK@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 09:49 collapse

I tried looking for that, all I found were pricey enterprise level stuff, small ones that only support 2g (dying protocol), and ones that have a cloud service and not self-hosted. Do you know of anything else?

Im_old@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 13:11 collapse
Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 Jul 09:55 next collapse

The problem is that if you want to offload SMS and voice, you’re going to be using data to do it. Whatever roaming fees will probably still apply.

MTK@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 09:57 collapse

I have wifi, I don’t need data

suzune@ani.social on 18 Jul 10:05 next collapse

In that case, just use VPN software like Wireguard. You can reroute everything through your home setup.

Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 Jul 10:19 collapse

So you’re looking for a self hosted VoIP and SMS solution. Google voice does let you send SMS over Wi-Fi, but it’s not self hosted.

WeAreAllOne@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 18 Jul 10:04 next collapse

silent.link. Maybe?

unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de on 18 Jul 10:06 next collapse

For SMS KDE connect + VPN into your home network should work. Remote calls is a tough one tho.

thagoat@lemmy.sdf.org on 18 Jul 10:36 next collapse

Linphone and a cheap plan from voip.ms might be an acceptable solution.

nitrolife@rekabu.ru on 18 Jul 10:40 next collapse

The only way to connect the SIM number directly is to hack the VoWiFi protocol, but this is not trivial and you still need to install the SIM in the server.

Option 2 - Buy a home SIP2GSM gateway. But it’s quite expensive (by the standards of my region anyway). SMS work with SMPP, calls work too. For goIP I wrote telegram SMS gateway if you interesting: github.com/lifespirit/telegram-smpp-bot

Or use SIP providers from your region/operators that support SIP connectivity and then enable full calls redirection. For calls ok.

UPD: or just use VoWiFi from mobile phone. But you need sim slot in phone.

Anyway in all another way you need install asterisk/freeswitch and write config fot it. And linphone client.

thelittleblackbird@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 10:43 next collapse

What you need is a sip server / interface for making VoIP call through internet, there are many implementations and servers, selfhosted and paid. Pick up one you like.

Please, be aware that the quality of the voice call depends and a lot of the data rate. Keep this in mind uif you are in remote locations with poor coverage.

It is always recommended the asterisk + the freepbx for the gui. Please be aware that I don’t have experience with those systems

bdonvr@thelemmy.club on 18 Jul 12:55 next collapse

Please, be aware that the quality of the voice call depends and a lot of the data rate. Keep this in mind uif you are in remote locations with poor coverage.

Nowadays most cell calls are VoIP anyhow. Heck in the US they shut off the old networks and only allow VoLTE/Vo5G

Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe on 18 Jul 16:51 next collapse

Yea, buts that very different than software VOIP.

I know this first hand by having VOIP-only voice on my phone via a service using Monocles Chat or Cheogram.

Voice calls via my cell plan are much better quality and more consistent than VOIP via an app. I suspect this is because voice calls over 4G/5G are encoded by hardware.

Even Google Voice for calls is pretty awful, which is why I’ve never paid to use it for voice calls.

thelittleblackbird@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 18:13 collapse

Good point! I totally forgot that.

But if I am able to recall correctly the QoS for the VoLTE and just regular data is totally different and the antenna may refused to provide you enough data for a non-prior service

MTK@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 14:34 collapse

I need it to be my number and to not be flagged as a bot, so commercial voip is a no go

thelittleblackbird@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 18:10 collapse

???

There are a lot of reputable VoIP companies, my employer right now uses them and we never faced a problem. But makes sure it is reputable ;)

And you could also port your number so to all effects it is your number.

I don’t know, I still believe it is the easiest way forward. But in the end it is your call

MTK@lemmy.world on 18 Jul 18:40 next collapse

I have heard of situations where companies refuse voip numbers for authentication or critical services, and i can’t risk my number getting flagged as it is sadly a critical part of your online identity these days (fucking hate that)

iopq@lemmy.world on 19 Jul 01:02 collapse

For example, it’s impossible to link Zelle to a VoIP number, you can only use email

lemonuri@infosec.pub on 19 Jul 14:25 next collapse

If you are on the usa or Canada, you can use jmp.chat as an alternative. It provides a phone number via the xmpp protocol. It might be possible to set up on your own server as well, have a look here:

jmp.chat/faq

johntash@eviltoast.org on 20 Jul 21:35 collapse

Have you used jmp.chat before? It looks pretty interesting at first glance

MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.world on 19 Jul 16:34 next collapse

Check out the GoIP GSM gateways (1/4/8 port options) - they’re more reliable than DIY solutions for what your trying to accomplish and let you access SMS/calls via SIP protocols while using actual SIM cards.

MTK@lemmy.world on 19 Jul 16:38 collapse

Interesting, thanks!

RhondaSandTits@lemmy.sdf.org on 20 Jul 02:02 collapse

Self hosted matrix server with mautrix-gmessages bridge