the Raspberry Pi PHONE SYSTEM! (3CX PBX at home)

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About this video

The creator walks through turning a Raspberry Pi 4 into a home phone system using 3CX, the video’s sponsor. Preparation involves imaging Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit) onto an SD card with Raspberry Pi Imager, booting the Pi, connecting it to the network and setting a static IP address so the phone system’s address does not change. Installation is then a single downloaded script from 3CX run with bash, choosing the final release and browser-based configuration. He obtains a free 3CX Standard licence key via signup and email verification, then works through the web setup: public IP, subdomain, default ports, extension length (he picks four digits), an operator extension (he uses 5000) and voicemail (9999). After setup he adds user extensions, provisions the 3CX mobile app by scanning a QR code on a phone and an iPad, places internal calls between them, and adds physical desk phones — a Cisco model for one extension — demonstrating holds, hold music and conference calls. He notes the system can also connect to the outside world via a SIP trunk with an IVR menu, though that setup is left for another tutorial.

Key takeaways

A Raspberry Pi 4 running 3CX can provide a full home PBX with extensions, hold, conferencing and voicemail, free for home/family use with a free licence key
Set a static IP on the Pi before installing, so the phone system’s web interface stays reachable at a fixed address and port
Installation is essentially one script download and run, followed by a browser-based setup wizard for licence, subdomain, ports and extensions
Provisioning phones is fast: add an extension in the web console, then scan its QR code with the 3CX app on a phone or tablet
Physical desk phones can also be added by model and extension; outside calling requires a SIP trunk, which the video does not configure

Episode details: published September 4, 2020 · 14:49 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are NetworkChuck’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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