PBX / Centranet / Recon Work 1

[adamroof]

Ok, dont know where to start,

We have a merlin old school system, and are on Avaya maintenance.

Verizon states we should upgrade our PBX trunks to Centranet.

We have a few fax lines (DID's i think), and about 25 to 30 extensions, and a couple of analog lines.

1. Where is a good place to start identifying what lines we have, and is there some app that helps record this other than an excel file?

2. What is the reasoning to move to centranet over pbx, and what might be involved in upgrading?

3. Have you found any good online resources available to help understand the differences?

Im having a hard time reconnecting to our merlin admin since we changed subnets, and i cant seem to telnet in to change the default 10.0.0.41 address. I can login to the WinSPM although. Would any one of those tools be instrumental in my recon work?

Thanks for your insights.

 

[merlinman]

Why is your DIAL TONE Vendor dictating to you which of their products you need to purchase?

Also, please explain what Centranet is.

Further, if VERIZON is your vendor, they should be able to tell you what you have.

As far as identifying lines into your system, I think the first 2 questions should be answered by your vendor.

I would be willing to bet they are just trying to sell you something you don't need.

Don't let them do this to you.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[A2Xprt]

IIRC, CentraNet was GTEs lingo for Centrex.

 

[adamroof]

Yes, Verizon is our dial tone vendor, they are "suggesting" we move off our PBX trunk to a "Centrex". Pricing is the sell point i think...

we have "23" lines according to our recent bill.

CentraNet 16 (14.00ea)
PBX Measured 7 (28.99ea)

My next step is to head to the 66 blocks to see if i can ID the numbers they charge us for and the couple ones i know we have (not used).

Right now, its a "It aint broke, dont go fixin it" situation, but im trying to take this time to ID what we have thats not broke, hehe.

Im not sure what the PBX does for us, and why they are not on the CentraNet to begin with. Is "Centrex" newer technology?

Of course they want to sell us a PRI, but past experiences are if you change something, they will break it.

I hear about Avaya no longer supporting our old phone system. WinSPM wants me to buy Socket Magix. Someone always wants their hand in our pockets.

 

[merlinman]

Well, Avaya may not support it, but several of us on this forum do, and will do for the next several years.

Parts will be available for a LONG TIME in the after market arena.

As far as CENTREX, no, that's an OLD technology, but it came with some neat features. (3 Way Calling and call waiting and other stuff that is now available on most "Regular" phone lines.

CENTREX has almost always been EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, but it is GREAT for the person selling the contract, due to the commission he will make.

PRI is fine, but you can only get CALLER ID NUMBER with the LEGEND/MAGIX.

But, it does work quite well, and could save you a few buck$.

However, before I bought VERIZON's PRI, I would shop around.

There are a TON of vendors out there with REALLY GREAT DEALS.

So, GOOD LUCK!

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[tdaugirdas]

With "23 lines" T1/PRI service is certainly an option to consider. The usual breakeven is at about 11 analog lines - so you are probably "way overpaying" for 23 analog lines. Unfortunately the major providers tend to be about double the price for T1/PRI service - so as Merlinman suggests - it is well worth your time to explore with other (local) providers of this same service in your area.

Tom Daugirdas,
President
STCG, Inc.
stcg.com

 

[adamroof]

What downtime or change of service can we expect moving to a PRI? All the copper still has to go through the CO doesn't it? What copper is running to our onsite Merlin? Does the PRI replace all that?

I do get many calls a week from phone system people, i guess i will stop hanging up on them and ask them for a visit instead. What is acceptable for a quote? Should they charge a "good faith" fee to analyze our system and recommend the upgrade path, or should that be "free".

 

[SYQUEST]

Even though the LECs may charge more for PRI, you want to check out the reliability factor for any Service Provider! When it breaks, you get no calls and can't place any calls! So you want to keep that in mind. Some providers, including the LEC will do a contract, which may give you better pricing or waive the install costs, depending on terms. So you need to do some homework here. But QUALITY and RELIABILIY of service are very important!

Planning is also important. This forum is a good source of help in that regard. There is lots of PRI related coverage here. Another thing I would suggest if you convert to a PRI, is keeping two or three POTS/PBX lines as a backup if the PRI has a failure. This way the system can still function in a limited capacity. Some providers have features like Alternate Routing if the PRI fails the calls can be routed to the backup POTS service for incoming calls.

Lastly, read the documentation, it is free for the download from support.avaya.com. There are Planning Guides for the Legend and Magix.

I would not pay to have the system analyzed, the quote should be free. They should have to work to earn your trust if they want your business.

....JIM....

 

[ShopForT1]

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[MrTelecom1]

Yep ... GET A PRI !!! The cost of 20 some pots lines will surely pay for a PRI..

PAETEC offers that roll-over conditioned mentioned. They call it "DTO" Direct Trunk Overflow. If the trunk fails, they send it to a Pilot copper number that you have on your system..

If for some reason you DO go with teh Centranet/Centrex, make sure you ask at time of the order,
for an ASSUMED DIAL 9 on all the Lines!

If you dont, you'll either have to dial 9 twice to get out, or get creative and insert it in ARS. Either way, not cool if it CAN be avoided.

MrTelecom1
Re-Living the AT&T/Lucent/Avaya issues since 1979!