Phone system between buildings

[LansITGuy]

Morning all. This one is what I can only call a massive long shot!

 

We have had a request in with our phone system provider for a few months. They had a solution, but now no one is getting back to us so I'm just trying to figure out if we have any options. I was wondering if anyone has seen / done this in the past.

 

Background:

Main building has an older phone system in place. I believe this is some kind of Samsung system. Most importantly, this is not VoIP. A new building has been added on to the grounds. No one thought to connect this back to the phone system (great!). I was brought in to talk to our phone support guys. They said there was an easy solution. Use the networking (existing fibre link) to connect a comms cab in the main building with a converter to use the IP system to send the calls over to the new build. Obviously, there would be some kit in the comms cabinet in that building to attach to some cordless phones (I'm assuming DECT). The engineer just mentioned a DAC (I'm assuming "Digital / Analog Converter).

 

This was all good, but just before the install was supposed to happen, the appointment got cancelled as they were having problems with the DACs. They were going to return them to the supplier and get a new solution. That has been about four months ago. They're not updating me or my line manager.

 

Has anyone linked two buildings like this before? If so, could you offer any details on how you've done it (what hardware etc)? This isn't really my job to sort, but I want to have something I can use to get this pushed through.

 

Thanks in advance everyone!

[Steve21]

I know you say it's not voip but do you have the option to add it on? We had a similar setup previously and used voip across out link (was p2p wireless link but same principle) and just had the new building using voip while the other used the normal phones still. A lot of phone systems it's just a bolt-on license etc but guess it depends how old

 

Steve

[Boredguy]

Is running a normal 10/20 core phone line between the two buildings not an option?

Depending on the distance and if you have a duct in place it's about £1.50 per meter for 20 core cable

[LansITGuy]

Its potentially a plan and makes sense. The issue I have here is that I know virtually nothing about the phone system. It is maintained by the company who are supposed to be providing the solution. It's worrying that they are ducking out on providing updates. TBH, I'm only getting bothered by it because staff are calling my personal mobile. Management don't seem to be that bothered about the lack of connection, even though they called in the quote for the work. If anyone gets back to me from either SLT or the provider, I'll see what I can dig up about that option.

[LansITGuy]

The direct cable would seem simple enough, but the switchboard and the new building are about as far apart as you can get with no direct line of access. We've been struggling with getting enough extensions as it is. I'm going to approach my manager again to push the engineers.

[Jamman960]

How many phones are you wanting in the new building? If only a couple there are a few diy options, setting up a freepbx box with an analog card then having Voip phones in the new build for instance

[Boredguy]

Well direct line of access isn't a big issue as you can have junction boxes at key locations (we normally have one at each end of the external runs).

However it depends on how many extensions are available on your switchboard at present.

 

Although I run all our internal/external cabling now, it's normally just because we are relocating our existing lines elsewhere. For new extensions we get the support company to come out and just program the exchange and make the final cable connection in the panel.

[supawat1]

How about using a VoIP gateway with FreePBX?

[LansITGuy]

In my opinion, going with the VoIP gateway option seems like the best way of doing this.

Gives us the solution we need now, but also allows for expansion in the future.

 

I believe they only want two extensions in the new build, but I think we've filled all our available extensions on the current system.

 

Thanks everyone. I'm going to have a chat with our facilities manager. There's a chance he has had an update, but at least we have other ideas to discuss now to move things forward.