Speakerphone issue on the Euro II series

[Tripoth]

Moved a client into a new office. High ceilings, wooden floors, nice echo.

They use their speakerphones a lot. They keep cutting in and out on them and I think it is because of the office space and echo.

Anyone have a work around for this one? Take apart the phone and put something in front of the mic to muffle it, etc.?

 

[Dexman]

I don't think that the hands-free speaker and microphone are true duplex. My suggestion (and it's not perfect by any means) is to mute and unmute the microphone as needed by using the "MIC/HFAI" button. Opening the phone is a quick way to void the unit's warranty.

If it ain't broke, I haven't fixed it yet.

 

[SYQUEST]

A few suggestions:

1. Lower the speaker volume, many people have the volume too high and that can cause problems!
2. Place some sound absorbent material under the phone in the front area. The microphone is located on the right front edge underneath. That may reduce the reflections reaching the mike. 3. Adding acoustic panels or equivalent in the room might work to reduce the bouncing sound.
4. Use an external speakerphone like a Sound Station?

Modifying the phone is NOT a good choice. You will have to do some trial and error.

....JIM....

 

[phonesaz]

I agree with lowering the speaker - it seems to fix a lot of problems. People think their speaker doesn't work, so they turn it up, it picks up even more background noise and becomes choppier...you get the picture. The mute/unmute is good as well.

I have been getting rebuild Polycom soundstation 100s for a couple hundred $$ and plugging them into the aux port on the 18D. Everyone I do it for loves it (3 clients so far.) I actually have one in my office they use as a trial and no one wants to return them.

 

[SYQUEST]

What actually happens with simplex speakerphones is competition between the incoming and outgoing conversations. The loudest signal gets thru, the logic circuits called "variolossers" are constantly sampling the audio signals in both directions and the receive volume is part of the equation. In fact in the instructions for use of the old WECO 4A Speakerphone system mentions keeping the volume only loud enough for proper listening, because of the "switching effects" caused by excessive noise. So try it you might be surprised!

....JIM....

 

[Tripoth]

I had a lucent soundpoint office speakerphone for use with analog phones in my stock.
I decided to use this as a test run.
It did not work when I plugged it into the aux jack. I didn't expect it to.
It did work when I plugged it directly into the system. The client can hear things clear as a bell. The problem is the caller. Although my client did not have any breaks and had very clear sound the caller still hears a tremendous echo and is difficult for them to hear.
Do the Soundstation 100's clear the sound for the person calling in?
Might I have to find a speakerphone unit that has the capability to plug in a headset with noise cancellation, so my client can talk through that eliminating the echo for the caller, but can still hear the client clear through the speaker?

 

[SYQUEST]

If the problem is with a particular caller, you might want to inquire what kind of phone or equipment the caller is using. That might be the cause of the echoes. Also, are they really "echoes" or some other distortion of the audio being perceived as echoes. Some people can't tell the difference because of ignorance.

....JIM....

 

[Tripoth]

It seems to be every caller hearing the echo. We tested using 2 different cell phones and 2 other offices that have partner systems.
Remember the room my client is talking in has hard wood floors and high ceilings. Talking in the room normally(not on a phone)produces and echo.

 

[Westi]

so if you already hear an echo when you talk normally the phone can't compensate for it on speakerphone.
Man what a piece of junk phone is that.
Sorry I am not sure if the sarcasm comes through here. Get a truck load of egg cartons and glue them to the ceiling and walls to minimize the echo.

Joe W.

FHandw., ACS

I don't suffer from insanity
I enjoy every moment of it

 

[SYQUEST]

Did you try any of my suggestions in a previous post? Until you do something about the acoustical environment nothing will change, if that is the cause. The phone is NOT going to fix the room acoustics!!

....JIM....

 

[Tripoth]

I tried some of things on your previous post. No dice.
They will never use egg cartons to cut down on the echo.
They moved into the location because of aesthitics.
Who cares if the phones don't really work well, my office looks cool......

 

[Westi]

sounds like lots of customers I am afraid. I guess you can only tell them that they can not use the speaker phone because of environmental reasons and sell them cordless headsets with a lifter.
maybe they have never seen egg cartons on the ceiling, it can look really great and if you paint it nicely then it will add to the flair of the room

Joe W.

FHandw., ACS

I don't suffer from insanity
I enjoy every moment of it

 

[CarGoSki]

What if you leave the eggs in the cartons.....

 

[Westi]

perfect for Easter )

Joe W.

FHandw., ACS

I don't suffer from insanity
I enjoy every moment of it

 

[SYQUEST]

If it gets hot enough you can have egg fried ceiling!
.............
There are aesthetic acoustical treatments available in various panels and designs. Do some Google research to find some or suggest that to your client to do the work.

....JIM....

 

[phonesaz]

I am sure all of these answers are very helpful - not. I have had really good luck w/ the soundstation. You may still get some echo, but it is an older, well-built speakerphone. I had a customer who also thought looks were everything and had a frickin waterfall on one wall of their conference room. Didn't take too long to realize THAT had to go off for conferences! I would call Metroline, pick up a rebuilt polycom for $120 (or less if you talk nice to them) and give that a try. If polycom doesn't make it better, nothing will and they are stuck.

 

[kdifs]

I have a similar issue. My euro phone has the speakerphone cutout problem, others on the system do not have that problem. If I switch my phone out with another from the system the other phone does not have this problem. When I put mine back on, it has the cutting out problem.

Some of our phones are the euro style, some are old AT&T Parnter MLS-18D phones. My phone seems to be the only one with the issue.

I don't have an echo issue though (well not abnormal).

That reminds me, I need to order another phone to replace mine.