BRI from POTS

[cobac]

Currently have a BCM50 configured with 4 POTS lines (and other fax lines). I have never worked with BRI service for voice, just for video conferencing or Internet. Usually deal with PRI for voice installation over 10 lines.

Require the following:
-Instantaneous Caller ID
-The AA should pickup without the dialing party hearing a ring.
-Conference calls using the system, sound level is low on some calls. Prefer PRI where everyone can hear each other.
-Getting rid of the "click clack" noise of selecting POTS trunks on the system.

PRI is not cost effective for under 10 lines, so I was wondering if anyone with BRI experience thinks this would fit our requirements?

Once you go PRI you don't ever want to go back!

Thanks for any info

 

[senk1s]

- when there is a D channel, caller ID information is sent as a part of the call setup process on the D channel
- ring back will be there depending on the ringing cycle of the originating CO
- a confernce bridge can compensate for the loss, or use the link/conference of the CO

 

[jerryreeve]

I have set up a CICS and a MICS with BRI and the signal quality is great.
The confrence bridging is still going to have a 3db loss since that is in the method of confrence that the telephone set uses. for best confrence bridging look into something like the confer-I that is an external confrence bridge.
I think the ringback tones will still exist when the call goes to AA but you will see them either abbreviated or skipped more often since the speed of the call connection is so much faster (we didn't run either with immediate AA)
I am not sure of the clicking and clacking though.

----------------------------
JerryReeve
Communications Systems Int'l
com-sys.com

 

[cobac]

Thank you both for the information.

So it appears the BRI will act similarly to PRI that I am used to. I guess the ringback tones can exist for PRI as well depending on where you are calling from. However, it will still be nice to have the AA pass CID information even after 1 ring instead of having to ring 3 times... The 3 rings sounds like "we've fallen asleep and can't answer the phone, but here's our AA to talk to you..."

The external conf bridge you mentioned has peaked my interest. Not to mention it would also be nice to conf more than 3 parties (6 would be ideal) (Too bad Avaya's IP office excels in this..). At one office we are able to conf 6 parties already with PRI/ Option 11C system...it is nice to have.

How well does the CONFER unit integrate with the Nortel system on the end user side of things? Looks a little pricey, seeing the CONFER III 6port for about 5k....

Thanks guys, I appreciate it...

 

[jgideon]

an MICS I had installed about 1997 had the first BRI trunk cards for a Norstar seen in downstate Illinois. the NAM answered immediately (no ring), and we did some cool routing stuff based on CPN. The BRI doesn't give you 'did' service, tho. I've heard of 'did like' service with BRI trunks, but never seen it actually work. The hardest part will be getting the BRI trunks ordered correctly. The manuals at the time did give good isdn ordering codes, just took us three weeks to find someone at the ILEC who could get it ordered correctly, and the ILEC was the installer!