PABX or suchlike systems

Posted by: Sloop John B on 14 June 2007

My local GP from the surgery next door inquired of me if I knew anything about phone systems as he wanted to upgrade his to one that would allow 2 or more people to be on the phone together without causing the line to be engaged to callers. I confidently told him he needed a PABX system but rather stuttered when asked for a further explanation.

I really know little else about them, like do they need the same number of lines as extensions or will one line allow all (4 or 5 in this case) extensions to be on outside calls together?

Are there any recommendations / pitfalls
?

Thanks

SJB

Posted on: 14 June 2007 by BigH47

A long time since I was involved in PBXs they seem to have moved on.
I think several or at least more than 1 phone lines may be required. It may be possible these days to have more than one call per line.

Not sure who would be best supplier for Dublin area. Google "small PBX systems" or "small business systems" and see what emerges.

Here's one I found in UK

Posted on: 14 June 2007 by Guido Fawkes

SJB - you need multiple lines with a PBX (or PABX) - one per concurrent call.

The ones I have used are connected to ISDN and often have 30 lines and are for an office of around 100 people each with an extension. You have a 100:30 contention ratio. However there are smaller ones and he could use a small PBX with 2 lines like the Panasonic KX-T206 which supports six extensions and costs under 300 Euros. It will support call forward and call pick-up so one person can answer the others phone by pressing *3 and forward if required. You can have a two incoming or outgoing calls at once if you have two lines.

Oh no - I sound like a salesman, which I'm not best click here for a glossy.

It's not the only such device, but in my experience it and its Panny cousins are the most common at this capacity.

A well know car rental company with its main call centre in sunny Swords uses these in some of its rental outlets.

Posted on: 15 June 2007 by Sloop John B

Thanks Rotf,

That Panny looks the likely lad

SJB