Todd,
Thanks for the .08 worth.
We haven't bit the hook yet. What we have looked at is using the NEC for an
add-on to replace an extremely aging Panasonic unit that allows us to use
cell phones as cordless phones (use to double as our cell phones until we
changed providers). We were impressed with the on site demo they did and
the flexibility of the system, We have talked about replacing our Toshiba
switch with the NEC also, but upper management's attitude is if it's not
broken don't mess with it, and we don't have much problem with it.
We do have similar problems with the Toshiba support from our phone service
company, each tech that comes out has a different view point on how things
should be setup.
Also unfortunately the personnel present when the system went in are no
longer here and none of us have had any classes on how the system should
work. Like you with some training and a chance to work on it I might be
able to tweak the system to what's best for us. But alas no time - age old
story.
Warren R. Eddy
Information Services Manager
National Tube Form
A Leggett & Platt Company
Phone: (219) 478-2363 ext 217
Fax: (219) 478-1043
Warren.Eddy@...
-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Anderson [mailto:
tanderson@...]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 11:23 AM
To: '
vantage@yahoogroups.com'
Subject: RE: [Vantage] OT - Phone System Recommendations
John / Warren,
We used to have a Toshiba PBX ... we junked it because of the age of the box
and the attitude of the supplier. Ok, the fact that the current Toshiba
PBX's could not support an ISDN T-1 probably had something to do with it ...
( This was 3 years ago - Toshiba may have fixed this by now. )
Currently we have -3- NEC 1000's and -2- NEC 2000's controlling four sites
in three states linked together using T-1 circuits that are split approx.
50/50 between voice and data using Adtran units.
The NEC boxes have worked flawlessly and, knock on wood, we have had no
trouble with them.
However, programming these boxes is a HUGE pain in the butt. We have an
outside provider that services the boxes for us and every time we get a
different service tech in we have trouble because each of them wants to
setup the system differently. Mind you, this is one of the larger PBX
vendors in Chicago.
If I had to do it over again I would make the programming software one of my
top priorities in reviewing ANY new system.
Things I would look for:
* You should be able to dial into the PBX via modem from your desktop and
backup or restore the configuration files to your local or network hard
drive. With the NEC system they have software to do this called MATWORK -
but this function does NOT work and hasn't for the last three years so
unless you are directly connected you cannot backup or restore. Given our
multiple sites in multiple states .... ugh
* You should be able to EASILY print off the complete configuration of the
PBX - in English !!! There is NO good way of doing this on the NEC
systems. All you can do is connect to the systems and then qry each group
of settings line by line. This has been a HUGE problem for us since stuff
like "least cost routing" is a big issue for us. We send out LD traffic
through a LD T-1 first. If the LD T-1 is down the PBX should route the
traffic out through our ISDN T-1. If that is down the PBX should send the
traffic out through a batch of 8 local lines in a hunt group and finally via
a 8-port cell phone system. I would love a decent way of getting the
config file printed out so I could go through myself and desk check these
tech's so they don't have to make 3 trips to the hardware store before they
fix anything.
* Anyone who has half a brain should be able to do most of the basic
programming via dialup without having to call in techs. By all means have a
tech setup the initial system but after that the Least Cost Routing and
other basic stuff you should be able to take care of.
* Make sure the cabinet you find is not overloaded at day one. These boxes
normally have multiple card slots for holding analog or digital cards that
generally provide 4 or 8 ports each. As a ruff rule I would say that the
box should be no more than 70% full of cards at day one and of the cards
that are installed I would look for having no more than 70 % of the ports
used at day one. This way you can absorb some growth before having to
purchase more cards and with additional growth you can purchase more cards
before you have to buy a new cabinet.
* Another thing to watch for is what happens when you fill up the existing
cabinet - can you purchase an additional cabinet and will there be room on
the wall / rack for the box. Believe it or not the numb nuts that
installed one of our remote facilities installed a cabinet that was 100 %
full of cards with ALL ports allocated on day one and then wall mounted it
in such a way that the ONLY way to add an additional cabinet would be to
completely re-wire the wall in order to make space ... ugh ! ( Yes, they
charge by the hour ... )
The NEC system is reasonably priced and very sound but the programming is
incredibly graphic and hard to get right. When I see well trained NEC
tech's having trouble keeping the programming straight it does not give me a
warm and fuzzy feeling. It honestly seems like every time a dig into our
phone bills I find bad programming behind the problems.
Oh well ... that's my 8 cents worth,
Todd Anderson
-----Original Message-----
From: Warren Eddy [mailto:
warren.eddy@...]
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 9:38 AM
To:
vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [Vantage] OT - Phone System Recommendations
John,
We don't have experience with any of the mentioned systems, but we have been
looking at the NEC systems. They have what I call a foundation system,
where you can start small to medium and add as necessary. They are also
saying that as new software comes out we can upgrade without changing
hardware.
F.Y.I.
Warren R. Eddy
Information Services Manager
National Tube Form
A Leggett & Platt Company
Phone: (219) 478-2363 ext 217
Fax: (219) 478-1043
Warren.Eddy@...
-----Original Message-----
From: Hiatt Manufacturing [mailto:
hiattmfg@...]
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 6:32 PM
To:
vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] OT - Phone System Recommendations
We are currently looking at replacing out 11 year old
Premier phone system, to add more expansion as well as
voice mail. We currently have a single site with 7
lines and 25 phones. We have looked at the Samsung,
Avaya Partner and Magix, Mitel SX-200, and 3COM NBX
100 phone systems. Does anyone have any strong
opinions or recommendations for us before we make a
decision? Any past experience or input to aid our
decision would be appreciated.
Also, I would love to talk with anyone using the 3COM
IP phones over the same network as Vantage.
Feel free to respond off list too.
Thanks,
John Mueske
Hiatt Manufacturing, Inc.
hiattmfg@...
507-454-4977
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