What Virtual DN Should I Use? 4

[PTerrell]

In a couple of other threads, I've posted questions and my observations of getting DTMF across the Norstar to the fax cards in my fax server. thread799-589151

I have determined that I need a VMI to do this. After some experimentation, I can get the DTMF to the fax card through the VMI. But I must set up "Call Forward" on the DN to the VMI DN to generate the proper DTMF. I've tried to use "Fwd no answer" and "Fwd on busy...", but that doesn't work.

So it looks like I need to setup a bunch of virtual DNs to handle the routing of the faxes. The excellent FAQ on virtual DNs gives four ways to do this. I'd really appreciate advice on the best way for my situation.

I've got a MICS 6.0 running off a PRI with a 100 block of DID numbers. I've got 25 phones punched into the system and a M0x8AM analog station module for the physical fax machines. I've got a few spare phones, including one already punched down in the server room.

I'd like to have 40 DNs to handle 40 fax routing boxes.

With 14 years of computer support experience, setting up the fax server software was a breeze for me. But figuring out this virtual DNs thing is very puzzling.

 

[Arr]

PT,
Use the method of having an old beat up phone in the closet with answer keys assigned for your virtual DNs. This will hold the programming stable in the system.

PhM

 

[PTerrell]

Thanks Arr,

My research today is leading me in that direction.

How many answer keys can I put on a phone with MICS 6.0?

PT

 

[PTerrell]

Thanks MarvO.

So this is a downgrade from 5.0? The MICS 5.0 Installer Guide says eight keys per set. (I don't have the 6.0 docs--the reseller that upgraded our system from 5.0 to 6.0 didn't provide them...)

Are Answer Keys and Answer DNs the same thing?

PaulT asked it

 

[MarvO1]

Pterrell, I stand corrected. I just applied 8 to a set on 6.0 before it displayed "Maximum reached". Also verified it on a CICS 6.0 which also allowed 8, so I think there is a documentation conflict, or else I read from the wrong .pdf
I hate it if I give out the wrong info, and really try to verify what I post.

MarvO said it

 

[PTerrell]

Thanks for the confirmation!! That means I need to walk around the desks of the branch that's been downsizing and round up five old phones for my forty fax lines.

I can't find any instructions on adding an Answer Key to a phone. The Installer guide seems to only talk about setting the Answer Key feature. And the Virtual DN FAQ only says to do it--not how.

Would you be willing to document what you did to get the Answer Keys? Please...

 

[MarvO1]

Sure, under Terminals and sets, LINE ACCESS, then next until you see ANSWER DN's, show and add em in.

Also, I'm thinking that you might want to look at ANSKEY under SYSTEM PROGRAMMING then FEATURE SETTINGS.
You have 3 choices: BASIC, ENHANCED, and EXTENDED. That determines what types of calls ring to the ANSWER DN. This is a system wide setting.

MarvO said it

 

[PTerrell]

Okay, I got the Answer DN's to work on the phone. But with Call Forward turned on, the VMI sends the DTMF of the physical phone. So if 2030 is the phone with 2031 as an Answer DN, and I dial xxx-2031, the VMI sends the DTMF for 2030 down the pipeline.

I'm going to try one of the other methods, after I get some sleep. ;-)

 

[Arr]

PT,
How many of these faxes will be in concurrant use.. ie how many will be busy at one time?

PhM

 

[PTerrell]

I don't know at this point. We've got three physical fax machines and there are times when all three are cranking away. The GFI FaxMaker software I'm using lets me have up to four lines.

 

[hawks]

If they are going to be used for fax machines then why are you call forwarding to V-Mail?

 

[Arr]

PT,
OK. Been following both your thread posts on this subject. Can't quite figure out why you want to integrate your fax stuff with the Norstar. Perhaps knowing might prompt a memeory cell into some helpfull action??


PhM

 

[PTerrell]

The Short:
I'm not trying to "itegrate"--I'm just trying to use my existing excess system capacity to set up a Fax server that sends and receives through the Norstar.

My Norstar vender thought that "Norstars can do anything", so they thought they could send DTMF through the Analog module to the lines the fax server was plugged into.

The Long:
I support a mortgage broker. I estimate that the average employee sends and receives a hundred pages a day.

So I'm setting up an "eFax" server to replace the fax machines. Instead of hanging out at the fax machine waiting for important documents to arrive and sorting through the pile of faxes, the fax will be routed by e-mail to the user's computer. And instead of printing the documents and then running them through the fax, they can just fax from their desk.

I have extra capicity in the phone system "for just a few bucks more". I've got thirty people, but instead of getting a 40-block DID, I got a 100 . And I've got a full PRI, so I've got extra channels available.

What I should have done is gotten seperate analoge DID lines and a block of numbers for them. But the business cards have already been printed with the "eFax" numbers and I "promised" the boss that all he needed was the one PRI.

 

[lowradiation]

When you said :
"Okay, I got the Answer DN's to work on the phone. But with Call Forward turned on, the VMI sends the DTMF of the physical phone. So if 2030 is the phone with 2031 as an Answer DN, and I dial xxx-2031, the VMI sends the DTMF for 2030 down the pipeline. " - it seems to me you did an all call forward on the phone.
Turn that off and go into Feature ** config and turn forward no answer after 2 rings to the VMI extension for each Answer DN extension. Do NOT forward the physical phone.

Your original post stated that forward no answer did not work, but it should. With Toshiba's voicemail a call transferred to an extension with fwd n/a goes to the extension's mailbox - meaning the VMI is sending the DTMF tones of the extension. So why didn't your test work you'll probably ask... ?? I don't know but here are a few guesses.

Try making the prime set for your target line the extension it is supposed to ring on.
Also make each target line 'appear and ring' on their extension

I've had DID's not go to the correct mailbox when one of these settings was not used.

 

[PTerrell]

Thanks lowradiation!! I'll check on it this weekend.

Yesterday I setup another couple of test phones and they weren't sending proper DTMF on Call Forward. But the phones already in place did. It could be that I didn't set the prime line correctly on the new ones.

I hope this works. I was trying to figure out how I was going to sneek an order for 40 phones and a couple of expansion modules "that do nothing" past my boss. ;-)

 

[PTerrell]

I cleared up the problem with the new phones. They now send proper DTMF on a CF/NA. So I can get DTMF on the CF/NA, changing my prior observation.

But I still can't get the Answer DNs to work!!

Here's what I did:
*Took live telephone 2030.
*Put Answer DN of 2031 to Appear & Ring on 2030.
*Put 2030 CF/NA to 4000 (the first port of the VMI) after 2 rings.
*Made line 207 the DID to 2031.
*Made 2030 the Prime Set of line 207.

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?

 

[Arr]

PT,
Call forwarding etc on an answer DN follows the Answer DN's programming not that of the set it appears on.
Not sure if this is what you need at this point.

PhM

 

[lowradiation]

Do not put any cf/na on 2030
Progam 2031 as though it was a physical phone:
a. put cf/na on 2031
b. make 2031 the prime set of line 207
This should make it send the DTMF of 2031.

 

[PTerrell]

Grrrrr...

I tried it and it didn't work. The Answer DN just kept ringing. I tried to setup another Answer DN and that one just got a busy signal.

Lowradiation, are you available for "consulting" on this project? (Is it permitted to ask for that on this board?) If so, please email tek-tips(putatsignhere)terrellitc.com with contact information.

I need to take my loses on this job and get on to other projects.

 

[lowradiation]

Sorry, I don't work in the office - I'm a 'road' tech and only have my cell and my home e-mail address
The company I work for doesn't want customers contacting me directly - Customers are to call them and they create a work order for me

I had set up 'phantom' Answer DN's to go to their own mailboxes before, but that was a couple of years ago - my memory is a little foggy
When I come across a customer that has Norstar I'll give your scenario a test and let you know what I find out.