Adding telephony to a data switch

[kjacko]

ok, here's the deal

standard network;
each pc has a wallplate with 2 x rj45 sockets, one connects to the pc to allow network/internet access, all standard stuff really.
The other is required for voice, whereby the pc user just plugs their phone into it and it works, enough said.
Now the comms rack has just a 24-port data switch at present and the telephony people have just installed a live phone line and thats it.
So, what is needed to allow the 2nd rj45 port to be used for telephony (apart from phone handsets )
A voice panel of some sort? some kind of convertor?

Any and all advice appreciated.

 

[plugwash]

I presume all the ports from the desks are run back to a patch panel inside the communications rack with one port from each desk patched through to the network hub and the second port left unconnected at the patch panel?

Your first descision is whether to go for a VOIP based system, a conventional PBX with digital extentions or a conventional PBX with analog extentions.

In the case of a VOIP system your voip box would connect to the line and then to a network swtich which would then connect to the phones. I would suggest keeping the VOIP and main networks seperate for security and voice. Since it's all ethernet no special wiring should be needed.

With a conventional PBX and phones you will have to look at what connectors the PBX and phones you have decided on uses and then work out if you need adaptors to connect them to your existing wiring.

 

[breezer]

I am sorry but since you said

...........the telephony people have just installed a live phone line and thats it.

i have to ask is this a commercial premises?

are you insured to carry out this work? and could you not ask the telephony people their opinion? they mus have seen what you want to do before

 

[kjacko]

yes, its commercial.
I will be installing the network, no problem there. But the particular system the client is having installed is according to different people i speak to at the suppliers is either just a live line, or a live line patch into a voice panel, which would then be fine.
VOIP is not on the cards, sorry i should have made that clear in the op.
Telephony cabling termination ie easier than network since not as mnay pairs are needed.
Its a green office so there is nothing in there at the moment.
ntlbusiness are very vague...

I presume all the ports from the desks are run back to a patch panel inside the communications rack with one port from each desk patched through to the network hub and the second port left unconnected at the patch panel?

Yes, that's how i'll install it until i know the exact installation specs of the telephony system.

 

[dannyboi2003]

To comment on what plugwash said about keeping the data and VOIP networks separate, thats a very "old" approach and no longer nessesary. Where i work we have over 1000 pc's and a few hundred VOIP handsets, all run on the same physical network but we have implemented VLAN'S which are effectively several virtual networks within one single network. This allows you to reduce hardware costs yet still gives you the security and peace of mind knowing a fault on one VLAN isn't likely to affect all others.

 

[kjacko]

Thanks for the replies guys, but any chance of keeping it on topic please?

VOIP will not be used here.
Its simply a matter of whether the provider has the line-in terminated at a patch panel which i assume would then be fairy easy to route, or whether its terminate at a DB box, thus requiring a relevent voice patch panel to route to the relevent ports on the presentation panel.

Seemples!

 

[dannyboi2003]

Hi kjacko,

What sort of line has been provided, is it a standard analogue line or is at an ISDN2 or ISDN30 line. If its just a standard line that the customer wants to patch out to a single handset then just make up a lead with a telephone plug one end and an RJ45 plug the other, remember the line over cat5 will use cores 4/5 and you will need a suitable mod-tap adaptor at the socket end.

If there is going to be a telephone system then the line goes to that first then you break the extensions out to a patch panel and patch them to where they are required. I should point out that if an ISDN line has been provided then your probably looking at a telephone system setup.

i've worked with telephone systems and data networks for almost 10 years now, have installed hundreds of data points and several cabinets so if you need any help at all mate just ask.

All the best
Dan

 

[kjacko]

Thanks danny,
as far as i know it's a system called 'Centrex' by ntlbusiness. It will, allegedly give them 7 extensions (and lines) as each extension can be on an external call at any given time.
So, with that in mind i'd expect them to terminate it with a voice panel, which i can then just patch into the presentation panel.

 

[dannyboi2003]

Ahh that makes things a lot clearer. Essentially what they will provide you with are 7 analogue lines, they can either provide them to standard phone sockets or to a patch panel (which is what you want) so you can then patch them around the office at your leisure. All you'll need are some mod-tap adaptors to convert the socket from an RJ45 to a BT style socket, you'll need to make sure they are "master" types too. Each line will have its own DDI (external number) and from memory the last two digits of each number form its extension number if you want to make internal calls or transfer a call from one line to another, i think you have to press * or # before the extension. Basically its like having a telephone system but not as your using NTL's own system.

Hope all that makes sense, so all you need really is a suitable patch panel as NTL wont provide this, some patch leads, mod-tap adaptors and some standard telephone handsets. To quote what you said earlier - seemples!

All the best
Dan

 

[kjacko]

Than danny, thats a big help.
Handset; at our place our handset cables are terminated with RJ-11 which just plug into the RJ-45 ports.
Would we not just buy a handset with RJ-11 plugs on the end?

 

[dannyboi2003]

If the lines are provided direct to the patch panel then patched out to the sockets you will need "master" mod-tap adaptors which contain the components required to make the phone ring. Without them your phones wont ring

If you had a telephone system with digital handsets then you could do as you say and plug the RJ11 plugs directly into the wall.

 

[kjacko]

ahaa...i see now, so once the handset are sourced i just need'master' mod tap adaptors like these?
http://www.cablecity.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=439&ref=6

 

[dannyboi2003]

Yep thats the ones