You don't have to be sorry, curlycord. You posted first; I didn't expect you to agree. Yet, I am sure we can discuss it and find out what the ATA is actually capable of.
I remember having tested this scenario on an ATA a few years ago. It worked as I describe here. Maybe sroggero can give it a try and tell us if it also works for him.
In the meantime, let me further explain my position.
curlycord said:
ATA allows you to conference calls (1 in and 1 out) and not accept another incoming internal call or an external call on another line.
I never used the Conference feature on an ATA, so I won't argue.
curlycord said:
ATA'a are considered as "Single Line Device"
In the sense that we attach a single-line device to an ATA. If we were to attach a two-lines analog phone to an ATA, the second line wouldn't work. I think we agree on that.
However, the system provides two paths to make and receive calls, and the ATA can use them. There is an example below.
curlycord said:
The only way you can get call waiting is if you have a private line with the call waiting feature from the carrier and the 2nd caller calls that private line to which you activate the carriers feature request which is LINK/FLASH (F71 on digital sets).
I agree with that, except for the part where it says "the only way"... ;-)
For the system, ATAs are very similar to 7100 digital sets.
In programming, you could set up a 7100 to ring for Line 001 and Line 002. In programming, you could set up an ATA to ring for Line 001 and Line 002, too. Line 001 and Line 002 don't have to be private. They can be public and they can even be assigned to other sets.
On a 7100, if you are connected to Line 001, the set will ring to alert of an incoming call on Line 002. On a ATA, if you are connected to Line 001, the ATA will send a tone (namely, the Call Waiting tone) to alert of an incoming call on Line 002.
On a 7100, to answer Line 002, you press the Hold button. On an ATA, to answer Line 002, you dial Link 2.
On a 7100, when the Held Line Reminder feature is turned on and Line 001 is still on hold, the set beeps. On an ATA, when the Held Line Reminder feature is turned on and Line 001 is still on hold, the ATA sends a tone (namely, the Held Line Reminder tone).
And, for the record, from an ATA, you would have to dial Link *71 to be connected to the second call on a line that offers the Call Waiting feature from the CO.
curlycord said:
Regardless these settings wont help unless private line as described.
In case anyone wonders, we are talking about the Tones feature of the ATA, here.
If the tones are turned off, well, the ATA never sends them. Even if there is no tone, the second call is still waiting. You can pick it up by dialing Link 2. For instance, you could be alerted of the second call by an auxiliary ringer.
ATAs are usually attached to an answering machine, a fax machine, a modem or a point of sale terminal. We turn the tones off because they sometimes interfere with these devices. Also, these devices don't put calls on hold and they don't handle multiple calls at once, making it another reason to turn the tones off.
