TCE400B Partner Release Document
Created: Wednesday, May13, 2009
Last Updated: Tuesday, June2, 2009
Revision History
Revision / Date / By / Notes0.1 / May13, 2009 / Malcolm Davenport / Initial Draft
0.2 / June 02, 2009 / Malcolm Davenport / Updated for Powerpoint and typos
Notice to Digium Partners:
The Digium product TCE400 has been set for release. This document contains partner-specific information about the product. All information in this document is to remain confidential until General Availability Release Date as noted in the Release Schedule section.
Product Synopsis:
The TCE400B is a half-length, low-profile voice-processing PCI-Express x1 telephony card for use with Asterisk. This product is, essentially, a PCI-Express version of Digium’s existing TC400B product. The TCE400B provides packet-based codec translation to or from the G.729a (8.0kbit/s) and G.723.1 (5.3/*6.3kbit/s) complex codecs into the G.711 u-law and a-law simple codecs and integrates this capability with Asterisk. Asterisk normally performs all codec translation in software at the expense of CPU time. The TCE400B allows Asterisk to off-load the computational requirements associated with codec translation into dedicated DSP resources, thus freeing the CPU to perform additional call-control or other tasks as directed by Asterisk.
*Note: G.723.1 at both 5.3 and 6.3kbit/s rates may be decoded, while all encoding into G.723.1 is performed at 5.3kbit/s.
Part Numbers and List (MSRP) Pricing:
For clarification, the part numbers for both the PCI-Express TCE400B and PCI TC400B are provided as follows:
SKU / Description / List/Retail/MAP/MSRP1TC400BLF / VoIP Transcoding PCI 3.3/5.0V card for 120 G.729a or 92 mixed channels of G.729a/G.723.1 / $1,295.00
1TCE400BLF / VoIP Transcoding PCI-Express x1 card for 120 G.729a or 92 mixed channels of G.729a/G.723.1 / $1,295.00
Product Certifications:
The TCE400B, because it does not connect to the PSTN, does not require telecom certifications for use.
The TCE400B maintains relevant safety and immunity certifications for use in Canada, the European Union, and the United States. Australian certifications are not currently planned.
Declaration of Conformity:
The TCE400 product declaration of conformity document is embedded here:
Product Physical Characteristics:
Length – 4.69 inches or 11.9 centimeters
Height – 2.52 inches or 6.4 centimeters
Width – 0.63 inches or 1.6 centimeters
Board Weight – 2.5 ounces or 70.9 grams
*As referenced on page 32 of the Product Manual.
Data Sheet:
No data sheet for the TCE400B is provided at this time.
Digium Product Compatibility:
The TCE400B card product utilizes Digium’s wctc4xxp driver file that is part of the DAHDI driver package. Operation of the TCE400B requires a minimum DAHDI release of 2.0.0. Digium always recommends that customers wanting to use the TCE400B use the current (2.2.0) versions instead of the minimum versions. Current versions may include important bug or performance improvements.
The TCE400B also utilizes the codec_dahdi Asterisk module. Operation of the TCE400B, in addition to the above DAHDI requirements, also requires a minimum Asterisk release of 1.4.22 (or later) or 1.6.0.1 (or later). Digium always recommends that customers use the current versions instead of the minimum versions.
The TCE400B is compatible with Open Source Asterisk 1.4.
The TCE400B is compatible with Open Source Asterisk 1.6.
The TCE400B is compatible with Asterisk Business Edition C.X
The TCE400B is not compatible with any current version of Switchvox SMB.
The TCE400B is not compatible with any current version of Switchvox SOHO.
The TCE400B is not compatible with any current version of Switchvox Free.
The TCE400B’s PCI Identifier is d161:8004
The TCE400B does not provide a timing interface like other Digium telephony card products. As such, should you use the TCE400B with an Asterisk application that requires timing, e.g. MeetMe, then Digium recommends use of either another Digium telephony card or the use of the dahdi_dummy software timing device. Note that the release of DAHDI 2.2.0 brings many improvements to dahdi_dummy.
Quick Start Guide:
A Quick Start Guide is not provided for the TCE400B.
Product InformationPowerpoint:
A Product Information Powerpoint is embedded here:
Product Manual:
A unified product manual for the TCE400B and the TC400B is embedded here:
Sales Training / F.A.Q.:
A Sales Training document is not provided for the TCE400B product due to its similarity to Digium’s existing TC400B product and the rest of Digium’scard products. A full F.A.Q. is not provided either, but limited F.A.Q is provided below:
Q: What Type of PCI-Express slot is the TCE400B compatible with?
A: The TCE400B, like all Digium PCI-Express cards, is a PCI-Express x1 card. This means that the TCE400B is compatible with all PCI-Express slots in all commercially available motherboards. The TCE400B may be utilized in PCI-Express slots that are x1, x4, x8, or x16.
Q: Do I need to be aware of voltage considerations?
A: No. All PCI-Express slots in commercially available motherboards utilize one voltage setting that is supported by all of Digium’s PCI-Express cards.
Q: What is the warranty on the TCE400B product?
A: The warranty for the TCE400B product, like the warranty for all of Digium’scard products, is five (5) years. Digium’s warranty policy is available here:
Q: Is the TCE400B product eligible for Digium’s ESP Program?
A: Yes. The TCE400B product is eligible for Digium’s ESP Program. Details covering the ESP program are available here:
Q: Is the pricing for the TCE400B the same as the pricing for the TC400B?
A:Yes. Pricing for the TCE400B and TC400B is the same.
Pictures:
A high-quality JPEG photo of the TCE400B is embedded here:
Website Copy:
Digium TCE400B
The TCE400B is a bundle of the half-length, low-profile PCI-Express x1 TCE400P base card and the TC400M voice processing module. The TCE400B is designed to handle, in dedicated DSP resources, the complex codec translations for highly compressed audio as would otherwise be processed by Asterisk in software.
Asterisk, in software and with Digium G.729a licensing, is capable of transforming the G.729a codec into other codecs for the purposes of call origination or termination, bridging disparate calls, or VoIP to TDM connectivity. These transformations in software are very expensive, in terms of MIPS, and require a substantial amount of CPU time to accomplish. The TCE400B not only relieves the CPU of this duty, freeing it up to handle other tasks or complete additional call processing, but also provides Asterisk with the capability of bridging G.723.1 compressed audio into other formats, a capability not otherwise possible.
The TCE400B decompresses G.729a (8.0kbit) or G.723.1 (5.3kbit/6.0kbit) into G.711 u-law or a-law; or compresses G.711 u-law or a-law into G.729a (8.0kbit) or G.723.1 (5.3kbit). The TCE400B is rated to handle up to 120 bi-directional G.729a transformations or 92 bi-directional G.723.1 transformations. The TC400B does not require additional licensing fees for the use of these codecs nor does it require the registration process association with Digium’s software-based G.729a codec licensing.
Press Release:
A Press Release is scheduled to be put out covering the TCE400B. An advance copy of this press release is not available at this time.
Replaced Product Information:
The TCE400B does not replace any existing Digium product. The TCE400B is a new Digium product. Therefore, no information about replaced products is available.
Release Schedule:
- June2nd, 2009
- Release Minus 4 Weeks
- Digium sends notice of product to Distributors.
- Notice includes this entire document.
- Digium accepts purchase orders from distributors
- Digium begins shipping products to distributors
- June16th, 2009
- Release Minus 2 Weeks
- Digium sends notice to Select Resellers.
- Notice includes this entire document.
- June23rd, 2009
- Release Minus 1 Week
- Digium sends notice to Registered resellers.
- Notice includes this entire document.
- June30th, 2009
- Release Day / General Availability
- Digium makes product information available on Digium.com website
- Digium posts Blog entry covering product details on Blogs.Digium.com website