Fax on ACS R6 3

[tti2]

Hello,
I have a customer with a Partner ACS R6 looking to add a fax machine to extension 8.
The system is configured with two incoming lines.
Line (1) has call waiting, Line (2) does not and is on a hunt group from Line (1)
Voicemail is through the central office.
Question is they want to be able to use a published fax number (line 2) as a second line for incoming and outgoing calls when needed.
Line (2) has distinctive ring activated.
After reading the manual, I cannot seem to get a straight answer on this scenario unless I'm missing something here.
They would like fax calls to be routed automatically when Line (2)is called directly through the published fax number. However, If Line (1) is being used as well as call waiting and Line (2) is on a hunt group, will the fax automatically answer this call?

 

[Dexman]

Hey tti2,

If you want to use line #2 for both fax & voice, you will need to enable the CNG Detection (#505) and also tell the ACS which extension is going to be the fax machine (#601).

Here is the link to the online R6 manual. Check out 9-24 & 9-26.

http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/partneracs_r6/456803_5.pdf

Dexman

 

[Dexman]

It may also be good practice to enable delayed ringing to give the ACS a chance to determine if the call is an incomming fax and route it to the fax extension before ringing all the telephones.

 

[DWLaurie]

Will the ACS know it's a fax call without having the line active? I was under the impression that only once the line is active, especially if VM picked up the incoming line, did the ACS know to move the call into Hunt Group 8. Does the ACS eavesdrop on theeline even before an extension picks up on it?

--Dan

 

[Dexman]

Dan's right!

I did a quick re-read and a voicemail needs to be installed in the Partner system to utilize the CNG Detection feature.

A Partner Voice Messaging card could be added to the system to enable that feature to work.

 

[Dexman]

I think there may be another option.

I know there are devices on the market that will determine if an incomming call is voice or data and direct the call to the appropriate device. They are, more or less, "plug & play" devices.

Such a device might be a good alternative to an onboard voicemail system.

 

[hbiss]

No, you have to have a voice messaging system to pick up the line then the ACS will detect the CNG tones. According to the literature your AA menu should be at least 8 seconds long to allow the ACS to detect them. So the fax doesn't pick up unless it's supposed to it also says to remove all lines from the fax extension. Don't know how you are supposed to send a fax then. I would just not have it ring on any lines.

That said I suspect that without VM you could manually pick up the line and wait for the transfer to the fax.

Disclaimer: I've never done any this, you should have a dedicated fax line as far as I'm concerned. Any other way is a big PITA.

By the way forget that #601 exists. It serves no purpose today.

-Hal

 

[Dexman]

My last post would apply if the fax machine could be left external to the ACS. If the fax machine is to be connected to the ACS, an onboard voicemail system is needed.

 

[skip555]

line sharing makes sense to a lot of small business , if done right no PITA at all

never tried letting the partner system handle fax detection we always use the stick by multilink , works well and is seamless to the caller.

I have used it for 10 years and customer response has been good .

http://www.evaluezone.com/multilinkstick.html

 

[TouchToneTommy]

If you use an external Voice/Fax detector, run the voice side of it into line 2 of the ACS, the Fax side to Line 3. Set up the FAX extension with line 1,2, and 3, the other extensions with line 1 and 2 only. The FAX gets immediate ring on line 3 only, and Auto Line Select for outgoing should be Line 2, then Line 1.

Calls to the FAX line get answered by the voice/fax switcher first. If it detects CNG tone, the call rings though to line 3, and the FAX extension picks up. Voice calls ring throught o line 2, and a human picks up. If the call really is a FAX, but the sender hasn't hit the send button yet, thus not sending CNG tone, the call comes to the phones, and the person answering can transfer to the fax extension.

If the fax is busy receiving and someone goes off hook on line 2 of the phones, the fax/voice switchers usually provide a "busy" tone, to signal that the fax is using the line. When sending out, since the ALS for the FAX is line 2 and 1, the phone users will see the line in use and not interrupt it, and if line 2 is already in use, you can still send out a fax.

 

[brucealmighty]

I agree with with dedicated faxes. But I've put them in the system many other ways.
Voicemail is required for fax tone detection, and recommended to have VM answer that line immediately.(#506)
THen fax extension programmed(#601).
There is the voice/fax detection product(fax switch/comm switch) that works great,some can be pricey though.