Office phone network & PABX

[Sgt Bilko]

Just wondering if there are any tips or guides out there on this subject?

I am going to be installing an office telephone network soon. Ideally i would like to have put an IP PABX server in the comms cabinet, but i think the budget will bounce that idea. Instead, i will probably be getting a simple analogue PABX exchange.

There are two analogue lines into the building, and a requirement for 8 internal extensions. As they are scattered around the building, i am hoping to use the cat5 network and the patch panel in the comms cabinet to link it all up. Obviously i will need RJ45-RJ11 connections in the rack, and MOD-Taps for the phones to network wall boxes.

Anything i need to watch out for?

[Who me ?]

Sgt Bilko said:

Just wondering if there are any tips or guides out there on this subject?

I am going to be installing an office telephone network soon. Ideally i would like to have put an IP PABX server in the comms cabinet, but i think the budget will bounce that idea. Instead, i will probably be getting a simple analogue PABX exchange.

There are two analogue lines into the building, and a requirement for 8 internal extensions. As they are scattered around the building, i am hoping to use the cat5 network and the patch panel in the comms cabinet to link it all up. Obviously i will need RJ45-RJ11 connections in the rack, and MOD-Taps for the phones to network wall boxes.

Anything i need to watch out for?

Type of phones and mod taps - SLT ( SAME AS HOUSE PHONES ) need master type mod taps ( capacitor fitted to allow for ringing), system phones - analogue systems usually use a four wire set up ( -usually data on 3/4 , and analogue on 2/5), need a slave mod tap .Depends on system - and requirements of system how many system phones are fitted .But usually minimum is main programing phone is system type with display . Some systems ring SLT at 25 or 50 hz-which causes problems for certain Fax machines designed to accept BT line ringer frequencies .( Panasonic is definitely one of these )- my suggestion is that you try to get a four /six exchange /16 extension system - too often I've seen two +8 grow out of all proportions .And the cost difference at install stage is negligible .And some systems have basic designs ,which mean either buying cards to let it use certain types of phones ,or getting phones to fit . Check out the default config of the system
And -if it turns out to be a Panasonic unit ,and the Japenglish of the manual is non translatable - PM -

[crmcatee]

You'll only need RJ45 connectors in the wiring cabinet. Just terminate any cabling coming from the PBX onto RJ45 patch panels. If you've got dedicated wiring from the PBX which is RJ11 just use RJ11 patch leads into the RJ45 sockets.

I've used BT / Nortel Norstars before and they work a dream.

I think you'll be hard to find a small PBX that supports analogue phones directly - most are actually digital which means you'll need to provide a analogue adaptor for any fax machine which you'll connect to the PBX. Having said that judging by the size of numbers we're talking here - you're probably not going to have DDI numbers - the fax line would be dedicated so wouldn't be on an extension ruling out the need for a fax machine.

If you don't have DDI you're going to need some form of operator function either manned or I'ld recommend auto attendant on the voicemail system (do you need voicemail) - let the user dial the extensions they want with no user interaction. If they don't know the extension - drop them back to a general number which can be picked up by anyone in the office.

[Sgt Bilko]

Thanks for the replies.

So far:

No voicemail requirement
One of the numbers is the main "inbound" number for the office, and that will be picked up by one extension, or ring on all if no answer.

Oddly, this all may change as i may have an Avaya IP406 PABX coming cheap.

[Kaelic]

If it's a ip system the wiring for the phones will be cat 5 anyways!

You can either build the IP system into the existing lan or just put a dedicated switch in the comms room to hive off the telephony from the data lan, makes it safer if you loose one or the other but means it's in effect a seperate lan. But if it's 8 extensions it wont really matter I think.

As for the Avaya IP office, its a great product but over complex, there are simpler systems out there but if you are getting it cheap its a no brainer. Be careful though with Avaya the licencing is a nightmare and I have heard of our dealers having to do pseudo phone interviews with Avaya support before being offer licences for products.

Good luck and if you get stuck let me know

[Sgt Bilko]

Kaelic said:

If it's a ip system the wiring for the phones will be cat 5 anyways!

You can either build the IP system into the existing lan or just put a dedicated switch in the comms room to hive off the telephony from the data lan, makes it safer if you loose one or the other but means it's in effect a seperate lan. But if it's 8 extensions it wont really matter I think.

As for the Avaya IP office, its a great product but over complex, there are simpler systems out there but if you are getting it cheap its a no brainer. Be careful though with Avaya the licencing is a nightmare and I have heard of our dealers having to do pseudo phone interviews with Avaya support before being offer licences for products.

Good luck and if you get stuck let me know

What licenses would you need?

[dtmpower]

Have you considered using Asterisk ?

[Sgt Bilko]

dtmpower said:

Have you considered using Asterisk ?

Not really. Any advantages?

[Kaelic]

Sgt Bilko said:

Kaelic said:

If it's a ip system the wiring for the phones will be cat 5 anyways!

You can either build the IP system into the existing lan or just put a dedicated switch in the comms room to hive off the telephony from the data lan, makes it safer if you loose one or the other but means it's in effect a seperate lan. But if it's 8 extensions it wont really matter I think.

As for the Avaya IP office, its a great product but over complex, there are simpler systems out there but if you are getting it cheap its a no brainer. Be careful though with Avaya the licencing is a nightmare and I have heard of our dealers having to do pseudo phone interviews with Avaya support before being offer licences for products.

Good luck and if you get stuck let me know

What licenses would you need?

Depends on what the system currently has and may need matey

Avaya are buggers when is comes to change of ownership of their kit too, so maybe the other company had vm licences and stuff but that doesnt mean you can use them

If its free or really cheap fit it and see what it has licence wise and what you need

[Sgt Bilko]

Didn't realise they needed licenses!!!

[smack]

Sgt Bilko said:

Oddly, this all may change as i may have an Avaya IP406 PABX coming cheap.

I worked for a company that was an Avaya Platinum partner, and I was not impressed by the IP Offices. The amount of problem they had (mostly software, some hardware) was excessive, and was amazed that customers still put up with them. On the other hand, the other vender's SME kit, that one from California, was set up and forget.

[Sgt Bilko]

smack said:

Sgt Bilko said:

Oddly, this all may change as i may have an Avaya IP406 PABX coming cheap.

I worked for a company that was an Avaya Platinum partner, and I was not impressed by the IP Offices. The amount of problem they had (mostly software, some hardware) was excessive, and was amazed that customers still put up with them. On the other hand, the other vender's SME kit, that one from California, was set up and forget.

I think i may bin the Avaya. Seems to be too much trouble for this installation. Stick with a cheap analogue PABX.

[dtmpower]

Sgt Bilko said:

dtmpower said:

Have you considered using Asterisk ?

Not really. Any advantages?

http://www.asterisk.org/

Free and open source voip pbx. Plenty of support forums and hardware to connect to pstn. Able to use soft phones or support for voip handsets

[Who me ?]

Sgt Bilko said:

smack said:

Sgt Bilko said:

Oddly, this all may change as i may have an Avaya IP406 PABX coming cheap.

I worked for a company that was an Avaya Platinum partner, and I was not impressed by the IP Offices. The amount of problem they had (mostly software, some hardware) was excessive, and was amazed that customers still put up with them. On the other hand, the other vender's SME kit, that one from California, was set up and forget.

I think i may bin the Avaya. Seems to be too much trouble for this installation. Stick with a cheap analogue PABX.

As before -possibly I'm biased -but have a look at this -http://www.millway.co.uk/secuser.htm?gclid=CIeYpqCaoKECFQIslAodZ0S2yA - possibly better deals out there .

up to 3lines + 8 extensions -150 ,or up to 6 lines and 16 extensions -200( if expansion possible -I'd go for 616) . All extensions ( except first one-that's because it's needed for programming ) can be SLT/POT ( ORDINARY TELEPHONES).Most features are available from SLTs - Simple to install - and in the years I worked with them reliable -sort of Moggie Minor of the comms world .Also have software for least cost routing .As I mentioned earlier ,only problem was with certain BT Fax machines designed for exchange line ringing frequencies .