Recommendations for a small PBX?

[sgtrauksauff]

I'm looking for some suggestions to point me in the right direction.

Currently, one of our sites is using an old Nortel Norstar Meridian KSU (NT5B01FD-93, which is the 6x16 as far as I can tell) with no voice mail. We're most likely changing office locations, and it makes sense to upgrade the phone system while we're at it.

It's a small office, with less than ten extensions, most likely only seven at most, even if I add a couple extras in storage/break rooms. We've got four incoming lines, one of them being for fax.

What sort of "modern" systems are available for such small offices? Would it be best just to find some sort of voicemail system that would work with this system? I have a Startalk Flash unit formerly installed with a Big Norstar Compact ICS that I could probably make work, but we've got really old handsets as well, that are becoming dead slowly.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[phil209]

I think the Part number you listed is a DR5, and you are correct that is getting old fast. Since you are already a Norte/Avaya house I would consider a BCM 50. I would think you could pickup a package from the secondary market with VM and phones for about $2k. There are also IP options out there but dont think in system of your size the RIO would work out. IMHO

Phil

 

[desertinn]

Try the T7316 Nortel line real cheap on eBay

 

[SNSSMIS]

I vote bcm50 use same digital sets.

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

BCM Rls 3 or higher. That way you can dabble in IP/Telephony if you so choose.

 

[sgtrauksauff]

Argh. Looks like the penny-pinchers have struck again. No new systems for me. So I get to set up a Norstar MICS 4.0, and a Startalk Flash of similar vintage, with a couple 7310 stations, and the rest 7208.

No big deal I guess, I've just got climb the learning curve, I'm glad that it's actually fun learning the inner details of things.

Anyone notice that in the PDF docs for the MICS on pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/, Just about any time in the document that they give you the keypresses to use for a certain task, they're all in some other font, and essentially gobbledeygook?

 

[veenstrahiem]

I would suggest a mitel 3300 CXi controller. You can connect 16 IP-phones directly on the controller, because it has a 16 port integrated switch with PoE. With an additional uplink port you could go even further.

With the mitel you can connect using SIP/PRI/ISDN2/T1 etc.
Also has build in module for 4 analogue phones and 6 analogue trunks

 

[GordonKapesMZ4]

If you want to set up the MICS to be like a new system.....get some of the black colored sets (if they arent already), new button caps and new handsets from ebay and clean the phones to make them look brand new. I use simple Lysol disinfectant wipes to clean the phones and use a small screwdriver and another wipe to clean the speakerphone portions out, that get very dirty after time. After I complete all of that, the phones look brand new!

What's the plan from this point on and I'll try to give you more advice.

Joe

 

[sgtrauksauff]

I already actually have the phones all cleaned, and set up the system on the workbench in my office. Most of them are the black sets, but a couple are the tan color. I just punched down a few analog ports from our Avaya system, patched them to an unused jack, split'em out to a 4-connector box, and have all the stations set up and named, and pretty much ready to go. I got NRU v10, and was able to speed programming up using the browser function, and the handy backup/restore function. The flash is nearly done, and I'll be hanging it in the new location next week.

Thanks!


--Jorden