[OPLINTECH] Phone systems

Wed Sep 1 16:46:49 EDT 2021

For using Interfax with a copier, I configured Interfax as a saved email
contact, and posted simple instructions for patrons (choose Fax email,
input your 10-digit fax number, scan the document to be faxed). I also
experienced what Joe mentioned - while the success rate was generally high
with digital faxing, the local ODJFS often failed to receive digital faxes,
and the library would fall back on a POTS fax machine.

I'm glad to know about the solutions Tyson and Sam shared!

Jessica D. Dooley
Infrastructure Specialist
Ohio Public Library Information Network
jessica at oplin.ohio.gov
614-728-5254

On Wed, Sep 1, 2021 at 1:49 PM Sam Lewis via OPLINTECH <
oplintech at lists.oplin.org> wrote:

> For faxing with actual fax modems in the copiers, we use a Grandstream
> HT802 device at each copier. Plugs into the network and registers on our
> system (Zultys) as any other VoIP phone, and then has a classic RJ11 port
> on it that plugs into the copier’s fax port, which thinks it is a real POTS
> line. Faxes can be sent and received without any difference to the end
> user. This also works well for our elevator phone line, which exhibited a
> dramatic increase in audio quality when moving from the POTS to the HT802.
>
>
>
> Our VoIP system also provides digital faxing built in – they come in as
> e-mail and can be sent out with a virtual printer (print-to-fax similar to
> print-to-PDF).
>
>
>
> Sam Lewis
>
> Systems Administrator
>
>
>
> *From:* OPLINTECH <oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org> * On Behalf Of *Joe
> Knueven via OPLINTECH
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 1, 2021 13:17
> *To:* oplintech <oplintech at lists.oplin.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [OPLINTECH] Phone systems
>
>
>
> Ok, first I want to add in a +1 for OnSIP for the record of anyone who
> searches this thread later.  I can confirm everything Jessica and Tyson
> have said.  They are the only hosted PBX that seems to make sense in a
> library (I guess most small businesses don't have more handsets than
> FTEs..)  I also need feel a need to emphasize Jessica's point about number
> portability.  You want it in writing from someone not in sales that the new
> service can actually port your number.  I learned this the hard way several
> years back.
>
>
>
> Second, with digital faxing and offering this as a self-service option via
> a copier using interfax or any other online fax service, did you simply
> configure one of the contacts on the copiers scan to email as the fax
> service?
>
> Or was there some cool way to configure the built in fax modem to use the
> digital service?
>
>
>
> At one of my locations I've left the fax machine on a POTS line, partially
> because we have a couple of other services that depend upon analog lines,
> but also because long long ago far far away, I couldn't find a way to setup
> digital faxing that wasn't convoluted for the staff (let alone the public)
> to use and then also in my testing I noticed that most faxes that were sent
> to the local ODJFS office in my county would silently fail to deliver while
> an analog fax machine on a POTS line would get through (eventually).  [fail
> to deliver silently as in the service would tell staff that the fax went
> through successfully at the time of sending, but if you checked on it 30-60
> minutes later would find they couldn't deliver it..]
>
>
>
> If digital faxing has improved since then, I'd love to ditch analog fax
> machines and maybe a POTS line.
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Joe
>
>
>
> Joe Knueven, Director
>
> Wilmington Public Library
>
> 268 N South Street
>
> Wilmington, OH 45177
>
> 937-382-6165 x101 (direct)
>
> 937-382-2417 (public)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---- On Wed, 01 Sep 2021 10:34:59 -0400 *Jessica Dooley via OPLINTECH
> <oplintech at lists.oplin.org <oplintech at lists.oplin.org>>* wrote ----
>
>
>
> I also had a good experience switching from POTS to OnSIP for hosted VOIP
> with Yealink phones (bought separately). What differentiated OnSIP was that
> they offered a per-feature pricing model, as an alternative to the per-user
> model. Since libraries have many more handsets than lines, buying a set of
> features rather than a quantity of users enabled me to switch to OnSIP for
> 30% of what the library paid for the same number of POTS lines. It was
> highly configurable, as well, and both the handset features and system
> features (such as pre-scheduling announcement messages for holiday dates,
> etc) were a big hit. As with any phone migration, the only big caveat is to
> ensure the vendor can verify your local numbers' portability in writing
> before committing.
>
>
>
> For digital faxing, I used Interfax. I agree with all Tyson's points about
> the benefits of digital faxing! Interfax is just a volume digital fax
> vendor, so it can be a cost efficient option, and give you flexibility
> about how you'll configure email addresses, copiers, staff management, etc.
> The library offered self-serve outbound faxing via copiers, and inbound
> faxes went to a shared mailbox that staff could print on request. When I
> last worked with that setup, I did not yet have a way to vend - a managed
> services provider might close that self-service vending gap.
>
>
>
> The other caveat that may arise about removing all POTS lines is whether
> any system is using the POTS lines for monitoring (fire, elevator,
> security, etc). Some monitoring services will offer cellular modem as an
> alternate communication method. In some situations (such as for elevators),
> local regulations may require that a dedicated POTS line be retained. It
> can be worth factoring these costs into migration planning.
>
>
>
> Jessica D. Dooley
>
> Infrastructure Specialist
>
> Ohio Public Library Information Network
>
> jessica at oplin.ohio.gov
>
> 614-728-5254
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 1, 2021 at 9:56 AM Tyson Horton via OPLINTECH <
> oplintech at lists.oplin.org> wrote:
>
> We went with a company called Onsip with Grandstream phones. We have been
> happy so far. We started using them a couple years ago. We also had to work
> with our local Copy/Printer company, that maintains our printers and
> scanners, to get set up with a virtual faxing system (Efax) to eliminate
> our fax lines as well, but keep our number. All of our faxes still go out
> through a copy/scanner from our number, but the incoming faxes come in to
> an email address. That took some getting used to with the staff, but we
> have been managing well. It greatly decreased our "junk faxes" that come
> in. You are able to preview before you print, so that is nice.
>
>
>
> www.onsip.com
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 31, 2021 at 3:27 PM Colleen Sandusky via OPLINTECH <
> oplintech at lists.oplin.org> wrote:
>
> We are looking at replacing our phone system soon. Does anyone have any
> recommendation? Any systems to stay away from? We are not interest in VOIP
> and we have less than 20 handsets with 4 lines. We are currently using an
> Executone system, which is fine but was obsolete when it was purchased.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Colleen Sandusky
> Loudonville Public Library
>
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