512.257.1433 www.bcs-ip.comWelcome! After 6 years of launching Business Communication Solutions, we have decided to start this blog in an effort to provide better products and services to all our clients. We would like to take this opportunity to Thank all our loyal clients that have gave us the opportunity to introduced and implemented our products and services in the last 6 years, especially through these tough economic times. Please feel free to post any comments that you feel can help us improve our products and services.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this website is for general information purpose only. The information is provided by Business Communication Solutions and the general public. We will do our best to keep the information up to date and accurate, however, we make no warranties of any kind, about the accuracy of the information on this site.
Voice Digitization: Analog => Digital
Many of you may know that not all phone lines are the same. Some phone lines are analog and some are digital. So, if I want to make a call to you and I have analog lines and you have digital lines what happens in between our lines to make communication happen?? In order for an analog signal to be converted to a digital signal Quantization, Sampling, and Coding have to happen.
The first step, Quantization, is changing from continuous in value to discrete in value. Basically you take a range of values a signal could take on and divide this into steps, levels, or even bins. Then if you want to know the value of a signal in an instance of time you look to see what bin, level, or step the signal is at.
Sampling is the next step in this process and is defined as a change from continuous in time to discrete in time. It’s a bit like a clock; you look at the signal to see what the value is at different times. Then you end up with a sequence of number representing where the signal was at each of these times.
The last and final step in the process is the Coding step. You have to somehow take the raw output from the Quantization and Sampling, and code the values of the samples into 1s and 0s. What you now end up with is a stream of 1s and 0s transmitted through the telephone switch as a digital signal.
Using the 'Conference' Feature on an NEC DSX
To set up a telephone meeting:
1.
Place or answer your first call (Intercom or outside caller) + Press CONF.2.
Place or answer your next call (Intercom or outside caller) + Press CONF.3.
Press CONF again to set up the Conference.– Repeat step 2 to add additional callers to your Conference.
– If you hear an error tone after trying to add another party, your Conference is full.
– To place a Conference on Hold, press
HOLD. To reinstate the Conference, press CONF.– If you Conference with two outside callers, you may be able to hang up and have them continue
their conversation in an
Unsupervised Conference.--YOU CAN HAVE UP TO 8 PARTIES IN A CONFERENCE, INCLUDING YOURSELF
Ambitions and Opportunity for Information Technology
Ambitions and Opportunity for Information Technology have never been higher. Executives place demanding burdens for Information Technology support of business procedures; and they see still a larger role for Information Technology in an aggressive atmosphere increasingly stunned by technological advancements. Based on a growing trend and looking ahead, most executives anticipate Information Technology to create new platforms to support improvement and expansion, help direct policy with data and advanced problem solving techniques, and stay on top of fresh functions for mobile devices. For IT leaders, the good news is that along with these higher prospects, most executives show a greater motivation to spend more on Information Technology.
ADTRAN NetVanta 3120
The NetVanta series of Fixed-port Access Routers offers cost-effective IP routing solutions for business class broadband networks. Based on the ADTRAN Operating System, or AOS, this family of routers offers a wide variety of features set with functionality and addresses the growing need for secure access to corporate information over the Internet.
The 3120 is among today's most advanced ADSL technologies for applications taking advantage of its extending reach and higher bandwidth (up to 25 Mbps). This series is perfect for businesses that are small to medium in size, no matter if they are bundled with a carrier service or employee deployed. The NetVanata 3120 deliver secure, high-speed corporate connectivity. These routers are also designed for remote offices, telecommuters and mobile users to take advantage of. The small, secure routers ensure your remote employees can work without the security concerns normally associated with shared networks.
The 3120 series also offers the best of both worlds by supplying an Ethernet or ADSL WAN interface, four-port fully managed switch and an analog port for a disaster recovery scheme (or dial-in for remote management). NetVanata products are full featured and cost efficient alternatives perfect for secure Internet access or high-speed corporate connectivity using broadband access like DSL or cable. If you want to know more about this product or any of ADTRAN's NetVanta products, please visit our website at www.bcs-ip.com or call us at 512-257-1433.
Plenum Cable
A plenum space is any part of a building that can facilitate air circulation for heating and air conditioning, by providing pathways for both heated/conditioned and return airflows. Examples of these areas include the space between the structural ceiling and dropped ceiling or under a raised floor. The main purpose of these areas is to house the communication cables for the buildings computer and telephone network.
Plastics used to construct plenum cable are regulated under the National Fire Protection Association. All materials for use on wire and cables to be placed in plenum spaces are designed to meet rigorous fire safety standards. All plenum cable is covered with a fire-retardant plastic jacket of either low-smoke PVC or a FE polymer. Recently there have been some concerns about lingering toxicity due to the types of compounds used and the threat of fires in plenum spaces. Since 2007, there have been programs developed specifically targeted at addressing these concerns.
Plenum-rated cables are often restricted to only allow certain chemicals for manufacture of the wire insulation and sheath. Because of this, plenum cable has reduced flexibility making it stiff and harder to bend as compared to other types of cable. the bend radius can be increased and tight bends can potentially crack or tear the insulation and sheathing.
You have many options when it comes to cabling, and certain spaces or situations may call for certain types of cabling. If you have any questions or concerns as it pertains to cabling in your building or work space, please contact Business Communication Solutions at 512-257-1433 or on the web at www.bcs-ip.com.
Music On Hold (MOH)
Music on Hold (MOH) plays music to calls on hold, parked calls, and transferred calls. The music lets the caller know that their call is waiting, not forgotten. Without Music on Hold, the system provides silence to these types of calls. Music on Hold is available from one of eight sources: two internal beep tones, two audio input minijacks, and one of four PGDAD Module audio ports. The source you choose in turn connects to a customer-provided external music source.
Static IP Address
If you feel the need to always know what your IP address is then you need a Static IP address, because it is constant. Static IP addresses are more reliable for Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), more reliable to host a gaming website or to play X-Box, Play Station, use Virtual Private Network for secure access to files from your company network computer, etc. Static IP addresses are also great if you use your computer as a server, as it should give your file server faster file uploads and downloads. Another plus with Static IP's, when hosting a website you are not sharing your IP with another company who sends out a lot of E-mail SPAM and not only has their website been shut down but in turn gets your IP address blacklisted.
In contrast a static IP address can become a security risk, because the address is always the same. Static IP's are easier to track for data mining companies. Static IP addressing is less cost effective than Dynamic IP Addressing.
Cat6 Vs. Cat6a
Just recently BCS had a customer request a quote for Cat6 and Cat6a cable. I didn’t even know Cat6a was available, and I just assumed it was cat6e. Big mistake. So in order to make this a learning experience, as well as make sure I didn’t make the same mistake again I started to do some research on the difference between Cat6 and Cat6a cable.
Cat6a is the newest type of cabling you can run for your network, it is an improved version of Cat6, and also offers overall better performance. Cat6a can achieve speeds of 10Gbps and about 500Mhz versus Cat6 that can only process 1Gbps and 250 Mhz. Cat6A is also much better at protecting against crosstalk.
Some factors to consider when deciding between Cat6 and Cat 6a would first and foremost be the cost. Get ready to pay about twice the price for the Cat6a cable as well as all of the materials you will need for your cabling job. Additionally most switches can only process up to 1Gbps, so you are topped out on your speed at it is.
So the real question is should I upgrade now? Probably not since a 10Gbps connection won’t be the standard for a good 5-10 years.
Why Do I have a PARK Key on my Phone?
Normally, if every incoming line has a button associated with it, you can simply put the caller on HOLD and then go to any other office phone, press the line button and retrieve the call.
When you have multiple lines on a single line key and you put a caller on HOLD, the HOLD feature is exclusive to that phone.
So, how can you reteive that call on another phone? PARK it!
Here's how it works: Every phone will have 2 to 3 line buttons and 2 to 3 park buttons. This allows for mulltiple calls/parks. Once you have pressed the PARK key, the call will be sent to a PARKING SPACE and wait until it is retieved (e.g. Park 1 button will light up). At this point, every phone will have a lit up button with the call parked. Simply press the Park 1 button and continue your conversation. You can park again and again if needed...
Auto Attendant
Auto attendant is a term commonly used in telephony to describe a voice menu system that allows callers to be transferred to an extension without going through a telephone operator or receptionist. The auto-attendant is also known as a digital receptionist. For a caller to find a user on a phone system, a dial by name directory is usually available. This feature lists users by name, allowing the caller to press a key to automatically ring the extension of a user once his or her extension is announced by the auto attendant. If a user is not available the auto-attendant directs callers to the appropriate voice mailbox of the user to leave a voicemail message. Having an auto attendant in a phone system is a very useful and cost-effective feature for a business, as it replaces and helps the human operator by automating and simplifying the incoming phone calls procedure.