Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Switching => General Switching Discussions => General PABX Talk => Topic started by: j.bridwell on February 04, 2010, 11:20:51 PM

Title: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: j.bridwell on February 04, 2010, 11:20:51 PM
When we started restoring our 100-year-old house I ran two CAT-6 wires (one for phones and one for Ethernet) into a single gang horizontally on the baseboard.  It's discreet, but gives me numerous options (not to mention better resale when I end up in assisted living someday!).  So now I have a structured media enclosure in the laundry room with all the phone lines running there and a perfect place for a PBX.

I've searched and read the various posts regarding PBXs, but would appreciate any suggestions for the most compact and modern PBX that would allow me to use my dial phones regardless of what the VoIP provider decides to do in the future.  The house has eight phone lines terminating in the closet.

It would be best it the PBX would fit inside the 14x28 enclosure or I could upsize to a 14x42 if needed.

Anyone with strong feelings for any particular model?  The more compact and recent the better.  Thanks!

j.bridwell
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Phonesrfun on February 04, 2010, 11:56:32 PM
A Panasonic 308 or 616 would work.  Either one measures about 14x18.  They are a hybrid system which will take your standard 500/2500 type phones, or their own proprietary digital phones.  They are good for collectors because they will take rotary phones, and they send out DTMF to the outside world which is nice if hooking into a VoIP "dial-tone provider".

They are usually good to go right out of the box with the default program, and they are really plug and play.

They are, however built on '80's technology, so they don't have caller ID or voicemail.

They usually sell for pretty cheap on E-Bay around $50 to $75 bucks. 

I am currently using a 616 and it has Vonage and MagicJack feeding it for dial tone, and I have it so that I can dial into my step-by-step switch and outpulse through the Panasonic to the step switch, since you can program a CO line to send pulses instead of DTMF.

You do need at least one proprietary phone to do the programming.

For regular 500/2500 phones, you only need tip and ring running to the extensions.  For the digital proprietary phones, you need four wires running to each extension.

I am pretty pleased with mine.  I have not used any other PBX's, so I can't tell you what to expect from others.  It may be that others won't support the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) phones like the 500/2500's

And just because I say 500/2500 does not mean to say that older phones like candlesticks and 102's, 202's and 302's won't work on them, because they will.  Also plug and play.

-Bill Geurts
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: JorgeAmely on February 05, 2010, 12:40:54 PM
Bill:

Another interesting fact of these Panasonic boxes is that each extension has enough drive for 4 standard 500 phones. So theoretically, a 16 extension box can ring 64 phones.

Have you ever tried more than one phone on one extension?



Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: dsk on February 05, 2010, 01:47:18 PM
I have tried  3 PBX's
Sun-Moon-Star: may understand pulse or tone, does not convert.
Erifox II understands both, (my converts to pulse, or don't convert) New versions converts to tone, ringingfrequency: 50 / 60Hz.
And the last: Panasonic 616, described earlier in this thread, and makes the 2 others almost useless  in a comparison.

dsk
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: j.bridwell on February 05, 2010, 06:47:17 PM
Thank you for the recommendations.  I assume that when you mention a 308 or 616 that you're referring to a KX-T30810 or KX-T61610 and NOT the newer KX-TA308 or KX-TA616?
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Phonesrfun on February 05, 2010, 07:59:39 PM
Yes, the older ones.  The KX-TA's might have more features, however.  I have not researced them.
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: AE_Collector on April 14, 2010, 07:19:02 PM
Quote from: j.bridwell on February 04, 2010, 11:20:51 PM
I've searched and read the various posts regarding PBXs, but would appreciate any suggestions for the most compact and modern PBX that would allow me to use my dial phones regardless of what the VoIP provider decides to do in the future.  The house has eight phone lines terminating in the closet.
j.bridwell

Forget compact and modern, go BIG and get a REAL PABX.

Might I suggest this Hitachi GTX400. This one will run 400 of your favorite rotary phones and should support 100 trunks just incase you have lots of traffic. Your existing electrical service in your house should handle it but you may have to limit use of things like the clothes dryer, stove and heating.

The best news...I know where this one is and it is ready to be picked up and moved to your telephone panel in the laundry room.

Terry
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: JorgeAmely on April 14, 2010, 08:16:44 PM
Very nice Terry. I guess you already have a similar one at home.    ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: AE_Collector on April 14, 2010, 08:25:40 PM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on April 14, 2010, 08:16:44 PM
Very nice Terry. I guess you already have a similar one at home.    ;D ;D ;D

Uuuhhh....noooo. I have briefly considered the possibility of taking just one of the three cabinets as it will do 100 stations with trunks in a single cabinet. Then I wondered if it could have 2 line frames and common control put in a single cabinet so that it could be a 200 station intercom unit. If so, I would think that a couple of trunk units could be jammed into the common control frame so that it could access outside dial tone on a limited basis.

In the end, I still don't know just where I would put it nor do I know how I would move it. I think a fair bit of room would be cleared up in our house soon after it arrived though (once my wife left).

Sooo, I just go visit it every once in awhile. You should hear one of these things operating. I miss that!

Terry
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: gpo706 on April 14, 2010, 08:52:36 PM
I'd have to put it a custom built shed!
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Keelan on May 29, 2010, 01:10:40 AM
Quote from: ae_collector on April 14, 2010, 08:25:40 PM
In the end, I still don't know just where I would put it nor do I know how I would move it. I think a fair bit of room would be cleared up in our house soon after it arrived though (once my wife left).

Sooo, I just go visit it every once in awhile. You should hear one of these operting. I miss that!

Terry

Terry,

I can arrange a home for it... It my time away from telephones, I've been hanging about in a world of much heaver antiques. I have gained some knowledge, tools and experience in moving things that have some appreciable gravitational clout behind them!
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Keelan on May 29, 2010, 01:12:30 AM
I should also add that I have to agree with Terry. If you're looking for a PBX, don't waste your time with one of those wimpy modern electronic monstrosities. If it weighs less than 500 lbs, it's no good.
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: AE_Collector on May 29, 2010, 01:56:01 AM
Hey Keelan....welcome aboard! We are slowly getting a bit more interest in switching happening on this forum.

Yes I think you told me (or maybe one of the "lists") about your moving adventures!

I'd love to bring this entire PABX to my garage and fire it up again. I really miss the sounds of a working Crossbar Exchange. This particular one has had some mods done to it to make it into an ACD system in one of BC Tel's Service Centres that is now closed. There is little threat of it going anywhere as the building is also a working CO.

Terry
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Greg G. on May 29, 2010, 03:17:04 AM
Quote from: Phonesrfun on February 04, 2010, 11:56:32 PM
A Panasonic 308 or 616 would work.  Either one measures about 14x18. 
-Bill Geurts

Is that what I have, the 308?  Yes, I really like this thing, once I got around to hooking it up.  Now I just have to learn how to program it with that phone, but the default setting suits me just fine for now.
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Greg G. on May 29, 2010, 03:24:52 AM
Oh, and here's just some of the fun you can have with a PBX!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILUvbF62yB4  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILUvbF62yB4)

My next project is to hook up 5 phones with the right ring tones to emulate the "Close Encounters" tune.
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: savageje on June 01, 2010, 12:27:28 AM
Briny -- LOL...you must either live in a remote area or have patient neighbors. ;-)

I lucked into a retired Inter-Tel Axxess system that has a 16-port analog card in it.  I am remodeling the garage to partially house a telephone display area, and will eventually mount some 66-blocks and fire the thing up.  At some point, I'd like to tie it into an old 1A2 KSU so that I can restore and test key telephones -- but one thing at a time....
Title: Re: PBX recommendation
Post by: Greg G. on June 01, 2010, 05:36:03 PM
Quote from: savageje on June 01, 2010, 12:27:28 AM
Briny -- LOL...you must either live in a remote area or have patient neighbors. ;-)


These apts. are well made, I don't get or make many calls, and I work swing hours, so I can do things like this during the day when most everybody is at work.  The most they ever ring is when I'm testing a phone or goofing off, like in the video.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: davidbholcomb on December 10, 2012, 01:06:46 AM
Hi I have been doing lots of reading about home PBX's here on CRPF and I think the Panasonic is the one I want. I want to be able to use my analog dial phones along with my manual candlesticks to talk between them. I believe I can call one phone to the other with this system and not even be hooked up to my home phone line. I found this one on Ebay CLICK HERE TO SEE (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pansonic-616-Easa-Phone-Modular-Switching-System-KSU-/130802377005?pt=Phone_Switching_Systems&hash=item1e746de12d) and I just want to make sure I am correct in my thinking after reading all that is here. (It seems like Latin to me sometimes) After getting this PBX I can run a small phone system in my office with the phones in my collection (excluding magnetos). Make each phone ring and talk between them. All this info has been overwhelming and in the end I believe this will do just what I want it to do. I am just looking for reassurance and making sure I have not overlooked something. This novice welcomes all comments.

Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: poplar1 on December 10, 2012, 11:26:09 AM
616=6 outside lines and 16 extensions. You can call from one phone to another, dial 9 for an outside line, and answer an incoming call on any phone. For outside calls, 4 extension ports will ring at once, then 4 others, etc. All of this is the default programming. I think you can even have 2 phones sharing the same port so at least 32 phones can be connected. You may be able to connect the magneto phones to the outside line ports.

You would need a proprietary Panasonic phone to change any features  from the default programming. I know that some people use these for connecting rotary phones and having the Key System send out Touch-Tone to the CO/VOIP/whatever line. I don't recall whether the KSU sends out Touch-Tone if you have rotary phones  without reprogramming. Do you have a land line or what?
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Owain on December 10, 2012, 01:18:09 PM
DavePEI has that model KX-T61610 so hopefully he'll pop in and tell you about it, or you could search for his posts.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: davidbholcomb on December 10, 2012, 02:06:58 PM
Thanks again everyone, I jump right in and purchased it and will see what, this novice, can do with this. I like the idea of being able to turn off the system and only start it when I want to demonstrate the phones. I like that I can keep it separate from my phone line and yet at a future date, once I understand how it works, include my home line. I just recently switched over to Time/Warner Cable for our phone yet the rotary phones (302, D1) I have hooked up to the house still work great.
In my very simple terms I am thinking of this PBX as a central power switchboard on my very small phone system.
Poplar1 you mention "You may be able to connect the magneto phones to the outside line ports." This interests me and I will have to see if I can make that work, which would be very cool!
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Phonesrfun on December 10, 2012, 02:47:44 PM
I think you will find that it will do everything you want, and probably even more.  I have one and I use it all the time.

Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: BDM on March 07, 2014, 08:18:06 PM
Guy and gals, here is my question. I want to keep my called ID, but be able to plug in and use my phones anywhere in the house. So currently I have cable VoiP. What is the recommended PBX to use that offers this while still allowing dial phones and wont break the bank. Thanks for any suggestions gents.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: dsk on March 08, 2014, 02:55:00 AM
 :) I am going in the opposite direction, and that may give some of the same needs.
I' am now trying out this one: http://tinyurl.com/qdtqg2c (http://tinyurl.com/qdtqg2c) direct on the CO line. It has been working well for 3 months now. <First picture below $4.78>

I will hopefully during the summer be able to downgrade to a 100% mechanical exchange.

I have been wondering if I should have spent a little more on this one http://tinyurl.com/q8phmqx (http://tinyurl.com/q8phmqx)
but so far I keep to my plan. <Second picture below $55.55>

Not the best solution, but definitely lo-cost.

dsk

<pictures and prices added by AE_collector>
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: AE_Collector on March 08, 2014, 12:47:44 PM
Quote from: BDM on March 07, 2014, 08:18:06 PM
I want to keep my called ID, but be able to plug in and use my phones anywhere in the house.

Just to clarify Brian, you want to keep Caller ID working to your phones if they are all run through your Panasonic PBX? So that you can plug in a modern phone with built in Call Display as a station on the PBX and have the Call Display work. You worded it "Called ID" which sometimes refers to your phone number displaying on the call display of a person that you called which of course is generated at the CO end so your PBX would not cause any problems with that.

I am not familiar enough with the Panasonic PBXs to know if they pass through the Caller ID data or not but I suspect you might be correct in that they don't.

Many here have Panasonic PBXs in use so someone should be ale to quickly let us know about Call Display.

Dsk's solution is one I have used in the past where you send the straight phone line to each jack on one pair for call display units and/or answering machines and the second pair to each jack has the PBX station. Then you either install double jacks at each location or use the plug in "two line adapters" that separate out each pair to their own jack.

Terry
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Phonesrfun on March 08, 2014, 01:04:54 PM
I think Brian was wanting to know which models/brands of PBX will pass caller ID.

The Panasonic 308/616 group will not pass caller ID on to extensions that are ringing.  This goes for any kind of incoming line whether it is from a legacy POTS line from a telco or a VoIP provider such as Comcast or Vonage or someone else.

The solution I found is to put a separate caller ID box on the line ahead of the PBX, like DSK has suggested.  The problem is, as Brian has said, you still cannot have caller ID show up on the extensions plugged into the PBX.

So, at this point, I can tell you that the most popular series of electronic PBX, the Panasonic 308 or 616, don't pass caller ID.  I don't know which ones will.  What ever ones will, they are likely to be more expensive and newer than the 308/616 group, and being newer, might not support the analog phone, much less rotary dialing.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: twocvbloke on March 08, 2014, 01:14:58 PM
The only phone system I know of that can pass the caller ID is the higher end Nortel systems, back when I suffered working on a help desk, our phones would display incoming numbers so we could log them on the system, wasn't 100% reliable though, and I doubt that an analogue telephone with caller ID would work on those even with an ATA in place... :-\
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: dsk on March 08, 2014, 01:34:14 PM
http://tinyurl.com/njzzc2w
But does it accept rotary?

dsk
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Phonesrfun on March 08, 2014, 01:43:46 PM
The description is somewhat ambiguous.  It talks about only analog phones will work and in the caller ID section it says that the phone line needs to provide caller ID (a given), but it uses the DTMF acronym in that section, which confuses me.

I would bet that it might not be able to convert pulse to DTMF, but maybe an email to the maker of the SOHO phone would answer the question.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: AE_Collector on March 08, 2014, 01:55:17 PM
That unit does a lot of things but I would be surprised if it DID convert DP to TT. I thought most Call Display was fsk though they imply there is a DTMF version of Call Display which would pass through it. The trick there is the CO/Telco has to send it in DTMF mode which I have never heard of.

The newer Norstar systems including BCM's (not BDM's!) pass Call Display to their Digital stations but I highly doubt they would pass it to their Analog stations though I am not certain.

Terry
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: twocvbloke on March 08, 2014, 02:05:04 PM
Reading the instructions for that SOHO system, it has in the troubleshooting section something about being able to receive cals but not dial out, and it states that the phone is either faulty or not a DTMF phone, so, I would say no pulse-dialling... :-\
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Phonesrfun on March 08, 2014, 02:10:49 PM
I worked for a bank in Vancouver (WA) in 1999 to 2001 that had a Norstar electronic PBX.  Most stations were digital, but we had a few analog extensions for a FAX, modems and even a power-failure phone.  The alarm did not even go through the switch.   I think the others went through the switch, but needed to be programmed as analog extensions.  I have no clue as to whether the switch would have passed through caller ID, say to the FAX machine, or if it would have been able to convert pulse to DTMF.  That Norstar system was pretty expensive, as I remember.

Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: AE_Collector on March 08, 2014, 03:07:46 PM
In that time frame, analog stations on a Norstar would have needed outboard ATA's to convert digital ports to Analog ports/stations. Nortel made the ATAs to add to Norstars for this purpose. The ports themselves were never able to be programmed as digital or analog ports. Some newer Norstar BCM's (Business Communication Managers - more modern replacement for older Norstars) had some built in Analog ports but they still could not be programmed to be digital ports.

Terry
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: BDM on March 08, 2014, 06:52:26 PM
Bill got it, that is exactly what I was asking. Thanks for the info gents and no, I do not have a Panasonic yet, but may just purchase one and use it in my man cave instead of wiring into the rest of the house.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Greg G. on March 09, 2014, 05:01:35 PM
Quote from: BDM on March 07, 2014, 08:18:06 PM
Guy and gals, here is my question. I want to keep my called ID, but be able to plug in and use my phones anywhere in the house. So currently I have cable VoiP. What is the recommended PBX to use that offers this while still allowing dial phones and wont break the bank. Thanks for any suggestions gents.

Can't answer that because I only use my PBX on my rotary phones, plus we have a land line.  The modern phones we have that display the caller ID do not go through the PBX.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Weco355aman on March 09, 2014, 07:09:45 PM
Hi
As a Panasonic dealer (years ago) i sold and installed many type of phone systems. They were NOT
intentended  to be turned ON and OFF They would be on 24 X 7 365. Yes during a power failures they would go off and restart. Most of the manufactures recommend a ups power supply to protect
the system. These system are all OLD and over time the electronics degrade. They do not use much electricty. 
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: G-Man on March 10, 2014, 01:13:21 AM
Quote from: BDM on March 07, 2014, 08:18:06 PM
Guy and gals, here is my question. I want to keep my called ID, but be able to plug in and use my phones anywhere in the house. So currently I have cable VoiP. What is the recommended PBX to use that offers this while still allowing dial phones and wont break the bank. Thanks for any suggestions gents.

Your best bet is an inexpensive Panasonic key system. It will pass cid fsk to your analogue sets. I would recommend that you stay away from the obsolete Nortel systems.




Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: twocvbloke on March 10, 2014, 06:22:34 AM
Quote from: G-Man on March 10, 2014, 01:13:21 AMI would recommend that you stay away from the obsolete Nortel systems.

I'd second that, I have a Nortel Compact system, paid hardly anything for it, the connection box and a phone, only to find out after I had bought it that the ATAs cost a lot of money, and trying to sell the thing on in the past was fruitless cos nobody wants them now, even for 99p, a whole system (well, one phone only) for pennies, and nobody bid on it... ::)

I'm sure someday it'll find some use, by then the phone I have for it will have turned orange, cos it's already pretty yellowed as it is... ;D
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: AE_Collector on March 10, 2014, 10:39:04 AM
Nortel Norstar systems are great for a home intercom/phone system as long as you aren't trying to use analog phones with it. I used one in my house for years. You want to find black or charcoal sets as the Dolphin Gray sets almost always get discoloured looking.

We probably need to clarify that we are talking Nortel Norstar systems since the Nortel Option 11 PBX system I have in my garage would make a great analog phone system with the right cards in it.

Terry
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: twocvbloke on March 10, 2014, 11:20:00 AM
Yeah, my Compact system hasn't really got any way of adapting it for analogue phones aside from the ATA2 units that people want for about £30 over here... :o

And I think I only got the dolphin grey phone cos it, like the system, was dirt cheap, it has some UV pen writing on it somewhere and I think it used to belong to a taxi company... ;D
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: G-Man on March 10, 2014, 01:53:26 PM
This was on the TCI list. Please note that it passes c.i.d. fsk to the analogue stations.

Also the system can be programmed either by a proprietary telephone or with a compatible computer.

He is selling it at a very good price and unlike AT&T/Avaya who has discontinued their analogue key systems and Nortel who is out of business; this is a current offering from Panasonic.

Since it is not mine please contact Jim Shultz on the TCI listserve.






Hi group!

I have a serviced, "as new" Panasonic KX-TA824 for sale. It comes in the original factory packaging and includes all manuals, programming software on CD, and power cord.

Out of the box, this KSU will support three lines and eight stations and has caller ID for three lines installed. The box can be expanded with optional cards up to eight lines and twenty four stations
.
Stations can be either Panasonic proprietary sets, or regular industry standard single line sets, rotary or touchtone....rotary sets are converted to touchtne in the KSU, so this should enable your rotary sets to work with cable modems and such.

Caller ID is passed through the KSU to single line phones or CID boxes as well.

A special telephone is NOT needed for programming, it all can be done with a laptop using the included software.
First $150.00 takes it, shipping will be at actual cost.

Thanks, Jim
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Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: Dominic_ContempraPhones on April 23, 2016, 12:33:42 PM
Quote from: AE_Collector on March 10, 2014, 10:39:04 AM
Nortel Norstar systems are great for a home intercom/phone system as long as you aren't trying to use analog phones with it. I used one in my house for years. You want to find black or charcoal sets as the Dolphin Gray sets almost always get discoloured looking.

We probably need to clarify that we are talking Nortel Norstar systems since the Nortel Option 11 PBX system I have in my garage would make a great analog phone system with the right cards in it.

Terry

Norstar had analog station modules, but you needed a mickey (MICS).  I don't know if they could take pulse dialing though.  Option 11 analog message waiting line cards could.  BCM had analog direct inward dial trunk modules and analog station modules -- I never tested a rotary phone on those.  Maybe I will.  The trunks could pulse out in rotary, but the stations I believe only accepted digitone.  Don't quote me on that though.
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: AE_Collector on April 24, 2016, 12:30:25 PM
Yes I have one or two of the 8 port Analog Station Modules for a MICS. They were hard to come by! Of course there were the individual ATA's that could be attached to a digital port on BCM, MICS, CICS. 3x8, 6-16, 8-24 etc. I assume they would work on BCM...never actually tried that. As for dial pulse on ATA's and/or Analog Station Modules.....good question. I suspect DP would work as the ATA's were designed so long ago DP would have been more common then.

Terry
Title: Re: Home PBX Recommendation Discussion
Post by: kb3pxr on March 07, 2018, 04:36:53 PM
My home PBX is VoIP, but unless you go with a VoIP provider that allows BYOD, you may need FXO (central Office) ports and that complicates Caller ID. Of course a BYOD provider will allow you to configure your own pulse dial compatible adapter as well.

My system is a bit of a hack at the moment, but only because I'm using multiple ATAs instead of higher port count gateway.

My system contains the following basic (not including power protection or internet) components:

* LEGAL WARNING: Callcentric is not in full compliance with FCC regulations, in order to build your PBX system in full compliance with FCC regulations, you must find the alternate access number for the Telecommunications relay service (the number the phone company actually connects to when you dial 711) and provision a Misc Destination/Misc Application pair to provide this service.

The Raspberry Pi 3 is running RasPBX which is a distribution of Raspian (the RasPi debian distro) with Asterisk and FreePBX installed. Additional command line tools are also available. With RasPBX, you can run the system headless where Incredible PBX (FreePBX with additional addons) may require a keyboard/mouse/monitor for initial installation. The majority of the systems' smarts are here, a little bit of planning and dial plan logic in the ATA or gateway helps with dialing speed (if it matches exactly you don't have to press send (#) or wait 4 seconds).

The Grandstream ATAs interface with the analog telephones with the VoIP system and support pulse dialing. The beauty of this type of system is not only the ability to use older telephones, but any non-proprietary IP telephone (or softphone app) as well. In fact, my experiment today involved provisioning a bit of e-waste (Android phone that is no longer used) as a cordless extension. In this experiment I was connected to the same LAN as the PBX and was able to place a call using the phone without a cellular account.

VoIP is an option worth considering if you want to future-proof your system.