Auto-Select ringing line by lifting handset? 1

[MitelInMyBlood]

CUCM 8.5
7965 + 7916 sidecar
Multiple shared lines configured, all of them ring at this location.

Is it possible to configure the 7965 to automatically select the ringing line simply by lifting the handset? I know just pressing the "Answer" key or pressing the button of the ringing line will accomplish this, but we'd like to be able to do it just by lifting the handset. Is this possible? I've tried several configurations and it doesn't seem to work.

This was a class of service feature on our previous phone system & my users have been asking for it.

Thanks

Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[whykap]

you can turn it up globbaly in enterprise params, but since it is only one use requesting it under the users phone configuration change the "auto line select" to enabled, reset the phone and then they should be able to answer any ringing line on the phone by picking up the handset.

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Thanks.... That's what I thought too and in fact tried it, but it didn't seem to work. I did "Apply Config" but didn't force an actual "reset" - Do you think resetting versus "Apply Config" would have made a difference?



Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[whykap]

No I don't think so. It should have worked. Interesting. Let me try it when I get a chance and get back to you. I wouldn't be surprised if CISCO changed the functionality. I know for a fact it used to work on side cars and actually cause users a ton if headaches and user error issues when turned on.

 

[whykap]

Did you try turning on the auto call select as well?

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Again thanks. Help appreciated...

Auto Call Select? Yes, that too. No cigar. According to the help screen auto line select is dependent upon auto call select.

I swear Cisco hires lawyers to write their technical documentation in the most vague & ambiguous terms possible. Here's what the "help" {sic} screen has to say about Auto Line Select:

Auto Line Select:   When enabled, indicates that the phone will shift the call focus to incoming calls on all lines. When disabled, the phone will only shift the focus to incoming calls on the currently used line.  
   This is a required field.  
   Default:  Disabled

Then for Auto Call Select they say:

Auto Call Select:   The Auto Call Select setting allows enabling or disabling of the automatic call focus switching feature. When "Enabled", the phone UI will automatically switch focus to certain calls on the same line if no user interaction has occurred for 10 seconds. If "Disabled", the phone UI will not automatically switch call focus. The default for this setting is "Enabled". Disabling the Auto Call Select feature automatically disables the Auto Line Select feature.  
   This is a required field.  
   Default:  Enabled

Surely this explains why most phone techs coming to Cisco from other platforms drink.


Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[whykap]

Can you do this for a test? Move one of the shared lines from the side car to one of the buttons on the 7965 itself and see if it works as designed there.
We can go from there.

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Still didn't work. But I think you maybe hit on something.

First let me explain the setup a bit more in detail. The 7965 + sidecar is hosting a 20-member broadcast hunt group. The prime line of the instrument of course works as designed, but whenever any member of the 20 line HG rings you have to manually select the ringing line with the button associated with that line *OR* you can use the "Answer" softkey which will auto-select the ringing line as intended. The problem only occurs when trying to answer a ringing line (other than the prime) by picking up the handset -or- by using a Jabra Go-6470 bluetooth headset with electronic hookswitch control (not a physical HS lifter). The ELS function of the cordless headset works fine to answer the prime line, but again is unable to sieze any other ringing line, even when there's only one line ringing.

Here's a clue: I have another group of 10 users with 7975's and only a 7-member hunt group (no sidecars) and these users *ARE* able to answer any ringing line just by lifting the handset.

So either this is a bug in the 7965 or in combination with having the sidecar.


Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[whykap]

That is where I was getting at. It's possible that the side car changes the functionality of the auto line select feature. Or it could very well be a phone firmware issue. As a matter of fact I would be leaning towards the latter to start with.
You can take out the side car and delete all the references to that phone with the side car and test again. It will probably give you a better idea if it is a 7965 issue or a 7965/sidecar combination issue.

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Rather than do that I'll try it on a virgin 7965. If it works then in my view this is a bug and as you suggest, most likely in the phone firmware. We're running 9.1.0 firmware now because 9.1.1 broke the Electronic Hook Switch feature (with Jabra GO 6470 BT headsets).



Original MUG/NAMU Charter Member

 

[jadHDB]

Check if the Call Manager service parameter "Always Use Prime Line" is Enabled.
Disable it and test.