Paging to Extensions with Multiple Phones

[dbm-ntwt]

Similar to this thread here which I didn't see any resolutions for: https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/paging-to-extensions-with-multiple-phones.48822/

I am trying to page (one-way audio, like a PA system) a ring group, that has 3 extensions in it. One of the extensions, say 0005, has two phones on the same LAN but different rooms. When I page to the ring group with all 3 extensions, all the phones appear to see the incoming page (including the two phones for 0005) however only one of the two phones provisioned to 0005 will answer/pickup and play the audio through its speaker.

What I am trying to do is have both phones assigned to 0005 ring and answer so that the audio plays through both phones.

Is this not possible? I checked and intercom is enabled on both phones. My original plan was to have additional phones for the other extensions in the ring group (similar to 0005) to hopefully help be able to get a hold of people as they might be in one of several locations.

I'm using the latest version of 3CX and the firmware of all phones are up-to-date. All phones are the same model - the Fanvil X6U.

 

[leejor]

I'm wondering if what you are attempting, just isn't supported. While SIP forking, for phone calls will work on 3CX, it still isn't normal practice to assign the same extension number to more than one desk set. So while phone calls will ring on two sets with the same extension number, paging, may very well exhibit a completely different behavior

https://www.3cx.com/community/threa...ultiple-phones-with-the-same-extension.54827/

 

[Guillaume Bourgeois]

Similar to this thread here which I didn't see any resolutions for: https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/paging-to-extensions-with-multiple-phones.48822/

I am trying to page (one-way audio, like a PA system) a ring group, that has 3 extensions in it. One of the extensions, say 0005, has two phones on the same LAN but different rooms. When I page to the ring group with all 3 extensions, all the phones appear to see the incoming page (including the two phones for 0005) however only one of the two phones provisioned to 0005 will answer/pickup and play the audio through its speaker.

What I am trying to do is have both phones assigned to 0005 ring and answer so that the audio plays through both phones.

Is this not possible? I checked and intercom is enabled on both phones. My original plan was to have additional phones for the other extensions in the ring group (similar to 0005) to hopefully help be able to get a hold of people as they might be in one of several locations.

I'm using the latest version of 3CX and the firmware of all phones are up-to-date. All phones are the same model - the Fanvil X6U.

If your PBX is installed on the same local network as the phones & the phones support Multicast, use Multicast* , it will do the job!

Multicast Paging Ring Group​

Define a Multicast Paging Group (Ring Groups → Add Paging → Ring Strategy = Paging Multicast) which will be provisioned onto the ip phones in order to be alerted when the Paging Group is called.
After create, go to Users page





Edit extension, Phone Provisioning TAB, select MultiCast Group.







To remove a Paging/Multicast Ring Group from an IP Phone, set the option to Off.




* In some network routers, it is sometimes necessary to authorize MultiCast. (Enable IP Multicast)

 

[dbm-ntwt]

If your PBX is installed on the same local network as the phones & the phones support Multicast, use Multicast* , it will do the job!

Multicast Paging Ring Group​

Define a Multicast Paging Group (Ring Groups → Add Paging → Ring Strategy = Paging Multicast) which will be provisioned onto the ip phones in order to be alerted when the Paging Group is called.
After create, go to Users page

View attachment 33457



Edit extension, Phone Provisioning TAB, select MultiCast Group.

View attachment 33459





To remove a Paging/Multicast Ring Group from an IP Phone, set the option to Off.




* In some network routers, it is sometimes necessary to authorize MultiCast. (Enable IP Multicast)

Thanks so much for this info!!!

Unfortunately, my PBX server is on a different network though. I do have a local SBC, so I wonder if this would still work?

 

[Guillaume Bourgeois]

Thanks so much for this info!!!

Unfortunately, my PBX server is on a different network though. I do have a local SBC, so I wonder if this would still work?

Only if the 3CX PBX is under the same network/subnet .
SBC does not allow to route the MultiCast.

I seem to have read somewhere that this is a limitation to the Multicast protocol itself, and not a limitation of 3CX

Alternative, you can multicast directly from a phone independently of the 3CX PBX, but of course we cannot support you configuring your phones outside of 3CX templates..

Let's be honest, is the work worth it?
anything to avoid assigning a different extension number to each phone ?


But to let you understand ;
the 3CX Multicast solution is to allow calling an # extension, the audio stream is "Forking" on a Multicast Address iP/Port by 3CX PBX.

All I can tell you is that the majority of iP phones can send MultiCast.
Configure a phone to send Multicast directly. We then configure a DSS KEY to "call the multicast" without extension number.

Consult the phone manufacturer's Administrator's Guide to learn more about how to do a phone configuration (Without 3CX Auto-Provisioning).
Be careful, you may need to create a custom 3CX phone template to avoid overwriting your « manual configurations » made in your phones.
With each phone firmware update, you will have to compare the new template and your personalized template to find out the differences and adapt your personalized template to the new firmware.

Ahhh! I can already imagine your suffering!
Life is so much better when you stay within the standards supported by 3CX! It's so much simpler, more stable, more fun but above all.. SUPPORTED!

I hope I have allowed you to understand the operation and the complexity … and leaving the standards supported by 3CX. I didn't want to discourage you but to make you realize that sometimes the solution is simply to re-evaluate our ideal model

So I agree with @leejor on this point, create separate extensions for each phone, is the best solution.

 

[dbm-ntwt]

Right on, understood. Thanks for clarifying and explaining so well!

 

[dbm-ntwt]

One last question on this matter...

If I were to purchase an actual paging or intercom device like a Fanvil PA2 and connect it to multiple speakers, would it be possible to have all speakers play the audio? I have never actually had a paging/intercom system so not even sure if they support more than one speaker or how that works.

If they don't support multiple speakers and I had for example 2 PA2 units on the same extension that I were to ring/page/intercom, would those exhibit the same behavior as the phones where only one of them would pickup?

If so, I guess it's just part of the protocol that can't be avoided lol. Just figured I'd ask to be sure I understand!

 

[Evolute IT]

One last question on this matter...

If I were to purchase an actual paging or intercom device like a Fanvil PA2 and connect it to multiple speakers, would it be possible to have all speakers play the audio? I have never actually had a paging/intercom system so not even sure if they support more than one speaker or how that works.

If they don't support multiple speakers and I had for example 2 PA2 units on the same extension that I were to ring/page/intercom, would those exhibit the same behavior as the phones where only one of them would pickup?

If so, I guess it's just part of the protocol that can't be avoided lol. Just figured I'd ask to be sure I understand!

Even if the device doesn't have multiple outputs, you can use a regular audio receiver and plug it in that, then the receiver does the actual sending to speakers.

 

[dbm-ntwt]

Right on, that sounds great! I will keep that in mind then. Thanks again!