Line Sharing Between Two Phone Systems

Scope

This article describes how to share POTS lines between two Telos Hx6, iQ6, or Nx systems.

Description

Sometimes request lines or a hotline will need to be shared with another phone system. This document is meant to show you how to do that. It presumes that an Ethernet network is already set up, the phone systems have IP addresses already configured, and both phone systems are on the same network. It also presumes that the phone line has a dial tone.

YES !!: You can share lines from one of these systems with another. For example, an Nx12 can share POTS lines with an Hx6 and vice versa.

Step 1: Split the POTS Lines

In this example, we will share one phone line on line position 1.

Use a line splitter to send tip and ring in parallel to the same line position of both phone systems:

This example is one of the few occasions that we will recommend bridging/splitting phone lines between devices.
NOTE: For the sake of this document, we will say that Phone System A is using IP address 192.168.2.200, and Phone System B is using IP address 192.168.2.210. Your IP configuration will probably be different.

Step 2: Set Up Line Sharing (Phone System A)

  1. Log in to the Web Interface of Phone System A
  2. Navigate to the SETUP WIZARD or SHOW SETUP page
  3. Under the SHOW LINE CONFIGURATION section, enter the IP address for Phone System B in the LINES SHARED WITH field.
  4. Check the SHARED WITH... checkbox next to the appropriate line position
  5. Click APPLY

Step 3: Set up Line Sharing (Phone System B)

  1. Log in to the Web Interface of Phone System B this time.
  2. Navigate to the SETUP WIZARD or SHOW SETUP page
  3. Under the SHOW LINE CONFIGURATION section, enter the IP address for Phone System A in the LINES SHARED WITH field this time.
  4. Check the SHARED WITH... checkbox next to the appropriate line position
  5. Click APPLY

Once this is complete, the phone systems will share line status. For example, this line will show ringing in both studios when an incoming call rings in. The call can be taken from either system.

If a call is active on line position 1 of Phone System A, line position 1 of Phone System B will show the unavailable / used elsewhere symbol until the line is idle again.

When this line is placed On-Hold on Phone System A, it will also show as On-Hold on Phone System B, and the call can be taken from either phone system.

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