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Telephone wiring
4Wires.com is there to provide you with
start to finish service. We will handle all wiring, jack
installation, phone system set-up, testing and training. If you
already have a phone system in place and are having a new line
installed from the phone company, we provide the necessary phone
line extension, cross-connects from the phone company to your
internal jacks and add any additional RJ-11 telephone jacks or RJ-45
data jacks as required. Our well-trained technicians are
certified in Structured Wiring and can complete commercial and
residential projects with ease. The law now requires that all new or
replacement copper telecom wiring be CAT3 or better. Today, CAT5 or
CAT5e wiring, when properly installed, is the foundation of most
structured wiring systems. 4Wires.com uses only Cat5 or higher.
Telephone systems
Selecting
a new phone system for your business can be quite
overwhelming! It's one of the most important decisions that
you can make regarding the workflow of your office and it
has to be done right to avoid costly mistakes. Whether you
are a small business or a large enterprise, we will help you find the right system for your immediate
and future needs.
Is your system malfunctioning? Have our
experienced technicians repair your telecommunications
equipment. Whether the problem lies with your business phone
system itself, with the wiring and cabling or is a
programming error, we can fix the problem
fast and minimize downtime.
Selecting a new phone system for your business can
be quite overwhelming! It's one of the most important decisions that
you can make regarding the workflow of your office and it has to be
done right to avoid costly mistakes. Whether you are a small
business or a large enterprise, let Meridian Networks help you find
the right system for your immediate and future needs. We are not a
Phone System dealer and, therefore, do not try to fit your business
into a system but rather help you determine what system will best
fit the needs of your business.
Not ready for a new system? Have our experienced
technicians repair your telecommunications equipment. Whether the
problem lies with your business phone system itself, with the wiring
and cabling or is a programming error, Meridian Networks can fix the
problem fast and minimize downtime.
The basic types of phone systems used in offices
are key systems, hybrids, private branch exchanges (PBX) and
Centrex.
Key Systems are the
simplest type and can handle up to 60 stations, with a maximum of 40
usually recommended. In this type of system, the wires from outside
lines and extensions are connected in a small box called a Key
Service Unit. The phone on each employee’s desk has lighted buttons,
representing each line. An outgoing caller selects an unlit button
to get an outside line. Incoming calls are routed to an extension.
If that extension is busy, the call is rerouted to another line, or
to a receptionist.
Hybrid Systems can
handle a maximum of 100 stations. With hybrid systems, users do not
need to select a line manually, as the system will automatically
find an open line. This eliminates the need for more complex lighted
handsets used in key systems. Additionally, hybrid systems are
usually more electronically sophisticated, offering more features.
Private Branch Exchange (PBX) Systems
offer no limit on the number of stations that can be accommodated,
but the price increases with the number of stations. PBXs are more
sophisticated than key systems or hybrids, but also more costly. The
capacity of a PBX is described not by lines, but by ports, the total
number of wires the system can connect. PBXs can support advanced
special features.
Centrex offers the
same kind of options as a PBX, but the phone company provides the
switching functions. Centrex is a leased service that relieves you
of the expense and administrative concerns of buying and operating a
complex system at your site.
Telephone System Terminology
4x8 or 8x16 or 1032
These numbers refer to the number of incoming lines compared to
the number of telephones that a system will run. If a phone system
is configured 4x8, this would mean that this system is capable of
running 4 incoming lines and 8 telephones in it's current
configuration. Sometimes you will see this without the 'x', as in
1032. Meaning is the same, 10 incoming lines by 32 phones.
Digital or not
Telephone systems made over the years have been produced to either
be a digital system or an analog system. Digital systems are the
most common place today and most modern systems are digital.
Digital essentially means that the phone system is computer driven
in it's circuitry. Smart phones systems.
Cabinet, KSU (key service unit) or System
This refers to the ACTUAL phone system itself.
Carded Cabinet, Carded KSU
Most phone systems made today consist of an empty Cabinet or KSU
(think of it as a computer case with a motherboard and power
supply installed, but no video card or sound card yet) and a
selection of cards that slide into that cabinet. These slide in
cards allow a user to customize a system to their needs. Not all
systems are carded system.
CO Line
A CO line refers to an incoming line provided to you by your local
phone company.
Stations
A station refers to one "Telephone" station coming from your phone
system.
Port, Ports
A port refers to a single interface connection with your phone
system. If you plug in a telephone, it takes up one "port". A CO
line from your phone company take up one "port". A voicemail
system that has 4 ports will allow 4 simultaneous connections. A
phone system configured 3x8 has a total of 12 ports, 3 for phone
lines and 8 for telephones.
ACD (Automatic Call Distribution - Commonly
referred to as a Call Center)
ACD or Call Centers are a method of keeping your customers
occupied while on hold and notifying all representatives in the
Call Center Group that there are callers on hold and queued in
order. The system then distributes those calls evenly over your
group. Different ACD systems have different levels of
functionality and features. ACD is typically a function of a
voicemail unit.
Auto Attendant
Auto Attendant is your basic electronic receptionist. It will
answer your phone with your custom greeting and then typically
route the call through the CCR tree (see below). Auto Attendant is
typically a function of a voicemail unit, although some systems
(such as a Norstar Compact ICS) has a limited version built into
the cabinet.
CCR (Custom Call Routing)
A CCR or custom call routing tree is a method of allowing your
customers to select choices in order to be routed to the correct
person or extension. These trees usually have several levels of
choices for each choice given and are typically fully
customizable. (EXAMPLE : "For Sales, press 1, For Support, Press
2.." upon pressing 1 or 2, more choices can be offered "For
Computer Sales, press 1, For Hardware Sales, press 2.." CCR is
typically a function of a voicemail unit, although some systems
(such as a Norstar Compact ICS) has a limited version built into
the inet.
LCD or Display
Most of today's modern phones come with a display on the phone
(typically referred to as an LCD or Liquid Crystal Display).
Usually these displays are used to show you all kinds of important
information, such as ACD functions, date and time, message
notification, Caller ID and more.
T1 or PRI
A T1 or a PRI is a method of getting a bulk of phone lines from
your phone company in one big chunk (or trunk..as they call it)
Most T-1's or PRI lines provide up to 24 channels of communication
per T-1 and are a money saving idea for companies with upwards of
15 phones lines. Buying a phone system that can take a T-1 in a
cost efficient manner for those planning on growing is an
important decision.
Automatic Set Relocation
Automatic Set Relocation is a feature of a phone system that
allows you to move a phone to a new "station" or desk (basically
another jack) and have the programming for that phone follow the
phone to avoid reprogramming the phone at it's new location.
CID (Caller ID)
Caller ID is a function provided by your phone company to notify
you of who's calling before you answer the phone. If Caller ID is
important to you, getting a system that allows it is important.
Telephone System Features
Expandability
Having a phone system that can grow with your business is an
extremely important concept to your decision making process.
When considering a new phone system, the methods, sizing and,
more importantly, the cost of upgrading & expanding your phone
system is crucial. Will this system meet your current needs
AND your future needs.
Integration of Additional Features, such
as voicemail
Integration of current or future additions is an important
concept. If you want voicemail in the future or now, it would
be a wise choice to narrow your choices to systems that have
easily integrated voice mail systems. Not only easily
integrated, but a voicemail system that is specifically
designed to work with the system of your choice. Other
additional features that you may want are things like Caller
ID, addition of lines and phones, ACD, Auto Attendant, CCR
Trees.
Pre owned or Brand New
A lot of money can be saved by buying a system that was pre
owned. A lot of money can be wasted if you purchase the wrong
pre owned system. Our recommendation on pre owned systems is
to purchase the system itself pre owned (certain systems hold
up very well in the not breaking department!!) but purchase
new phones to go with it. We also recommend that you buy a
used system that comes with a warranty and that you are fully
informed on what it is that you are purchasing as well as
adhering to everything else mentioned in this series. Without
a doubt, don't knock a used phone system, they can carry on
their duty on your phone room wall just as well as the last
owners phone room wall!
Older system vs. Newer System
When considering a used phone system for cost efficiency, many
people discuss the concept of purchasing a new used phone
system or an older used phone system. Older systems can
undoubtedly be made to fit any budget, and do a fine job while
installed at your office or home. The problems that most run
into with an older system is the lack of additional items like
voicemail, Caller ID, advanced features and sometimes,
breakage. We would recommend that you put your money into a
somewhat modern system to start with that still has some
useful life and parts & upgrades available to you.
Ease of Maintenance
Ease of maintenance is an extremely important consideration.
There will be changes and upgrades to your phone system that
will be out your own technical expertise, and at that time,
you will need a technician to come in and make those changes
for you. Be sure that you purchase a system that is well known
by technicians all over your area. This way, you are not
locked in with only one or two techs that know this too and
can price gouge you based on your lack of alternatives.
Integration with your current office
wiring and installation
Buying a phone system that will work on your current office
wiring can be a huge budget saver. A lot of modern system will
work with any existing wiring....and some won't. The ones that
won't, require all kinds of new wiring and cable pulls, all at
your expense.....and expensive it is! Along those lines, it's
also important that you select a system that is easy to
install, setup and be trained on. Well known systems are
usually less expensive to install as there are a lot more
tech's that know how to put it in, making the competition
stiff, driving prices down.
Price does not equal quality
Please keep in mind, that price does not equal quality in this
industry. There are very cost efficient, very feature rich
phones systems that will not break the bank but still offer
you years of great service, expandability and tons of
features. There are systems out that cost double and triple,
but offer you nothing more than headaches, break downs, mind
bending tech bills that are usually ditched for a simpler,
efficient system.
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