Use a Hunt Group - How do I?

In PBX terminology, a Hunt Group refers to a group of individuals that the PBX will automatically call when the hunt group function is triggered from a menu or by a client key press.  Traditional Hunt Groups were configured with a priority ordering so that certain employees would be rung by the system before other employees.  In this way, an employee like a receptionist would have a chance to answer the call first, and if the receptionist is unavailable for any reason, the next employee up the chain of command would receive the call on their phone, and so forth until the system finds an employee available to answer the call.

If you are searching for hunt groups related to multiple phone line (automatic rollover), you can consult our Dial Plans section for information on configuring multiple trunks to "hunt" or roll-over if the main line is in use for outbound calls.  Please see How do I add a new dial plan?

For a "hunt" function on incoming calls, you will need to contact your carrier.  The Carrier is responsible for configuring your multiple phone lines to roll-over in whatever configuration you wish.  This process takes place before the call reaches your phone system, so Fonality has no control over this roll-over configuration. 

With PBXtra , a Hunt Group actually rings an ordered list of agents each time the Hunt Group sequence is triggered.

To setup a Hunt Group:

1. Click on AutoAnswer --> sub-menus

2. Create a new sub-menu that will contain your Hunt Group.  You can name it anything you like.

3. Click Create New Submenu

4. Click on your newly created sub-menu in the list

5. Your sub-menu contains one sequence by default: Set incoming Caller-ID name to:.  You can leave this step the way it is, modify the value within the text box, or delete the sequence complete.

6. Begin adding call sequence steps after step 1.  Choose Go to extension.  There are two options:

   1. forward=no, VM=no - PBXtra rings the extension but will not respect forwarding nor will the call route to voicemail.

   2. forward=yes, VM=no- PBXtra rings the extension and will respect call forwarding but will not route the call to voicemail.
      Caution: If the extension has FindMe set up, it will respect the FindMe step "Forward to my voicemail box".

7. Repeat step 6 for each member of the Hunt Group.

8. Click Apply All Changes

Above is a simple Hunt Group configuration that rings three extensions, one after another, and then transfers the caller to a general voicemail box.

From the main menu, you would then add this submenu in the IVR or you would assign a key press that directs the caller to this submenu.

You might assign key press 3 to go to submenu Hunt_Group and in your voice prompt, you would say to the caller, "To reach our marketing department, please press 3". 

Read How do I edit keypress options? for instructions on assigning a key press to your Hunt Group