Configuring Group Paging

The UCX now supports the ability to send DTMF tones to devices in a Page Group to support multi-zone paging devices.

The group paging feature of the UCX system can be used only with phones that support this feature.

This feature works with XSTIM IP and digital phones.

This feature also works with a number of SIP phones that include Infinity, LG Nortel, Avaya, Aastra, Grandstream, Linksys/Sipura, Mitel, SNOM, Yealink and possibly other SIP phones (not SIP ATAs).

Beside the phones above, any phone that is always set to auto-answer should also work.

Do not configure more than 100 phones in the same paging group. When the number of phones exceed 100, paged phones will start to experience delays.

Also note that the Galaxy Mini limits the number of phones in a page group to 16.

To configure page groups, perform the following steps:

  1. Open the UCX Web-based Configuration Utility
  2. From the PBX tab, select PBX Configuration
  3. From the left side column, select Paging and Intercom
  4. Press the Add Paging Group button
  5. Enter the extension for the page group in the Paging Extension field
  6. Enter the description of the page group in the Group Description field
  7. Select extensions that are to be included in the page group by dragging the the extension from the Not Selected box into the Selected box under Device List
  8. For the Busy Extensions field, the option selected determines the action taken when an extension is busy:
    • Skip - Will not page any busy extension, all non-busy extensions will be paged.
    • Force - Will page all extensions even when busy. This means conversations can be interrupted by a page. This is useful for 'emergency' paging groups.
    • Whisper - Will attempt to use ChanSpy feature on SIP channels to 'whisper' to user but will not be heard by the remote party. If ChanSpy feature is not enabled then extension will not get page. If this mode is selected, then the following 'Duplex' field should not be checked.
  9. The field Duplex when checked will make paging duplex, allowing all phones in the paging group to be able to talk and be heard by all. Effectively making it a conference call.
  10. If you have equipment that needs to receive DTMF tones for capabilities like multi-zone paging, select the Allow DTMF check box.
  11. If the group is to be the default page group, mark the Default Page Group check box
  12. Press the Submit Changes button to save the page group

PageGroupDTMFSetting.png

When a default page group is configured, extensions can be easily added to this group from the Extension page using the Default Page Group drop down list box.

There can be only one default page group. If you mark the Default Page Group check box for a new page group, the option is automatically removed from the previously configured default page group.

Paging using feature codes

If you want to use BCM feature codes (F60, F61x) to initiate paging to specific page groups, you must define your page groups in a way that allows association of page groups with page zones 1 to 6. Rules described in the following table are used to associate page zones with configured page groups:

Feature Code

Description

Page group that is called

F60

Page General

Default page group

F611

Page Internal Zone 1

First page group with Group Description that ends with digit 1 (for example "Page Zone 1", "Sales - 1")

F612

Page Internal Zone 2

First page group with Group Description that ends with digit 2

F613

Page Internal Zone 3

First page group with Group Description that ends with digit 3

F614

Page Internal Zone 4

First page group with Group Description that ends with digit 4

F615

Page Internal Zone 5

First page group with Group Description that ends with digit 5

F616

Page Internal Zone 6

First page group with Group Description that ends with digit 6

Changing Maximum Page Call Duration

The maximum duration of page calls is set to 120 seconds by default. To override the default value, you need to set the variable PAGE_MAX_DURATION to the desired duration:

  1. Open the UCX Web-based Configuration Utility
  2. From the PBX tab, select Tools
  3. From the left side column, select Configuration File Editor
  4. Press the Show Filter button
  5. Enter globals in the File field and press the Filter button to search for the file globals_custom.conf
  6. Click on the file link to edit the file
  7. Add the following line to the file where N is the duration in seconds:
    PAGE_MAX_DURATION = N
  8. Press the Save button followed by the Reload Configuration button
  9. Click on the Back link to exit the file editor