Phone connections?

clifpa

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Posts
319
Loc
Huntington Beach, CA
How many phone connections do you have in your shop?

I have a computer running my POS and Quickbooks systems

a regular (incoming ) business phone.

internet connection

Credit card handling

a Fax, printer and scanner combo system

other...did I miss anything?

So, how many phone connections do you have/need?
 
I have one phone line. It handles:

DSL- always on internet connection - allows for phone call without disturbing the internet connection. And it's fast!

Credit card terminal

My phone with cordless remote handset

My all-in-one HP Officejet G85xi - fax etc.

[ 03-04-2003, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: lessafinger ]
 
We have two digital phone lines w/CID, via the local cable company. The main number "hunts" to line two when busy. (this allows it to receive 2 calls at a time) Line 2 is also our fax number.

The credit card machine, fax machine, and alarm panel all use line 2.

Line 2 has a switchbox device which answers after the first ring and listens for one second. If it hears a beep from an incoming fax machine, it automatically transfers the call to the fax machine. If not, it transfers it to the multi-line phones(3). This allows us to have two voice lines and a dedicated fax # without paying for a third line. We're just a small shop with 2 employees so this meets our needs well.

We also have a "hotline" phone in the back room, which is an extension from the phone system 3 stores away. (another venture, not related to framing - that store has 6 lines of its own and the same kind of fax switch on line 6). We use the hotline mostly as an intercom to talk between the stores, discuss lunch plans, etc so it avoids message units.

The internet feed is through the cable company and we've installed a router w/NAT.

[ 03-04-2003, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: RHODY ]
 
We currently have four lines.

</font>
  • Three are incoming voice lines:
    Each has circular trunk hunting so that as long as one line is free no one calling in gets a busy signal.
    One of those has DSL on it (piggyback - it's always available for voice usage even though it's being used for DSL).
    Our credit card terminal uses the first available open line.</font>
</font>
  • The fourth is a dedicated FAX line that will get used for outgoing calls if the other three are all busy (that almost never happens).</font>
We used to have 6 - two were dedicated to an ISDN line. Through DSL we now are saving about $3500 per year for local telco service between less lines, no per-minute charges, and cheaper regular service (presumably because the equipment the telco costs them less money??)

(I finally figured out how the "List" feature works)

[ 03-04-2003, 03:56 PM: Message edited by: David N Waldmann ]
 
David and others,

Be careful of the list feature. If you go back and edit anything in your post, I can almost guarantee that one item on your list will disappear. Then, when you re-edit to put it back, a different list item will bite the dust. Pretty soon, you have a very short list.

This is one of the little quirks on TG that may have been fixed. Hm . . . I think I'll check. Here's a list of four items:
</font>
  1. Eenie</font>
  2. Meenie</font>
  3. Minie</font>
  4. Moe</font>

I'll edit this post and see what happens.

In case I don't make it back: I think the number of phone lines you need depends on how many people are on staff rather than how many different tasks you want the phone lines to perform. I work alone, so when the phone company calls and wants to sell me additional lines (I have two,) I laugh. I have one voice line and the fax, the modem and the credit card terminal all use the other.

If it weren't for The Grumble, I could probably manage nicely with one line.

(Oh, sure, now the damned thing works!)

[ 03-04-2003, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: Ron_Eggers ]
 
I get by with one line, but I suppose I miss a call now and then. If they want good work done they will call back!
 
So, it's somewhere between 1 to six and a couple of no comments...wink!

Thanks all, I really appreciate the input.
 
We have one line but we have been thinking of getting a fax machine. We've been hesitating because I'm not sure I can justify the cost of a seperate line just for something we would use only a few times a month. Would a switching box be an option that would allow use to get a fax and still keep only one line?
 
Yes, they work very well. Staples sells them for about $79.00.

The lil boxes have several modes. Mainly:

a)It can answer the line on ring 2, listen for a fax BEEP for a second, then switch accordordingly to a fax or phone. To do this it has to be wired so the line goes into the switch first, then out from there to the phones and fax.

b)It can be set to plug in behind the actual fax machine and listen for the "beeps" when another phone is picked up anywhere else. If you (or your answering machine) picks up the phone and it's a fax calling in - there will be a beep. The little box will "hear" this and immediately transfer the call to the fax machine. (it generates a ring signal and the machine picks up, and the person who picked up the phone will hear a special busy signal from the box)

The box also has a setting to allow caller-id to pass through. (whether or not it answers on ring 1 or ring 2, and whether or not it passes this info along to phones)

The only downside I have seen is that fax machines made before 1989 or so didn't make the CNG "beep" tones, so they don't work with the switch. I doubt many people still use machines that old, but if that happens you can hit a couple touchtones (*11?) and it manually switches the call to your fax machine.

If you do have one and have questions, look me up. It's a pretty clever toy and I have used them at (smaller) client sites for the past 10 years.

Mike

PS: I just checked staples.com and they aren't listed, but I always get them at the local staples (I got one last week in fact for a Drs office). The Command Communications 7500 or the 5500 are the two that I usually use. The 7500 model can actually listen on TWO lines and switch either of them to a single fax automatically.

[ 03-05-2003, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: RHODY ]
 
Anne and Mike,

I like the switch that you talk about. I'll give a call to Staples and see what I come up with.

Thanks people!

this might or might not be a first for me...wink.
 
Mike,

I went to Staples and they had both the 5500 and 7500 available, $79 and $99.

I opened the box to read the instructions, not great. I had to go through it quickly but I'm confused. The documentation said that the unit went to phone after six rings?

I couldn't find anything about the option to have the unit pickup in 2 rings and route the call to Fax or Phone?

I'm using the hp officejet d135xi fax, everything machine. It picks up in 4 rings but I can't answer the phone until it goes to answering machine else I loose the call.

I think the Command Com unit would be great if it picks up in 2 rings and then I set my phone/answering to 2 also?

Your help.
 
Cliffton,

We fit right into your 1 to 6 range with three phone lines....</font>
  • First line is our Advertised phone number and is obviously used for incoming calls.</font>
  • Second line was originally used for all outgoing calls and seldom appears in print. It now is used also for a recently installed second credit card machine.</font>
  • Third line was originally added for Fax machine and primary credit card machine. It now also handles any computer connections.</font>
My question to many that have added a switching box. I looked at these and elected not to add one. For example my third line shares three devices, all mostly outgoing: Fax, CC and Computer. I simply use a spliter. Incoming Faxes automatically and successfully go to my fax machine.

I'm curious. Is there a problem with the mechanics of this solution?

John

[ 03-08-2003, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: John Ranes II, CPF, GCF ]
 
I have only one phone line. It handles:

My 800 number

Call Waiting

DSL- always on internet connection - allows for phone call without disturbing the internet connection.
And it's fast!

Credit card terminal/cc swiper

My phone with cordless remote handset

My all-in-one Brother 870MC Message Center - fax - copy etc.

Not bad for only one phone line...
 
Hello,

CLIFPA:
I think the Command Com unit would be great if it picks up in 2 rings and then I set my phone/answering to 2 also? Your help.
It's all a matter of how you wire it. I usually put them in the phone room, where the lines come in. This is good as long as the jack for the fax comes back to this location, so it can be split off to go directly into the device.

It has a few main modes of operation, and it depends on how you wire it. I have installed more than a half dozen of these for clients and friends, and for each of them I used option B(below)

Option A: Plugged in between your fax machine and the wall. With this option, it will secretly listen for beeps when another extension picks up the line (a person, an answer machine, etc). If it hears a beep it will then xfer to the fax machine. It also picks up after 6 rings if nothing else does. (this is what you read about)

PHONE LINE
| |
PHONES SWITCHBOX (everything rings)
|
FAX
Better diagram: http://www.commandcommunications.net/semiautomaticmode.html

Option B: Plugged in between the phone company and everything in your building. This is the best way to wire it. It picks up on ring 1, listens for a CNG(fax) beep and sends the call in one of two directions. beep=fax machine, silence=your phones.

PHONE LINE
|
[SWITCHBOX] (makes the decision)
| |
PHONES FAX
Better picture: http://www.commandcommunications.net/automaticmode.html

Option C: Same as A but uses distinctive ringing service from phone company. same physical line has two numbers pointing to it for a few dollars per month and it will ring with a different pattern, which this little box detects. It will send to the fax automatically based on the ring pattern. Click here for a great diagram: http://www.commandcommunications.net/application.html

The devices can also route incoming MODEM calls, pass caller-id through, call a pager if you get a message on your machine, and the 7500 model can do all this for TWO lines. I doubt anyone would use all those features, but they can do it.

In its most basic function (option B), it lets you take an existing dedicated phone line and use it for multi purposes. For a small shop with one voice line, you can get the free "call hunting" service from the phone company so they will route calls to line 2 when line 1 is in use. (people still call your main number - it works similar to call waiting but rings the other line) The advantage is that a customer will get through on your advertised number even if its in use, because it'll jump to the other line.

I apologize for the length of this message, which probably makes it sound more confusing than it is. The above links to their web page go into better details with animated diagrams.

If you decide to try this, will be glad to help by phone if you get stuck in any way.
 
John -- the only problem that has come up is someone is using the FAX when we need to a CC transaction and now with the on-line era, needing to process a credit card when I've been grumbling.

We also have our own system with hunting feature that I just can't modernize and do without! Having the extra private line for the perifials is great for us as it doesn't go down when the electricity fails---meaning we can call someone to report the problem!

Anne--I find it is great to have a stand alone FAX. (not just in the computer). I think all you really need is a splitter or an extra jack (wall thingy). Splitters are less than $5.00.

I think current technology is something like after 4 rings the FAX switches to receive mode, but maybe that is a programable feature? With a splitter, you just can't be on the phone when you want to send (or receive).

We have one line for CC, on-line & FAX and rarely have conflicts...but if you have a separate company ISP account & go on-line at work I think DSL would be well worth checking out as it is supposed to split the line to have on-line, phone & fax all from one phone line and may actually be cheaper than paying a second phone line AND ISP fees.

[ 03-08-2003, 09:59 PM: Message edited by: rosetl ]
 
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