3cx hotel module - external calls blocked

[Loowee2024]

Hey guys. Im trying to stop our 10 years+ 3cx system with hotel module to block external calls when pms declares a room vacant. We would like to keep all other features but just disable the external call blocking. I thought I found a workaround by forcing a out of office schedule to all rooms for 1 minute at checkout time. The schedule reenables the extensions when going back to in-office. Problem is that PMS seems to overwrite the extension completely everything there's a reservation, schedules and extension configs revert back to no schedule and calls are yet agai blocked.

Any other workaround or tip for us ? Client has been a 3cx user for years and loves the system but this feature is a major issue for them and they tell me I need to find a solution or go with another provider.

3cx system and hotel module are up to date.

Thank you !

 

[VoIPTools]

Have you considered these extension options?


You could disable the extension entirely, or block external phone calls. Does the hotel module mess with these settings? I would have thought 3CX would automatically set these properties if nobody is checked into the room. We have an API that could be used to set these properties but it would be a separate step in addition to checking the guest in/out of the room from the hotel module.

 

[Loowee2024]

Yes. I might have misinterpreted myself. The problem is that the PMS ( via the hotel module ) activates the BLOCK EXTERNAL CALL when room becomes vacant but client needs these extensions to stay ENABLED FOR EXTERNAL CALLS. I doubt they will approve having to re-enable all extensions everyday one by one through the admin.

I tried overiding this with the office hours as it also uses the BLOCK EXTERNAL CALLS function so declaring an out-of-office status for 1 min @ noon does work and it re-enables the extension when office hours come back but as soon as PMS send new client info to 3CX, the whole room extension configuration is overriden including its schedules and options.

Can we re-enable ALL extensions with a single or simple process ? Or could we have some script do that. Our team is limited in scripting but we can have a go at it to save the day.

Hope im clearer now.

Thank you !

 

[southwest1]

Remove the EXTs from the hotel group -or- Disconnect the PMS, if that is an option. I have been looking for the same solution with no luck. For the few locations that want to have the EXT info match the RM info, the Webclient is perfect and part of their set up.
This solution is mostly for locations that do not have a PMS or dropped the PMS for various reasons.

 

[Loowee2024]

Thx but not an option sadly.

We need the PMS features on these extensions. I am at the point of investigating if I can block incoming PMS traffic so it does not alter the extensions ( We dont even need the name on 3cx ) but keep the outgoing traffic to the PMS flowing for room billing info and maid codes.

Any idea if this is possible ?

I am contemplating the idea of opening a paid ticket on 3cx support but I fear it'll be an expensive "No that's not possible" reply.

 

[southwest1]

The only reason, with this info, that removing the PMS is not an option would be billing for phone calls.
(Depending on the PMS) TV is off 3cx, room "items" are off 3cx, (off net). Maid codes are the only thing holding you back.

Work around time: Double the number of EXTs. Keep the old ones as they are. Copy them to a higher numbered group and do not include them in the "Hotel".
{example: 110 rooms, 101 becomes 501}
Now, when the PMS changes 101, 501 is not aware and can still call with the same credentials.
And the maid code from 101 will still update 101 to clean.
The only issue is that now 501 may have voicemails and wake up calls that the PMS does not clear at check out.
(maybe disable VM?)

Fast and dirty idea. Never tested. If you do PLEASE update this thread.

 

[Loowee2024]

The only reason, with this info, that removing the PMS is not an option would be billing for phone calls.
(Depending on the PMS) TV is off 3cx, room "items" are off 3cx, (off net). Maid codes are the only thing holding you back.

Work around time: Double the number of EXTs. Keep the old ones as they are. Copy them to a higher numbered group and do not include them in the "Hotel".
{example: 110 rooms, 101 becomes 501}
Now, when the PMS changes 101, 501 is not aware and can still call with the same credentials.
And the maid code from 101 will still update 101 to clean.
The only issue is that now 501 may have voicemails and wake up calls that the PMS does not clear at check out.
(maybe disable VM?)

Fast and dirty idea. Never tested. If you do PLEASE update this thread.

Billing and maid codes are necessary. We are using the 3cx android app on touchscreen phones as well and grandstream analog gateways so there is no way to have 2 extensions simultaneously registered via these devices.

Any way to block incoming traffic but not outgoing on PMS ?

 

[VoIPTools]

I'm not in the hotel industry, but for the life of me I don't understand why your customer wants people to be able to walk into a random room and start placing long-distance phone calls. 911 is bypassed for emergencies. But regardless of the reason, if you always want the phones to be enabled for external calls, we can write a service that detects extension property changes (guest checks out) and remove the block. This can be done automatically in real-time as a server-side service.

 

[Loowee2024]

I'm not in the hotel industry, but for the life of me I don't understand why your customer wants people to be able to walk into a random room and start placing long-distance phone calls. 911 is bypassed for emergencies. But regardless of the reason, if you always want the phones to be enabled for external calls, we can write a service that detects extension property changes (guest checks out) and remove the block. This can be done automatically in real-time as a server-side service.

Thx. What would be the cost of this service or script setup ?

They are not random rooms and client uses some rooms with a special privacy option so they dont book them through the same PMS system. Therefore 3cx doesnt know the room is occupied and does not enable external calls. We would basically like to remove this feature ( block external calls ) as it is useless for us and actually causes a problem in this specific installation.



Thx again !

 

[VoIPTools]

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