Is Multicast Paging via SBC instead of Local Possible?

[Plains_JosephW]

Hi all,

I am trying to set up multicast paging (my first time) and I have a hosted server that I am wanting to set it up on for phones connected via SBC. I know this is possible with a VPN, but I don't have a whole lot of experience linking 3CX to a hosted server via VPN, so that is not my favorite option but I'm open to it.

Has anyone been able to get multicast paging working over an SBC, and if you have, do you have any tips on what it took to get there?

Appreciate any help.

-Joseph

 

[cobaltit]

No it is not possible. I suggest voting up this feature request:

https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/multicast-page-relay.64146/

 

[craigreilly]

Are all the phones in the same location?
If so - then Local Multicast is all you really need.
But might need a custom template for a Multicast button. The multicast button would just send multicast, instead of ringing the server and having it send the multicast.

 

[CentrexJ]

Has anyone been able to get multicast paging working over an SBC, and if you have, do you have any tips on what it took to get there?

Yes two ways, but both are not official/supported solutions:

1. Use custom templates and configure the phones to receive multicast pages and a BLF key to make the multicast pages. This works great for inter-site paging. If you need to page between two different sites then option 2 is better.

2. Use a SIP relay such as the Algo 8180 Sip Audio Alerter (note: not a "supported" device). Algo 8180 SIP audio alerter can be installed and configured to connect as an extension over the SBC that you add to your SIP Paging Ring Group. The device can then relay the sip pages over multicast to additional SIP speakers and your phones. The phones would again need a custom template to configure the receive multicast since 3CX provisioning doesn't offer multicast as an option on SBC configured phones.

We use this with Yealink and Grandstream phones with great success. Yealink preferred over Grandstream for many many reasons (not just multicast).

https://www.algosolutions.com/product/8180-sip-audio-alerter/?v=3e8d115eb4b3