[voip] 3CX - Multi Site and Night Service

[speakercon]

I've previously setup a few FreePBX systems but I'm considering using 3CX for a new deployment I have coming up which would cover three separate sites.

 

I have the trail version of 3CX setup and I've got some Fanvil and Yealink phones connected for testing, and everything is working nicely.

 

On the current Digital systems that are going to be replaced there is a night service setup, so on the reception phone a button can be toggled to put the phones on day/night service and an LED goes red/green to show which mode the system is in. Night mode sends external calls straight to voicemail.

 

In the past on FreePBX I've been able to replicate this by using the Call Flow Control module which allows calls to be routed to either A or B depending on day/night mode which can be toggled by dialing a feature code (*56 for example). I then create BLF speed dial on one of the reception phone's line keys so they can turn on/off night service and the BLF LED shows red or green. You can create multiple of these rules and then aim different DDI's at the appropriate one and each has a different feature code which works great for multi site systems.

 

I'm struggling to replicate this on my 3CX setup. There only seems to be one day/night setting meaning if one 3cx server is used for multiple schools they all have to be in the same day/night service at the same time.

 

Also although I've read it is possible to turn day/night mode on and off using a feature key, the BLF feature doesn't seem to be available so there is no visual indication on the reception phone to show which mode the system is in.

 

I know some schools use a timed day/night services which 3CX seems to encourage but this is unideal, for example if reception go home early one day, or need some quite time for training - the button method seems so much simpler and more flexible as not all our receptions are manned all day and within the same time frames.

 

Maybe I'm missing something, and I know many edugeekers are 3CX users so if anyone has had this scenario and has overcome it would be great to hear your solution.

 

This thread seems to suggest the BLF option is not possible - https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/3cx-night-mode-visual-indication.45633/

 

My main reason for switching to 3CX is because of the soft-phone and app seems very good and easy using the tunnel and I've not had much success using the FreePBX app/soft-phones off site, so any feedback on how well the 3CX app and softphone works offsite would be great.

 

Thanks.

Edited July 3, 2021 by speakercon

[FN-GM]

I've previously setup a few FreePBX systems but I'm considering using 3CX for a new deployment I have coming up which would cover three separate sites.

 

I have the trail version of 3CX setup and I've got some Fanvil and Yealink phones connected for testing, and everything is working nicely.

 

On the current Digital systems that are going to be replaced there is a night service setup, so on the reception phone a button can be toggled to put the phones on day/night service and an LED goes red/green to show which mode the system is in. Night mode sends external calls straight to voicemail.

 

In the past on FreePBX I've been able to replicate this by using the Call Flow Control module which allows calls to be routed to either A or B depending on day/night mode which can be toggled by dialing a feature code (*56 for example). I then create BLF speed dial on one of the reception phone's line keys so they can turn on/off night service and the BLF LED shows red or green. You can create multiple of these rules and then aim different DDI's at the appropriate one and each has a different feature code which works great for multi site systems.

 

I'm struggling to replicate this on my 3CX setup. There only seems to be one day/night setting meaning if one 3cx server is used for multiple schools they all have to be in the same day/night service at the same time.

 

Also although I've read it is possible to turn day/night mode on and off using a feature key, the BLF feature doesn't seem to be available so there is no visual indication on the reception phone to show which mode the system is in.

 

I know some schools use a timed day/night services which 3CX seems to encourage but this is unideal, for example if reception go home early one day, or need some quite time for training - the button method seems so much simpler and more flexible as not all our receptions are manned all day and within the same time frames.

 

Maybe I'm missing something, and I know many edugeekers are 3CX users so if anyone has had this scenario and has overcome it would be great to hear your solution.

 

This thread seems to suggest the BLF option is not possible - https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/3cx-night-mode-visual-indication.45633/

 

My main reason for switching to 3CX is because of the soft-phone and app seems very good and easy using the tunnel and I've not had much success using the FreePBX app/soft-phones off site, so any feedback on how well the 3CX app and softphone works offsite would be great.

 

Thanks.

 

Hello,

 

I have deployed 3CX at our company to 17 sites. Works well!

 

You could use the queue feature. When the agent (receptionists) isn’t logged into the queue you can configure it to go to voicemail. Setup a login / logout button on physical phones. Soft phones have the queue button ready to use.

 

Cheers.

[speakercon]

Hello,

 

I have deployed 3CX at our company to 17 sites. Works well!

 

You could use the queue feature. When the agent (receptionists) isn’t logged into the queue you can configure it to go to voicemail. Setup a login / logout button on physical phones. Soft phones have the queue button ready to use.

 

Cheers.

 

Thanks for that idea, sounds promising!

 

I've just logged in to have a look at setting that up but unfortunately the free 1 year license I have doesn't cover queues

 

I've just been reading it's possible to unlock the pro features for 40 days through a partner so may look into that. I really don't want to commit to a year without testing this out.

 

I'm assuming the log in/out of a queue works by dialing a feature code so this would be programmed into the phone as a speed dial on a spare line key, does the BLF LED indication work for this?

[FN-GM]

I'm assuming the log in/out of a queue works by dialing a feature code so this would be programmed into the phone as a speed dial on a spare line key

 

It can be done this way.

 

does the BLF LED indication work for this?

 

We only use the softphone so I can't confirm. Sorry.

[speakercon]

It can be done this way.

 

 

 

We only use the softphone so I can't confirm. Sorry.

 

I've had a look and it seems there is a separate feature code for logging in and out, so two buttons would need to be programmed and BLF doesn't seem to be a feature.

 

Thanks allow for the idea though, I think this way will be acceptable, or even using the app.

[FN-GM]

You're welcome. Best of luck with your deployment.

[speakercon]

You're welcome. Best of luck with your deployment.

Thank you,

 

Do you mind me asking which way you went with hosting - physical/VM/cloud?

[FN-GM]

Thank you,

 

Do you mind me asking which way you went with hosting - physical/VM/cloud?

 

We went with a hosted virtual machine. It is hosted by our communications provider and connects directly into our MPLS network. So it behaves like a on premise server but isn't.

[localzuk]

One option, use the Call Flow Designer tool. Its a separate piece of software which basically generates a program which you import into 3CX. However, you need a pro version of 3CX to use it I believe.

 

It allows you to do a heck of a lot, all the way down to coding directly in C# if you need that level of flexibility.

 

However, I fear your quest for an on-handset indicator will be a no-go, as there doesn't appear to be any way to change these programmatically. You could use something like this though, as the indicator - https://busylight.com/kuando-busylight-uc-alpha/ and programmatically change it with your call flow, but it would need some coding knowledge I think to do this.

[FN-GM]

One option, use the Call Flow Designer tool. Its a separate piece of software which basically generates a program which you import into 3CX. However, you need a pro version of 3CX to use it I believe.

 

It allows you to do a heck of a lot, all the way down to coding directly in C# if you need that level of flexibility.

 

However, I fear your quest for an on-handset indicator will be a no-go, as there doesn't appear to be any way to change these programmatically. You could use something like this though, as the indicator - https://busylight.com/kuando-busylight-uc-alpha/ and programmatically change it with your call flow, but it would need some coding knowledge I think to do this.

 

It's worth mentioning that the Call Flow Designer isn't available with the hosted version offered by 3CX.

[speakercon]

I did download the Call Flow Designer, but yes seems I can't use it with the trail version If I can get a pro trial I'll have a go with it- thanks.

 

I got some pricing for hosting with a comms supplier but the monthly cost was very high (nearly 75% higher than an on prem server) so I think I'll probably go down the on prem route for now, or I'm also looking at hosting on Azure.