I was wondering if there was someone out there who knew about office phones? My wifes doctors office has an old “Starplus” system that has a 2 bad ports on it which need to be repaired. Rather than fix the existing system which is limited to only 6 lines and 15 extensions/stations they want me to install a new system that would enable them to have call forwarding,auto attendant and personal voice message boxes. They want to be a little conservative in the purchase price (as they don’t want to break the bank on a phone system when their office still runs on a Dos based computer which will also need to be upgraded) I wondered if you guys knew of any system that is under 2000.00 that I could install myself. I do have moderate experience with smaller phone systems but wonder if I can install a larger one (6-10 lines 10-25 stations) myself? The old system has 14-16 pair wiring running throughout the whole building which I don’t believe the new system will need. Thank you for any input!!!
While I’m on the subject of updating, my wife was wondeirng if there is a device that allows 2 line modem use. My wife dials in from home to do medical billing and to update financial records saving her time and cutting her extra weekend work in half but ties up the modem when calling in from my computer. but while shes on the system from home needs to transmit information to a third party via a dial up connection, but being that she has the line tied up she is unable to do so. Thanks guys!!!
Barnhart Remodeling
Mark Barnhart
” If there is one secret of success, it lies in the ability to see the other persons point of view as well as your own”-Henry Ford
Edited 10/8/2002 7:53:11 PM ET by Barnee
Replies
Mark,
Go with Panasonic. Their KX-TA systems are solid performers, versatile, and easy to install and program. The phones themselves are quality and easy to use, and full of time-saving features. Check out the company website, and then go to ablecom.com for more excellent info and mail order prices, installation tools, and tech support. In fact, go to ablecom first.
If you want a 10x25 system and that many sets (telephones), you're going to pay more than $2k. Figure about $250 per set (for a phone with high-middle features), $1800 for the key unit, and $1000 for a good sized voicemail unit. All Panasonic, all compatible. I've done a few Pana installs and I like those systems better than AT&T (Merlin, Partner) or Toshiba--from an installers viewpoint. The Pana systems come in all sizes, and the small to mid-sized ones are nice for larger custom homes.
The new trend in telephony is PC-based systems with "open architecture" where you use a PC as the controller and run a commercial software packare that incorporates all features incl. voicemail. You have to be very familiar with computers to make this kind of system work. Given your question on 2-line use for modem, I think the Pana package would be the best way to go for you.
Here's a tip: if you wind up installing the system, learn the operation of the phone sets and the key unit thoroughly, and them hold three or four training sessions with the staff. One with the Offc mgr and if poss. the Docs (makes 'em feel special). Then one with the front and back office staff and offc mgr. Repeat each session for those who miss one, and as a reminder. The challenge is to train the user to exploit all the cool features of the system. It's like going from a Piper Cub to a Lear Jet.
Another tip: build in to your bid the cost + profit of two return visits after install and training for adds, moves, changes to stations and desi strips (the labels on the phones that list the CO line numbers, the extension numbers, speed dial numbers, etc.) Include in the bid/contract an annual maintenance contract option--so many trips (based on 4-6 hrs/mo) for reprogramming, adds/moves/changes, training if needed, etc, for $x/yr.
And another tip: bid the job to include a backup power supply (Pana, which is $$, or a PC UPS). The system won't work if the AC power is down (one of the phones is set up to work w/o AC power). And if there's a burp in the power quality, and no UPS protection, you'll be spending a lot of time re-programming the system and the phones...or you'll have an unhappy customer. Followup work on a business phone system can be a sort of annuity, if you bid the job right. There's always stuff that needs to be done, and the client has to be conditioned to the fact that this costs money.
Beware: the "cutover" from old to new system is a weekend exercise, and you'd better have practiced at home or where ever, because the client won't be impressed if they show up for work Monday morning and their phones aren't working! The fact that you worked 40 hours over the weekend will not matter...
Last thought: the new systems use one or two pair of wires. DO NOT use existing wiring unless it's impossible to pull new cable (and it's always possible). If you do have to use existing wiring, buy or rent a cable tester (Fluke 620 is a good one) to check the existing wiring. Nothing more frustrating than to spend time trying to troubleshoot a bad station, only to get nowhere and then have to pull a new cable to it anyway.
Best of luck--
Cliff
$2,000 ????
A good system with that many phones and line would probably be over $10,000.
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