How do I integrate an over-head paging system?

Be aware: this is not supported.

Fonality does not support any over-head paging systems created by 3rd party vendors.  Support will not be able to go into debugging and troubleshooting an overhead paging system.  At best Support can verify that the PBX and analog ports appear to be functioning correctly (you can also test this yourself with an analog telephone handset).

Keeping the above in mind, our customers report success with a variety of paging systems, and we would like to encourage any interested customer in exploring this integration option on their own.  Using an over-head paging system will not void your warranty or Annual Support and Maintenance Agreement. 

Tip: If you have a Rhino channel bank, there are some drop battery commands that can be adjusted to help with overhead paging system detecting a hangup - see CB24 Use with Paging Amps and Door Intercoms - Rhino Equipment.

Paging Systems may function as though they are analog phones (connecting to FXS ports on the PBX - the most common), or as though they are analog phone lines (powering an FXO port on the PBX or a standalone analog telephone instead of the PBX).  The difference should be indicated somewhere within the Paging System's administrator manual, online Knowledge Base, or perhaps the sales person responsible for the system can explain quickly which type of paging system you've purchased.  Integration with your PBXtra depends heavily on which type of Paging System you purchased, and since Fonality does not know the answer, please triple check with the Paging System vendor to make sure you absolutely understand which type of system you purchased. 

If your Paging System produces electrical voltage (less common, but not unheard-of), and you plug it into an analog PHONE port (FXS) on your PBXtra , you will FRY YOUR FXS CARD/MODULE.

If your Paging system acts like an analog PHONE (connects to an FXS port on the PBX)

1. The Fonality FXS ports must connect to a telephone controller or interface that fully emulates a standard analog phone.  The building facilities that you lease may have a door buzzer that can be connected like a regular analog phone.  In this case, the PBX provides voltage to the paging system.

2. The interface must allow the Fonality system to access it, do a voice announcement, and hang up (disconnect port).

3. The interface will need to connect to an amplification system that is connected to your speakers (some of them are built  in, most are separate).

4. If a customer wants to have multiple external paging zones, then they need to have multiple FXS ports in the PBXtra .

Setup an analog port

1. Create an extension with a Zap device assigned to it (from the devices drop-down within the Extension's page)

2. Plug the PA into that Zap device port

3. Call your new Extension from any other phone within the office connected to your PBXtra

Don't know how to use the Page and Intercom functions?  How do I intercom a person or group?

If your Paging System functions like an Analog Phone LINE (FXO ports)

In order to integrate one of these paging systems with your PBXtra , you will need to complete the following steps (they don't necessarily have to be done in this order, but it's recommended):

1. Configure one of the FXO ports on your Sangoma A200 analog card to be in a separate group from the rest of the ports on the card (instructions below).

2. Configure a dialplan to send calls to that port by setting the single port as the outbound route #1 for whatever dial string you wish to use to trigger a page.

3. Connect your PA to the port you configured in Step 1

4. Create a Virtual Extension via the Extensions --> add extension page that forwards to the port you configured in Step 1.

Separate the analog port into a unique group

1. Click on Options --> cards

2. Select your analog card from the drop-down

3. Click edit next to whichever FXO port you're going to use as your PA port

4. The section to the right will change to reveal the configuration settings for this particular port.  Change the Group ID to some new, unique number.  

5. Click Apply All Changes

What you accomplished:  You have instructed FONcore to treat this individual port as a unique outbound route.  FONcore groups ports by Group ID in order to create a roll-over function.  If there are four ports in group 1, FONcore tries to make a call using each of the four ports before returning a busy sound.  By configuring 1 port in a new group, you are telling FONcore that this port can be used for a special function.

Now you need to configure your dial plan.  Please watch our video: How do I add a new dial plan?

For the outbound route, select the Analog XX (1) option from the drop-down where XX is the FXO port number (if you have a PRI and 1 analog card, and you use the first port on your analog card, XX will equal 25 for instance).

Configure your virtual extension

1. Click on Extensions --> add extension

2. Fill out all the required settings (extension number, name, web username, web password)

3. Set device to voicemail-only (or virtual - they will both work)

4. In the Forward field, choose the number you configured in your dial plan page (perhaps you used something like 9 + 4321 - in the Forward field you would type in 94321)

5. Turn OFF voicemail (the PA system doesn't need a voicemail box)

6. Click Apply All Changes

Now dial this extension from any OTHER phone in your office.  If you followed all these steps, your PA system should 'answer' the call and you can begin talking to everyone over the PA system.