Questions on hotel system with analog phones in rooms

[James Bruce]

Hi,


We are a new 3CX partner. We are looking at a small hotel that has analog phones with a windows pbx called Inline Express. Their current pbx is EOL, and we would like to introduce 3cx as a solution.


Current phones lines are provided through their internet provider , Comcast. They have 210 analog phones in guest rooms, and administrative phones will number 10, however, we plan on using ip phones for administrative phones.


What I need to know is:


1. Are there any fxs gateways that have more than 24 ports that are supported, or proven capable of compatibility with 3cx? We are currently looking at the Welltech WellGate 2424s FXS gateway, but would need 9 or 10 of them.


2. What fxo gateway would provide all needed ports for incoming from Comcast?


3. Their PMS system is not listed as compatible with the Hotel Module, but have other integrated other PMS systems like Visual Matrix?


4. We plan on using Yealink T46g phones for Administrative.


5. 3cx Pro Edition


Any assistance would be appreciated, thank you!

 

[StefanW]

1. Are there any fxs gateways that have more than 24 ports that are supported, or proven capable of compatibility with 3cx? We are currently looking at the Welltech WellGate 2424s FXS gateway, but would need 9 or 10 of them.

-- without going for IPphones in the room this will be the way to go frwd...


2. What fxo gateway would provide all needed ports for incoming from Comcast?

-- general I would advice to port the numbers to a VoIP Provider as analog is very limited in functionality. We have a list of provider in the US you could go to: https://www.3cx.com/partners/sip-trunks/usa/


3. Their PMS system is not listed as compatible with the Hotel Module, but have other integrated other PMS systems like Visual Matrix?

-- we have only tested some directly we can officially support. But if they use Micros Fidelio as PMS protocol you should be fine to interop with 3CX Hotel Module...


4. We plan on using Yealink T46g phones for Administrative.

-- sure, why not


5. 3cx Pro Edition

-- for sure, as hotel is not part of any lower version class...

 

[cobaltit]

1. Grandstream makes 48 port gateways. I've not used them myself but I use their smaller ATAs for faxing and such. Also not officially supported.

2. I would definitely use this opportunity to switch to SIP. Comcast offers SIP service and they have guide for setup with 3CX. You could also switch to a PRI from Comcast and use a Patton gateway if you wanted to stick with a fully supported setup.

3. What Stefan said.

4. It's a recommended phone, will be fine.

5. Required for Hotel features.

 

[leejor]

When using existing analogue sets, confirm what type of message waiting indicators they use. Almost all ATAs support CLASS MWI, but if the sets use the old "neon type" indicators (90ish volts DC), you will have to check that the ATAs support this.

 

[Sopock]

I would also consider solutions like this from 2012:
As more hotels migrate to SIP, it makes sense to look for an integrated solution that will save money, resources and installation time. Our patented technology allows us to deliver power and Ethernet with a range of 1,200 feet, over a single twisted pair of telephony cable.

Or even this solution with 216 ports of unknown compatibility:
The AudioCodes MediaPack 1288 (MP-1288) is a cost-effective, best-of-breed high density analog media gateway.

 

[sip.bg]

You can use Dinstar Analog Access Gateways, the largest FXS is 112 ports and the largest FXO is 16 ports. See: http://www.dinstar.com/product/moni/

Dinstar have very good compatibility with 3CX and very high reliability, I use them for several years in many large installation like hotels, hospitals and factories. I've sold already over 5000 FXS ports

There is good guide on Dinstar's site how to configure gateways with 3CX: http://www.dinstar.com/tech/peixun/moniwangguan/

If don't have local Dinstar reseller and decide for it, please send me a private message or look in our online shop – http://sip.bg/dinstar, depending where you are located.

 

[[email protected]]

Comfirming also that Comcast Enterprise SIP works great with 3CX, it is certified and supported in their system and they have extensive documentation available for setup. I have 32 lines SIP and Patton ATA for Fax. Works very well.

 

[sip.bg]

Comfirming also that Comcast Enterprise SIP works great with 3CX, it is certified and supported in their system and they have extensive documentation available for setup. I have 32 lines SIP and Patton ATA for Fax. Works very well.

What's the relation to lots of analog phones task ?
If the question is switching to SIP phones, there are many officially supported and important -- easy to provision, like Fanvil hotel series, etc.

Speaking about analog gateways, to use analog cabling and phones, you can configure a 112-port gateway like Dinstar with few mouse clicks and keyboard inputs, having imported extensions data before that in 3CX from a .csv file, so automatic provisioning in this case is not really important. You need 15 minutes to create 210 extensions and to configure 2 pcs of 112-port analog gateway to work with 3CX.


A 600-port installation for analog phones with Dinstar DAG3000-112S and HP Micro-server running 3CX (in the bottom of the 19" frame).


A 336-port installation for analog phones with Dinstar DAG2500-72S and 3CX running in the cloud.

 

[Sopock]

It might be good to use cable raceways for Ethernet in selected rooms which some guests may like to use.
Even in that case, analog phones can be used with addition of SPA122 ATA with Router.
Well equipped rooms will have IP phones and STB for NASA TV 4K channel!

Hopefully, @Silly English Kniggit will realize why it's important for 3CX to support such equipment.

Spoiler: 8-Port VDSL2 Mini IP DSLAM

A small
form factor DSL modem is placed in the guest room to convert the DSL signal to Ethernet and WiFi which is
then connected to the CPEs (customer premise equipments) in the guest room including set top boxes,
personal computers and IP phones...

 

[Silly English Kniggit]

@Sopock - well that makes more sense! I thought the suggestion was for using 3CX to deliver home voice services. This is quite a specialised use case - and not something we've been asked for in any of the hotels we've done. Given the VDSL bridges would be running a lot more than just phone, I'd expect they have a separate management platform which could set up the simple SIP that 3CX requires for it to provide POTS - for SIP phone, the VDSL would just be transparent to 3CX wouldn't it? I would expect voice to just be partitioned off to a high priority VLAN, and resurfaced on the 3CX LAN?

 

[James Bruce]

Sip.bg- i like your suggestion. The client will not pay for cabling to the rooms and wants to use existing analog phones in room. Can you provide more info on these Dinstar gateways and how they connect the anolog lines to the 3cx server? i assume the anolog lines to to the back of the devices and ethernet in front goes to switch that the 3cx server is connected to?
do you have sources for the equipment? I dont see that 3cx officially supports those devices, have you had any issue with them/

thanks to all in this thread that replied, and i apologize for not replying sooner, i am not getting email notifications of replies...

 

[sip.bg]

Hi James,

look at the Dinstar site (http://www.dinstar.com/product/moni/), there are 4 lines of analog access gateways -- DAG1000 (small 1,2,4,8 ports, desktop case), DAG2000 (rackmount 1U, 16,24,32 ports), DAG 2500 (rackmount 1U, 48 or 72 ports) and DAG3000 (14 slot modular chassis 3U, up to 112 ports -- 14x8). DAG1000 and DAG2000 have RJ-11 connectors for lines.

DAG2500 are very compact -- just 1U rackmount, 24, 48 or 72 ports on 1, 2 or 3 Telco 50-pin connectors at the back, I recommend using them into cooled environment, as specially 72-port model gets hot during intensive operation.

DAG3000 is modular -- just 3U rackmount chassis and has 14 slots for interface cards of 8 FXS ports each plus CPU card (and spare optional CPU card). The CPU card has built-in 4-port 10/100 LAN switch. There is an option for second power supply (spare). The analog lines can be long (5 km or over 3 mi). There is a protection for short-circuit, foreign voltage and current and diagnostic line tool. The 8-port FXS card has 2 RJ-45 connectors, each of 4 analog lines.

Configuring gateways is a simple task -- create and import multiple sequential extensions into 3CX from a .csv file (easy to create with Excel), in Dinstar gateway you can create bulk registration of all ports (max 112 for DAG3000) simultaneously, using the same complex password for all extensions and sequential extension numbers. You can export and edit text file with gateway configuration, if you want a more complex scenario, and import it back to gateway. There are some parameters for fine tuning like flash time, T.38 operation, etc. but default values are doing the job. The overall experience is similar to Grandstream gateways, if you have used them (largest is 48 port).

I use also widely E1 and GSM gateway models.

I haven't had any issues with Dinstar gateways, I use them from 2013 and have installed about 5000 ports (over 100 units different models) in hospitals, hotels, universities, factories, some of them in rather heavy environments. For outdoor lines I recommend using DAG3000. Support from Dinstar is also very good and responsive.

If you need more information, please send me a private message. I can show you life some sites with Dinstar gateways and configuration.


Dinstar DAG3000-112S with 112 FXS ports, one CPU module with integrated 4-port LAN switch

 

[James Bruce]

sip.bg-excellent info, thank you! ill definitely look into this!

 

[sip.bg]

sip.bg-excellent info, thank you! ill definitely look into this!

You are welcome.

 

[Sopock]

I wonder what we can conclude from comparing MSRP of also unsupported AudioCodes MediaPack(72 + 144 ports)?

Personally, i would suggest moving away from FXS/FXO. Put your foot down You are installing the latest technology PBX and wanting to connect old things to it. Its liking buying the latest Tesla but asking the garage to replace the electric engine with a diesel engine upon delivery.

 

[sip.bg]

Moving to IP is good as idea, but justifiable for new installations, in existing ones is usually difficult and expensive to replace cabling infrastructure.
Comparing AudioCodes to Dinstar, I have also projects with AudioCodes, gateways are very good but much more complicated to setup and about 2.5 - 3 times more expensive than Dinstar. So, it is also question to budget.

 

[Sopock]

Like Lada which is purely functional vehicle designed to get people from Point A to Point B? Maybe they should support this unusual analog cases through gold partners and other brands?
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