IP Office Overhead Paging

[RCLSys]

I was hoping someone might have a few ideas regarding this.
The quick and dirty of what we're trying to do is play a pre-recorded emergency messages over our existing P/A system.

Our current setup
-----------------

2x Avaya IP Office Servers 10.1
-Running voicemail Pro (Intuity)

1x V500 10.1 /w several expansion cabinets for all analog lines
-All extensions and users reside on the v500
-PRI (line group 10)
-Analog trunk to paging system (line group 999)

Currently we have a shortcode (*5) that picks up on line group 999
Any subsequent dialed digits are passed along to the paging system to signal which zones are to be paged.
IE: *50 all zones, *51 zone 1, *52 zone 2, etc...
This works well for general paging such all calling someone to reception.


For emergency paging however we first started with a dial page to a group of IP extensions (9608G) and managed to get this working as described below. This however wasn't loud enough and we only have a handful of IP sets in certain areas. As a result, we're now trying to get the message played over our existing PA system.

Dial Page Setup
---------------

-Shortcode on V500 (*8811, *8812, etc..) is set to Voicemail Collect "Emergency 1:
-"Emergency 1" module contains a Post Dial which plays a pre-recorded message to extension 8911
-8911 is really a short code on the primary server which is running Voicemail Pro (Voicemail Pro couldn't find the shortcode if it was on the v500)
-The 8911 shortcode is set to Dial Paging to a group which contains 3-10 IP sets registered on the V500

This workes beautifully but sadly isn't loud enough.

I've now tried changing the 8911 to "Dial" 0 only via line group 999.
The shortcode however is on the primary server while line group 999 is only on the v500.
This results in us getting dead air with "VM:?" shown on screen since the post dial cannot pickup line group 999.

I'm now trying to wrap my head around how to make this work and was hoping somebody might have an idea.
ARS route maybe? I know there's likely a simple solution but it eludes me.

 

[budbyrd]

I have never tried this and it may or may not work. Analog extension programmed as page port can be added to a page group with phones. From that analog extension page port (depending on the paging system) a Bogen WMT1A 600 ohm to line level isolation transformer connected the the background music input of the paging system. This will usually bypass any zone dialing requirements but may require programming in the paging system. I have used the BGM solution for other EMR announcement systems, but they were all standalone external devices.

Dermis and feline can be divorced by manifold methods.*
*(Disclaimer for all advise given)--'Version Dependent'

 

[RCLSys]

I'm not entirely sure if this would work as the line between the IP Office and the paging system is actually an analog trunk line.
Also, whenever I add an analog set to a dial paging group it simply doesn't alert anyone.

Thanks though, will think about this one a little.

 

[budbyrd]

Analog 'set' won't work. That is why you make it a 'page port' station on the Extension\Analog tab in manager. We use that method all the time to add paging to a phone page group. That part I can assure you works, but it needs to see a 600 ohm load before it will page to it. That is what the Bogen WMT1-A is for. The BGM input (if you have one) is a completly different input from the zone paging trunk input. What kind of paging system do you have???

Dermis and feline can be divorced by manifold methods.*
*(Disclaimer for all advise given)--'Version Dependent'

 

[RCLSys]

Interesting, hadn't thought of that.
I'll dig around a little more on page ports as ordering things here is nearly impossible (up to 6 month delivery times) and see if maybe electro-technical has something similar.

Thanks again.

 

[budbyrd]

The only thing you would need to order is the isolation transformer. In a pinch you can use a 1 watt 600 ohm resistor across the page port. It isn''t what Avaya supports or recommends but may be useful for testing.

Dermis and feline can be divorced by manifold methods.*
*(Disclaimer for all advise given)--'Version Dependent'

 

[RCLSys]

Thank you much budbyrd!
You were absolute right and it works.

Electotech has fashioned something similar that works for now but it's quite dodgy.
Next step will be to find a port agent that would be willing to receive a parcel for me and order one.

Thanks again.

 

[budbyrd]

Your more than welcome. I get to be the paging guru for our company and have to come up with a lot of custom designs...

Dermis and feline can be divorced by manifold methods.*
*(Disclaimer for all advise given)--'Version Dependent'