The Mediatrix 2102-20 is a fantastic product for Talkswitch PBX Systems, and, non-Talkswitch systems as well. Much of the text here is specific to Talkswitch, but, the product works well in other environments. This product has been integrated and thoroughly tested by Centrepoint with their Talkswitch systems, no other gateways have been tested with Talkswitch. It also works with other PBX systems, though not with all of the same features described here. The Mediatrix 2102-20 uses FXS (foreign exchange station) to connect to analog phones, fax machines, and the CO side of the Talkswitch 24-ca or 48-CA, or other PBX system. The 2102-20 can be remotely managed and maintained using the included software, and, settings can also be managed via the embedded web server. You can also use the 2102-20 with the Talkswitch CVA, 244VS, 284VS, 484VS - use it to connect a remote analog phone to the Talkswitch via Voip, you only need the 2102-20 at the remote end, the Talskwitch end does not require one. For this use, you might want to consider a 2 line phone in the remote location - line 1 might be your home phone line, line 2 might be the Talkswitch VOIP line. Otherwise, you might end up with 2 phones on your remote desk.
Use the Mediatrix 2102-20 to link 2 or more offices with a non VOIP Talkswitch. As an example, say you have an office in Dallas, and an office in Los Angeles, both with Talkswitch systems. By purchasing 2 of the 2102-20 model, one for each location, you can connect up to 2 of the 4 incoming Talkswitch 48 phone ports to the Mediatrix 2102-20, in each city. The Mediatrix 2102-20 then connects to the internet via an existing internet connection your company probably already has, broadband is preferable. So, in each location, the Talkswitch connects to the Mediatrix 2102-20, and the 2102-20 connects to the internet.
Since we now have linked our 2 offices, how do you use the system? What happens is this. Say you are in Dallas, and wanting to call your Los Angeles office. Talkswitch allows you to dial say extension 260 from a Talkswitch local extension. This would connect to the Mediatrix 2102-20 in Dallas, which in turn connects to the Mediatrix 2102 in Los Angeles, which in turn "rings" into one of the incoming lines in the Talkswitch in Los Angeles. You are now connected to that Talkswitch. You might set up a custom auto attendant just for the VOIP incoming lines to allow easy routing of calls. If you think about it, now that you are in the Los Angeles Talkswitch system, you could also use call bridge on the Talkswitch to then call any local number in Los Angeles!
You could also have one main office, and another remote office, perhaps in another state. The remote office may only have 1 or 2 phones. In this case, you do not necessarily need a PBX on the remote end. You would buy a Mediatrix 2102-20 for each end if you do not have a VOIP enabled Talkswitch, if you do have a VOIP version, then, you only need a 2102-20 at the remote end. For the remote end, an analog phone could connect directly to the 2102-20, and function as a "remote extension" to the Talkswitch in another state!
Another potential use is when you have 2 buildings in close proximity, and you want to link them without wiring, and, you do not have a VOIP Talkswitch. You could use the 2102-20 with a wireless router to connect the 2 buildings.
Connection of more than 3 ports may require using SIP, which is a call manager that routes calls to the correct place. There are internet sites that can provide SIP services to you (though then you are back to paying perhaps), or, you can run your own SIP server with software we sell from Centrepoint. This is not required if you are using a Talkswitch with VOIP as it has a SIP server inside.
What is the advantage of using Voice over IP (VOIP)? Well, you probably are already paying for a broadband internet connection. So, by using voice over IP, you can now place local calls to the other office, no long distance charges! And using Call Bridge, you can place local calls in the other office local dialing area. So, other than equipment cost, it then becomes free. If you use a lot of hours each month in calls to your other office(s), then VOIP can make very good business sense with a quick payback, perhaps measured in months. The reason for this is you may need one less incoming phone line on each end since you were previously using that for office to office calls.
A quick rundown of the Mediatrix 2102-20 features:
- IP connectivity for analog phones and faxes
- IP connectivity for Talkswitch PBX and Key Systems
- PSTN-quality voice over IP networks (QOS highly desirable)
- Deployable in SIP networks
- Auto configurable, remotely manageable and upgradeable
- Interoperable with equipment from leading industry vendors
- Fax over IP support, including T.38
- Multiple codec support (G.711, G.723.1, G.729)
- Ideal desktop solution
- Additional Ethernet port for PC or LAN connection, provides priority to VOIP
- IEEE 802.3af compliant for Power over LAN
- Ideal for SOHO, residential, small office applications
- 2 RJ11 Phone Connectors, and 2 RJ45 10/100 Lan Connectors
- Measures 8" X 5.5" X 2".
- Typical data rate for voice calls yielding excellent quality is only 14k BPS with compression. But, bandwidth is only used when actually talking! In a typical call, callers are silent 60% of the duration.
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