Help with Phone Systems?

PhillyDee

PhillyDee

PhillyDee

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I could do with some advice regarding office phone systems, specifically, buying, requirements and installing . . . .

My lass and her 2 bosses (Recruitment firm) have just moved offices, the new office has 9 data and 8 phone sockets (+ 1 fax) which all terminate to a patch panel. They are all 8-pin RJ45 fully connected to a patch panel in the back room. The bosses asked me about having a phone system that can transfer calls between them. Its a basic system, but I confess that I havent got the foggiest about how to start, what they need and what to buy.
Anyone got any advice, even some sort of basic system and what would be needed. Is it better to use ISDN (There are 3 dual ISDN line boxes in the patch panel cupboard - dont know how to use them either!) and have 2 lines or is it just easier / cheaper to use the analogue ones on the phone system?
 
Okay,

Phone sockets - if they're fully wired (ie could be just used for network after some re-patching) you can go for either analog phones or VOIP phones.

Internal PBX, VOIP wise, Cisco Call Manager and Asterisk are two popular systems, for analog devices really you're looking at dedicated systems from the likes of Fujitsu/Siemens etc - that's out of my remit.

External lines, depends how many you want, you can get it over ISDN or over normal BT analog lines. This is up to you really, both are about the same complexity to attach to a PBX.

Alternatively, you can use an external VOIP provider to terminate your PSTN calls, in which case all you need is a good internet connection.
 
The phone sockets are basically RJ45 fully connected, just marked up as T1, T2 etc.

They only need 3 lines, one for the FAX (dedicated line really) so that leaves 2 voice lines, thing is, im a complete newbie at anything to do with that.

Hmm, looking at the Asterix software, I like the price, (free :D), but it looks like hassle to me! I take it it just runs off the network? With a PC, the switch that runs the PC's, and IP telephones?
 
Yes, Asterisk runs on a box, then you use software based phones or physical IP phones over the network. Using the same switch is the norm, but you'd also have QOS and VLANs to seperate out the voice traffic as it's more important.

You'd still need a way of terminating into an outgoing service - either through physical lines (analog/ISDN) or through the internet.

Asterisk is not for the faint hearted so if you're not too sure i would look at a more dedicated solution, or since you only need 3 lines, just get BT to give you 3 external lines and patch them directly into desk phones. No PBX features but it's minimal hassle.
 
After a quick google, looks like you'll be paying around £250 for somthing like the Panasonic. You're better off with this type option really, by the time you've bought a server and IP phones plus the time spent to learn the system you're well over that.
 
Many thanks, I was lookign at the asterix initially, but it seems very overkill, and its not something that the office could easily use (I would have to be involved heavily). I like the look of the Panasonic system, seems reasonably priced for SOHO.

Seems like its 110V only . . . . Any pointes Tomsk?

Sounds like exactly what Im looking for. Small system, and expandable for more extensions.
 
Ours is definately a 220/240V system.
It may actually be a 624 system, but I won't be able to check until I go to work on Monday.
 
Aye Panasonic's your best bet, very affordable and easy enough to program.

Failing that, you culd always use BT Feature Lines, or Telewest Centrex.. like having a phone system but it's all managed by the respective company. But if there's only a few people in the office at the same time it can be the easier option.
 
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