Is Purchasing a Melin Legend R2 a good idea?

[billycrystal]

I am thinking about purchasing a Merlin Legend R2 system with phones. I am versed with the original Merlin systems, but really have no clue with the newer systems. I am wondering if purchasing this unit is a good idea, i understand it is an older model. The system comes with 2-5 slot carriers, 2-expansion 5 slot carriers, (don't know what either of those two are), merlin legend processor, 6-408 GS/LS ATL Modules, 3-012 module w/ring gen, 2-408 GS/LS TTR, 3-408 modules, 4-Legend power supplies, 2-008 voice terminal modules, 1-4 port Merlin mail voicemail REL3(is this Y2K compliant?), 1-merlin remote maintenance device, 1-RMD master controllerII and many phones. I will be upgrading from a 10/30 merlin, is this worth the upgrade? Are there problems with R2? Does the voicemail have auto-attendant? Sorry, I know this is lengthy, but i am really unsure, and i don't wanna be the laughing stock at work. THANKS FOR WHATEVER HELP ANYONE CAN GIVE!

 

[verland]

Tell us a little about what it will have to do. Are you replacing an existing system? How many users?



Don't worry about it being aged, most old phone systems are functionally great. They just don't have all the features and capabilities of new ones (which you may or may not need). Heck, we replaced our old Executone with a Definity and actually _lost_ some features.



I don't know much about Merlin II but I think the VMS R3 is still a good unit for small biz. It does have autoattendants, three of them actually. I've heard that R3.1 is y2k compliant, mine is just a 3 and I've noticed no problems. Any comment?



Curious, is Merlin II the processor that has the FML1 on it?

 

[billycrystal]

Thanks for the reply. We currently have the merlin 10/30 with 30 phones and about 13 users and 2 receptionists. We will probably be adding more phones. Also, do I need to purchase the MLX-20L phone to program the system? I am not sure about the FML1.

Thanks!

 

[pjolly]

For programming, you need either an MLX20L or a computer with the SPM program. If you upgrade the processor to release 6.1 or higher, you will be able to take advantage of the Windows SPM software, which really simplifies a lot of tasks. In either case, your computer plugs in to an admin port on the processer using a serial to rj44 converter.
By the way, with 6.0 or above you can "allow" in programming individual extensions to forward or transfer calls off-site, which can be really useful if employees need to take business calls live on their cells or work from home. Release 6.1 also allows "service observe", which lets a supervisor listen in on calls.

 

[netcon1]

Not advised...

Buy an R3 or higher off ebay or a vender.

The R2 is fairly old and judging by the 10/30, you have no mlx boards in the system to support an MLX20.

Also R2 does not buy you any new features or functions and does not support PRI/ISDN.

Going to V3 or higher is better as you have flashcard backup support and going to V4 or higher will give you future line upgrade support.

Netcon1