POTS line for 9-1-1

[gwmyers]

Good Afternoon

We have a P.O.T.S. line that we use for 9-1-1.
We would like to be able to call 9-1-1 from our 9641 phone.
Is there a way to have a POTS line appearance on the 9641 phone?

 

[Greybeard191]

yes, as a line appearance.

But why not make the pots line another line group number, and then modify the ARS so the 11 and 911 entries use that line group ID?

Saves having to have another button for just 911, plus means your nice 9641 remains abomination (line appearance) free.

GB

 

[RocketJTech]

Yes, you can set up a Line Appearance on a 9641 in Button Programming, either at a User level or within a User Rights Group. However, this is NOT the proper way to set up 9-1-1 dialing. When an emergency is in progress people tend to make mistakes. So you should set up either an ARS table or System SHort Code, so that whenever 9-1-1 or 9,9-1-1 are dialed (from any phone), the phone system sends that call out the proper outgoing Line Group, which contains ONLY the line(s) that you need it to go out. If you are using the Main ARS table for all outgoing calls, you can edit the Line Group on the 9-1-1 and 9-9-1-1 Lines to reflect the appropriate Line Group. Be sure to make test calls after you change any 911 call routing.

The only question I would have is, "Do you use this POTS line for anything other than 9-1-1?

Thanks to technology, we can instantly communicate across the world, but it still doesn't help us know what to say.

 

[gwmyers]

So, I could simply show the local P.O.T.S. line as a line appearance?

 

[gwmyers]

The same POTS line is also used for the Alarm System.

 

[Greybeard191]

Both people who have responded to you have yes you can, but no you shouldn't.

The fact that this is not a specific E911 line just makes it worse.

Use that line in the ARS as suggested. I'd even copy the main ARS, and then make the copy use regular lines, and set it as a fallback ARS to the first ARS with the POTS line on it, just in case you can't get out on the POTS line.

GB

 

[mforrence]

When you say "9641 phone", do you mean just one phone? Is this phone at the same location as IPO? The request sounds a but unusual and not friendly in a panic situation.

 

[joe2938]

Greybeard has given you the best correct answer so why are you so hung up on line appearances?

 

[critchey]

My guess is either A) You do not understand the answer already given to you or B) Your customer demanded a line appearance.

Line appearances are just plain wrong in standard mode and should be avoided like the plague. The correct method for this is already been mentioned (twice). If your customer insists on a line appearance, make sure you fully explain that line appearances cause bugs, the system was not designed to work that way, yada yada yada. Otherwise, sometime down the road, your customer will come back to you when (not if) the line appearance causes an issue and blame you.