Frequenty Asked Questions

General

1. IS TALKSWITCH DESIGNED FOR USE IN MY REGION ?
   
   
   TalkSwitch is available in select markets. In the markets where TalkSwitch is available, it is designed to meet local technical and regulatory requirements. Please consult authorized TalkSwitch resellers for details of the TalkSwitch model available in your market. Each TalkSwitch model is only supported is in the market(s) where it is intended for use.
   
   
2. DOES TALKSWITCH WORK WITH ANALOGUE TELEPHONE LINES?
   
   
   TalkSwitch is designed to work with traditional analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephone lines. These may be referred to as ordinary residential or business telephone lines.
   
   
3. DOES TALKSWITCH REQUIRE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS?
   
   
   TalkSwitch only requires broadband Internet access for VoIP networking or remote administration over the Internet. In either case, a separate ADSL or Cable modem and router/gateway will be required.
   
   
4. DOES TALKSWITCH WORK WITH ISDN BRA LINES?
   
   
   TalkSwitch is equipped with analogue telephone line ports. It can work with an ISDN BRA where the NTE provides analogue line ports (ab ports). The NTE must be configured so that each incoming call's directory number rings to only one ab port on the NTE.
   
   
5. HOW DOES TALKSWITCH CONNECT TO MY TELEPHONE LINES AND OFFICE TELEPHONES?
   
   
   TalkSwitch works between your telephone lines and your telephone sets. Each telephone set becomes a local extension off the TalkSwitch, and they are each assigned an extension number. This allows each telephone line to be shared by all of the local extensions. TalkSwitch will work with standard analogue telephone sets that can be used on your telephone company's telephone lines.
   
   
6. WHICH MODEL OF TALKSWITCH DO I REQUIRE?
   
   
   To determine the model of TalkSwitch you require, you need to identify how many telephone lines you require and how many extensions you require. Will you require VoIP networking, and how many simultaneous calls need to be supported? Select a model or set of models that provide the required number of telephone line ports, extension ports and VoIP trunks.
   
   
7. WHAT ARE THE PC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TALKSWITCH CONFIGURATION PROGRAM ?
   
   
   Windows XP, Windows Vista (32-bit) or Windows 2000
   Java Runtime Environment (version 6 update 3 or higher)
   At least 1 GHz processor
   Windows Vista: 1 GB RAM; Windows XP: 512 MB RAM
   220MB Hard Disk Space
   1024x768 Screen Resolution
   
   
8. DO I NEED TWO OR MORE TELEPHONE LINES TO WORK WITH TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   No. You need only sufficient telephone lines to support the number of simultaneous calls you wish to make over the public telephone network.
   
   
9. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY OFFICE'S CALL TRAFFIC IN THE EVENT OF A POWER OUTAGE?
   
   
   TalkSwitch does not operate when there is a power failure. An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) is recommended when continued operation of the TalkSwitch is required during power failures. TalkSwitch will automatically restart itself when power is restored. Your TalkSwitch Reseller can help you select a suitable UPS to use with TalkSwitch.
   
   

Telephones

1. WHICH TELEPHONE SHOULD I USE WITH THE TALKSWITCH SYSTEM?
   
   
   TalkSwitch has been designed to work with standard analogue telephones that can also be used on standard analogue telephone lines. DTMF (Touch-tone) signalling is required. A telephone set with caller display, and a timed break "recall" button are recommended (may be labelled as "Flash" "Conf" or "R").
   
   DECT phones can be used by connecting their base stations to the TalkSwitch extension ports.
   
   TalkSwitch works with FSK message waiting lights.
   
   In addition to standard analogue telephone sets, TalkSwitch is compatible with SIP-based IP phones (when TalkSwitch is running at least version 4 software).
   
   Many other PBX vendors require you to use at least some of their own proprietary telephone sets, so TalkSwitch can save you money if you already have standard analogue telephone sets that you want to use.
   
   
2. WHAT TYPE OF IP PHONE CAN BE USED WITH TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   TalkSwitch will work with SIP-based IP phones, when they are connected to the same LAN as TalkSwitch. TalkSwitch simplifies configuration of the following range of commonly used IP phones by automatically downloading configuration files:
   
   Sipura
   Polycom 30x, 430, 50x, 60x, 650
   Grandstream GPX 2000
   Counterpath Eyebeam (softphone client)
   
   Other makes and models of IP phones can be used, but may require more extensive set-up to work correctly with TalkSwitch. There may be some variations in feature implementation between IP phones. Other models of IP phones may be supported or available in some markets (please contact your local reseller for details).
   
   
3. HOW DO I SET UP AN IP PHONE ON TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   Each local extension with analogue (FXS) ports on TalkSwitch can be switched to working with an IP Phone over the same LAN or VPN as TalkSwitch. Configuring an IP Phone can be complex, but TalkSwitch simplifies configuration by automatically downloading configuration files for select IP phones. From the TalkSwitch Configuration program, enter the IP Phone username, password, select IP Phone type and enter its mac address if requested. On the IP Phone simply enter the TalkSwitch address, username and password. TalkSwitch automatically downloads the required configuration profile to ensure the IP Phone is set up to work as a TalkSwitch extension.
   
   
4. CAN I USE MY MOBILE PHONE AS IF IT WERE AN OFFICE EXTENSION?
   
   
   Yes. A mobile phone can be set up as a Remote Extension with a three-digit extension number (e.g. 210, 211, ... 219).
   
   

   • Callers from the office can ring your extension to reach your mobile phone.
   • Your receptionist can manually transfer incoming office calls to your mobile.
   • The auto attendant can forward calls to you.
   • The call cascade sequence of a local extension can route calls to your mobile phone when you are out of the office.

   
   Remote extensions can use Call Screening, so you can accept calls or reject them and have them transferred back to the office or to your office voicemail. Some restrictions may apply to Remote Extensions where they involve international telephone numbers or international mobile roaming.
   
   
5. DOES TALKSWITCH WORK WITH IP PHONES IN REMOTE LOCATIONS?
   
   
   TalkSwitch treats IP phones as local extensions if they are located on the same LAN as the TalkSwitch unit, and typically offers the same features as a local extension.
   
   
6. DO I NEED TO PURCHASE IP PHONES FOR VOIP NETWORKING?
   
   
   Not at the TalkSwitch office location. Any analogue telephone set will have access to VoIP networking, using the TalkSwitch built-in voice gateway functionality.
   
   

Installation

1. HOW DOES TALKSWITCH CONNECT TO MY TELEPHONE LINES AND OFFICE TELEPHONES?
   
   
   TalkSwitch is connected between your telephone lines and telephone sets. The telephone company telephone lines are connected to the TalkSwitch telephone line ports, and your telephone sets connect to the TalkSwitch extension ports.
   
   
2. WHERE CAN WE LOCATE OUR TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   TalkSwitch units can be located on a desktop, shelf or mounted on a wall. A mounting template and screws are provided for wall mounting. It is recommended that TalkSwitch is placed in a dry location, away from any heat sources, and within 1.5 metres of the telephone line termination point and a power socket.
   
   
3. HOW DO EXTENSIONS GET THEIR NUMBERS ON TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   All TalkSwitch extensions have 3 digits. The first digit indicates whether an extension is local (1) or remote (2). The second number is the unit ID of the TalkSwitch the extension is plugged into. Since each TalkSwitch system can have up to 4 individual units networked together, this digit can be 1, 2, 3 or 4. If you have one TalkSwitch, your second digit will by default be 1. The third number is the extension port number.
   
   
4. HOW DO I CONNECT TALKSWITCH TO TELEPHONE COMPANY LINES?
   
   
   Telephone lines are terminated by the telephone company on sockets, or a connection box.
   
   Where telephone lines are terminated on sockets, use the RJ-11 telephone cables supplied with TalkSwitch to connect the TalkSwitch telephone line ports to the sockets.
   
   Where telephone lines are terminate on a connection box, it is recommended that solid core RJ-11 "Wiring Tails" are used. These can be made by an installer from CAT-5 cabling, or ask your reseller for details.
   
   In some cases, you may encounter an older style of telephone line sockets, in these cases an RJ-11 adaptor will be required.
   
   (Adaptors and RJ-11 Wiring Tails sold separately)
   
   [UK Only] TalkSwitch "-ZA" models are provided with "BT" style telephone cables.
   
   
5. HOW DO I CONNECT EXTENSION TELEPHONE SETS TO TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   Extension telephone sets can be connected directly to the TalkSwitch RJ-11 extension sockets.
   
   Where building wiring for extensions is terminated on a connection box, it is recommended that solid core RJ-11 "Wiring Tails" are used. These can be made by an installer from CAT-5 cabling, or ask your reseller for details.
   
   (Adaptors and RJ-11 Wiring Tails sold separately)
   
   [UK Only:] Some telephone sets may require connection to extension ports through a master socket adaptor (with capacitor).
   
   
6. CAN I INSTALL THE WIRING TO CONNECT TALKSWITCH TO THE TELEPHONES MYSELF?
   
   
   In most countries, you can install the TalkSwitch yourself up to the telephone company's demarcation point (master socket or connection box). Alternatively you can contact your reseller for installation services. Please check with your local reseller for local regulations.
   
   
7. HOW DOES TALKSWITCH CONNECT TO THE COMPUTER?
   
   
   TalkSwitch can be connected to a PC directly using a USB cable or via an ethernet hub or router using a RJ45 – RJ45 LAN (ethernet) cable (supplied with all models). For direct connection between a TalkSwitch and a PC, a LAN cross-over cable can be used (not supplied).
   
   

Configuration

1. IS TALKSWITCH EASY TO SET UP AND CONFIGURE?
   
   
   Yes. TalkSwitch has been designed for ease of installation and set up. The Windows-based PC configuration application is very intuitive and easy to use.
   
   
2. DO I NEED A COMPUTER TO CONFIGURE THE TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   Yes. The TalkSwitch requires a PC running Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista for initial setup and for subsequent changes in the configuration.
   
   
3. DOES TALKSWITCH HAVE TO STAY CONNECTED TO A COMPUTER?
   
   
   No. The PC connection is only required when the TalkSwitch configuration is being changed or saved. It is recommended that USB cables are disconnected when not in use.
   
   
4. DO I NEED TO PURCHASE SPECIAL FEATURE TELEPHONE SETS TO CONFIGURE TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   No. TalkSwitch has been designed to work with standard analogue telephones and uses a PC based application to provide a user-friendly setup.
   
   

Call Features

1. CAN TALKSWITCH ANSWER INCOMING CALLS WITH A "PRESS 1 FOR.., PRESS 2 FOR…" ANNOUNCEMENT?
   
   
   Yes. This feature is called an auto attendant. The TalkSwitch can answer a call with a pre-recorded announcement and direct calls based on the caller's response. Calls can be directed to specific local extensions, remote extensions, ring groups, announcements, voice mailboxes, or other auto attendant positions. Incoming calls can be answered by an auto attendant immediately or after the call has been unanswered for a period of time. TalkSwitch supports 9 separate auto attendants that can be cascaded to form a multi-level IVR system, or assigned to separate lines. The use of greetings can be changed based on time of day, day of week, and for holidays.
   
   
2. HOW ARE AUTO ATTENDANT, VOICEMAIL GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS RECORDED?
   
   
   The auto attendant, voicemail greetings and announcements can be recorded from an extension telephone or professionally recorded and uploaded in a ".wav" file format (8 bit, 8 KHz, u-Law, mono). You will find sample auto attendant greetings in the folder C:\Program Files\TalkSwitch on your PC, after you have installed the TalkSwitch configuration program. A variety of companies offer professional recording services to customized auto attendant greetings.
   
   
3. WHAT IS CALL CASCADE?
   
   
   Call Cascade routes calls through a series of up to 3 alternative options if the called extension is not available to answer the call, is busy or has Do Not Disturb enabled. Call Cascade can be configured to ring other local extensions, Remote Extensions or Ring Groups, or it can send calls to an announcement or voicemail.
   
   
4. DOES TALKSWITCH AUTOMATICALLY DETECT FAXES?
   
   
   Yes. If the auto attendant answers your calls, it can automatically detect faxes and route them to your fax machine. With automatic fax detection, you do not need a dedicated fax line. A second directory number with distinctive ringing can be used with some service providers.
   
   
5. DOES TALKSWITCH WORK WITH SECONDARY DIRECTORY NUMBERS AND DISTINCTIVE RINGING ON THE TELEPHONE LINE?
   
   
   TalkSwitch supports detection of single, double and triple burst distinctive ringing patterns on analogue telephone lines. It can handle calls differently depending on incoming ringing pattern. Such as answering a call with a different auto attendant greeting, routing calls to different extensions, or routing calls to a dedicated extension for a fax machine.
   
   
6. HOW DO DISA AND CALL BACK WORK?
   
   
   Call Back and DISA work together to allow you to place calls through TalkSwitch when you are away from the office.
   
   Call Back provides the capability for the TalkSwitch to call back to a designated telephone number.
   
   DISA (Direct Inward System Access) requires password authentication to allow an incoming call, or call-back call, to bridge to an outgoing telephone line or VoIP trunk.
   
   Both schemes allow you to access the TalkSwitch and benefit from the company's calling plans, with telephone companies or VoIP service providers, and reduce roaming charges.
   
   
7. WHAT DO LINE HUNT GROUPS DO?
   
   
   TalkSwitch automates the selection of an available outside telephone line with Line Hunt Groups. When you place an outbound call from a local extension, TalkSwitch hunts for lines until it finds one available for use.
   
   
8. HOW DO REMOTE EXTENSIONS WORK?
   
   
   Remote Extensions allow mobile employees to stay connected with the office. TalkSwitch Remote Extensions are among the most powerful in the industry. TalkSwitch is able to forward calls received at the office to your mobile phone or any other number (e.g. home, another office). Each TalkSwitch unit in your system has the capacity for 10 Remote Extensions, for a maximum of 40 Remote Extensions in a four-unit TalkSwitch system. Remote Extension calls are forwarded by dialling out on one of your telephone lines. The Remote Extension can select whether they wish to receive or reject the call in which case it can be forwarded to a Voice mailbox, or other options.
   
   Some telephone companies and cellular operators offer ringing tone services whereby the caller receives a tune or announcement in place of ring-back tone. Use of this feature is not recommended on fixed lines or cellular phones used as Remote Extensions.
   
   
9. CAN TALKSWITCH HANDLE INCOMING CALLS DIFFERENTLY AFTER BUSINESS HOURS AND ON HOLIDAYS?
   
   
   Yes. Mode scheduling allows two separate call handling schemes to be set up based on time of day and day of week, plus a separate mode for holidays.
   
   Modes can be switched via your telephone using touch tone commands, or automatically switched at times of day or days of the week that you configure.
   
   
10. WHAT TELEPHONE SERVICE COMPANY CALLING FEATURES DO I NEED WITH TALKSWITCH?
    
    
    Other than basic telephone service, no additional features are required. However you may want to use:
    
    Caller Display – to identify who is calling.
    
    Distinctive Ringing Pattern Services (Call Sign, My Ring, Smart Ring, Multiple Number) a secondary directory number with distinctive ringing on same telephone line. Often used by small businesses for a separate fax number on the same telephone line.
    
    Multi-Line Hunt Service allows one telephone number to be published for a group of telephone lines. Incoming calls hunt through the group of telephone lines to find a free line to connect to TalkSwitch.
    
    Three-Way / Conference Calling allows DISA calls and incoming calls routed to a Remote Extension to the same telephone line for both parts of the call, when TalkSwitch "Same Line Connect" features is activated. This saves using two telephone lines for these types of calls. NOTE this feature compatibility only exists in a few markets, including: US, Canada, UK, Belgium and South Africa.
    
    Telephone Company Voicemail useful to capture any messages from incoming calls if all telephone lines are busy.
    
    Other calling services such as Call Waiting and ones resulting in a Ring Back are not recommended and may cause problems with the operation of a PBX.
    
    (Telephone company features and availability vary by market and telephone company. Please consult your TalkSwitch reseller or telephone company for more details).
    
    
11. HOW DOES TALKSWITCH ANSWER AND TRANSFER MY INCOMING CALLS?
    
    
    TalkSwitch offers lots of flexibility for answering incoming calls and transferring them to ensure they are answered with intelligence.
    
    Incoming calls can be routed to ring through to an individual extension, or set of extensions. The call can be answered by an auto attendant greeting, either immediately or after a timed period if no extensions answer the call.
    
    Call Cascade offers up to three alternative destinations for calls that encounter no answer, busy or do not disturb at an extension. This provides flexibility in how calls are managed – allowing them to be routed to a mobile phone, a secretary, or a colleague, before going to voicemail.
    
    
12. DOES TALKSWITCH HAVE VOICEMAIL?
    
    
    Yes. Each TalkSwitch unit comes with 90 minutes (VS models) of built-in Voicemail capacity that is shared between all voice mailboxes and auto attendant greetings. That means that if all your auto attendant greetings, and downloaded music on hold uses 5 minutes (and that is a lot!) everyone in the office shares the remaining time. The voicemail memory can also be expanded to a least 210 minutes with voicemail expansion options.
    
    
13. HOW DO I ACCESS MY VOICEMAIL WHEN I'M OUT OF THE OFFICE?
    
    
    Call the office and, when answered by an auto attendant, dial **<voice mailbox number>#, then enter your voicemail password.
    
    
14. HOW DO I MAKE OFFICE CALLS FROM MY MOBILE PHONE?
    
    
    DISA (Call Bridge) and Call Back functions allow you to make outgoing calls through TalkSwitch from your mobile phone.
    
    
15. WHAT HAPPENS TO INCOMING PHONE CALLS WHEN THE OFFICE IS CLOSED?
    
    
    You decide with Mode Scheduling. If it is after hours or a holiday, TalkSwitch can be set up to provide different call handling, even selecting a different auto attendant greeting for out-of-hours calls.
    
    

Expansion & Upgrade

1. CAN I UPGRADE VOICEMAIL RECORDING TIME?
   
   
   The voicemail capacity of each TalkSwitch unit can be increased up to at least 210 minutes, using a Voicemail upgrade options.
   
   Note: In multiple TalkSwitch systems, each unit is upgraded separately.
   
   
2. HOW CAN I UPGRADE THE TELEPHONE LINE AND EXTENSION CAPACITY OF MY TALKSWITCH 24-CA OR 240vs?
   
   
   You can purchase Upgrade Kits to increase the port capacity of your TalkSwitch.
   
   
3. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED A 24-CA. CAN I UPGRADE IT TO SUPPORT IP PHONES AND VOIP NETWORKING?
   
   
   Yes – For IP extensions you must at least upgrade to a 48-CA model using the "24-CA to 48-CA Upgrade Kit". For VoIP networking you must add the VoIP networking module.
   
   
4. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SETTINGS AND RECORDINGS WHEN I UPGRADE A TALKSWITCH?
   
   
   All your recordings and settings will be saved when you upgrade TalkSwitch.
   
   
5. HOW CAN I ADD VOIP NETWORKING TO A TALKSWITCH WITHOUT VOIP?
   
   
   You can purchase a VoIP Upgrade Kit to add VoIP Networking to your existing TalkSwitch. Users with a 24-CA model must first upgrade to a 48-CA.
   
   
6. HOW DO I EXPAND MY TALKSWITCH SYSTEM BEYOND A SINGLE-TALKSWITCH UNIT?
   
   
   The modular expansion of the TalkSwitch system allows up to 4 TalkSwitch VS models or 48-CA or 48-CVA models to be connected together over a LAN. With Software version 4, the maximum capacity of a 4 TalkSwitch unit system is 32 local extensions, 40 remote extensions, 16 analogue telephone lines, and 16 VoIP trunks.
   
   
7. HOW ARE TALKSWITCH UNITS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER IN A MULTIPLE-UNIT SYSTEM?
   
   
   TalkSwitch units are connected together over the same LAN Ethernet Switch (not included).
   
   

   When only 2 TalkSwitch VS or 48-CA/CVA units are connected, a LAN "Cross-Over" cable can be used. Where a LAN cross-over cable is used, a USB cable is required to connect the TalkSwitch to a PC.
   
   
8. HOW FAR APART CAN I PLACE THE NETWORKED TALKSWITCH UNITS?
   
   
   The TalkSwitch units should not be more than 100 feet (30m) apart and should not include repeaters, otherwise there may be echoing on the lines. We also recommend that the units be located in a centralized area of the office.
   
   
9. IN A MULTIPLE-UNIT TALKSWITCH SYSTEM, WHICH UNIT DO I CONFIGURE?
   
   
   The TalkSwitch application has separate tabs for each TalkSwitch module, so you can configure all units at once.
   
   
10. HOW DOES CALL HANDLING WORK BETWEEN NETWORKED UNITS?
    
    
    The same way as if you had one unit — seamlessly. When making calls neither you nor your callers will notice the differences between using a single unit and using multiple units.
    
    The only difference is the numbering system for local and remote extensions. When using multiple TalkSwitch units, the second digit of the extension will indicate the unit to which the extension is associated. For example extension 117 means you are connected to unit 1, and extension 125 is located on unit 2.
    
    
11. AS I ADD TALKSWITCH MODULES, DO ALL THE SYSTEM CAPACITIES INCREASE?
    
    
    Most system resources increase with the addition of extra units:
    
    

    • Telephone lines
    • Local Extensions
    • Remote Extensions
    • The number of voice mailboxes
    • Number of announcements
    • Number of auto call back numbers

    
    Note that the following are fixed system-wide resources that do not increase with the addition of extra modules:
    
    

    • Number of Auto Attendants
    • Number of Ring Groups
    • Voicemail Memory capacity – on each unit. The voicemail capacity of each unit is only available to voice mailboxes on that unit.

    
    
12. DOES EACH TALKSWITCH IN A MULTIPLE-UNIT SYSTEM USE AN IP ADDRESS?
    
    
    No. For connections between TalkSwitch units on the same LAN, the TalkSwitch units use Mac addresses to communicate between themselves.
    
    

Using VoIP

1. WHICH INTERNET TELEPHONY (VOIP) SERVICE PROVIDERS DOES TALKSWITCH WORK WITH?
   
   
   TalkSwitch uses SIP VoIP technology for tested and reliable compatibility with a number of service providers. Check out the Service Provider page for the latest list of compatible VoIP Service Providers.
   
   
2. DOES TALKSWITCH WORK WITH SKYPE?
   
   
   Skype is a proprietary PC-to-PC VoIP system, hence we cannot offer TalkSwitch interoperability with Skype at this time.
   
   
3. HOW DOES THE TALKSWITCH WORK WITH VOIP?
   
   
   VoIP is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol, which refers to sending telephone calls over data networks such as the Internet instead of the traditional telephone network. VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch configurations convert the sound of a voice call into data to send over the Internet to another location. As with any IP PBX, TalkSwitch systems require broadband connections in each location, and each location must have a TalkSwitch or a voice gateway to translate the call back into sound on your telephone.
   
   
4. DOES TALKSWITCH WORK IN OVERSEAS LOCATIONS?
   
   
   Yes - TalkSwitch is currently available in a number of countries and is used by many companies to connect between their international offices. Please contact us for more details when planning a network between different countries.
   
   
5. HOW DOES VOIP WORK?
   
   
   Voice over IP, or VoIP, sends calls over the Internet or any Internet Protocol (IP) network by converting voice traffic into data packets. These packets are then routed over the IP network in the same way as other data, reassembled at the point of arrival, and then converted back to voice.
   
   
6. DOES A VOIP CALL SOUND LIKE A REGULAR PHONE CALL?
   
   
   VoIP calls can sound as good, or even better than regular phone calls. In fact many telephone companies already use VoIP within their own networks and for routing traffic to other service providers.
   
   Voice quality can be affected by numerous issues, including how the voice information is compressed for delivery over the Internet, and the bandwidth available to carry VoIP traffic.
   
   
7. IF THE POWER OR NETWORK GOES OUT, DOES THE VOIP STILL WORK?
   
   
   If the broadband internet access fails then it can not carry VoIP traffic. VoIP traffic is dependent equipment in your offices that requires power (e.g. Routers, TalkSwitch, ADSL modems, IP phones, etc). Use an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to avoid a power failure causing the equipment to fail and loss of VoIP service.
   
   
8. I HAVE A FIREWALL AND HEARD THAT IT CAN PREVENT VOIP CALLS FROM PASSING THROUGH. IS THIS TRUE?
   
   
   The purpose of a firewall is to control the kinds of traffic that enter and leave your network. The TalkSwitch is designed with embedded applications to help traverse firewalls properly. If your router or firewall supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), then TalkSwitch should be able to automatically map the required ports from the router/firewall to itself.
   
   If your router/firewall does not support UPnP, you will need to use the port forwarding feature of your router/firewall to manually map the ports.
   
   
9. WHICH PORTS DOES TALKSWITCH CVA USE FOR VOIP?
   
   

   Format	Type	Unit 1	Unit 2	Unit 3	Unit 4
   RTP	UDP	6000-6006	6010-6016	6020-6026	6030-6036
   SIP	UDP	5060	(This port is mapped to a specific TalkSwitch unit)

   
   
10. WHAT IS SIP?
    
    
    The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signalling protocol used for establishing sessions in an IP network. A session could be a simple two-way telephone call or it could be a collaborative multi-media conference session.
    
    Over the last couple of years, the Voice over IP community has adopted SIP as its protocol of choice for signaling. SIP is an RFC standard (RFC 3261) from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the body responsible for administering and developing the mechanisms that comprise the Internet.
    
    The IETF's philosophy is one of simplicity: specify only what you need to specify. SIP is very much of this mould; it just initiates, terminates and modifies sessions. This simplicity means that SIP scales, it is extensible, and it sits comfortably in different architectures and deployment scenarios.
    
    
11. WHAT IS A VPN? CAN A VPN HELP ME TO CARRY DATA SECURELY OVER THE INTERNET?
    
    
    VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. VPNs deliver the advantages of a private network on a shared public infrastructure like the Internet. A VPN provides security by using encryption/decryption. Using a process called ‘tunneling', private data is encrypted and then encapsulated before being sent across the network. These packets of information are sent to their destination. Only those with the correct protocol information are able to enter a company's network.
    
    A VPN is very useful for providing employees with remote access to your company network without compromising security. However, encryption can have a negative impact on the call quality, as the overhead on the network connection is increased. For example, IPSec, one common type of encryption, adds approximately 10 per cent overhead to VPN traffic.
    
    
12. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STATIC IP ADDRESS AND A DYNAMIC IP ADDRESS? WHAT EFFECT DOES THIS HAVE ON VOIP?
    
    
    A Static IP Address is an address that is permanently assigned to a device. Typically, a Static IP Address has to be assigned by the network administrator or Internet Service Provider (ISP).
    
    A Dynamic IP Address is an address that is temporarily assigned to devices by a DHCP or PPP server that maintains and assigns a pool of IP addresses.
    
    When deploying VoIP devices, it's best to have a Static Public IP Address, as this prevents destinations from becoming temporarily unreachable. But since this can be an expensive option, the TalkSwitch 48-CVA supports the ability to handle Dynamic Public IP addresses for the Internet connection. TalkSwitch can automatically check for the current public IP address so that VoIP traffic is properly routed through the NAT.
    
    
13. WHAT IS A SIP SERVER (PROXY AND REGISTRAR)?
    
    
    A SIP server administers the VoIP traffic in your multi-site configuration. The TalkSwitch has a SIP Server fully integrated for easy deployment and maintenance of your VoIP network. If you are deploying a multi-site configuration, which can include other TalkSwitch units, certified 3rd party gateways and certified 3rd party SIP phones, then one of your TalkSwitch can act as the SIP server. The other devices in your configuration will register with this TalkSwitch and all VoIP calls will be negotiated through this TalkSwitch. When you first set up another VoIP device, it will register itself with this TalkSwitch so that calls can be directed to your location.
    
    When you attempt to make a VoIP call, your device will contact the TalkSwitch that is configured as the SIP Server to obtain the contact information for the destination you are trying to reach. Once the information is received, the call is established directly between your location and the destination. The SIP Server is no longer involved in the call.
    
    If the location of the SIP Server has a Dynamic IP Address, then you will have to use Dynamic DNS.
    
    
14. WHAT IS DYNAMIC DNS?
    
    
    Dynamic DNS is a Domain Name Service that is used with Dynamic IP addresses. DNS is used to allow devices to find other devices on the Internet by name rather than by IP address. Dynamic DNS allows you to use a domain name (which does not change) to locate a device with a Dynamic IP address.
    
    There are companies on the Internet which can provide you with a DNS Address, even if your IP address changes. For example www.dyndns.org or hn.org or www.no-ip.com. You should consult with them about how to use their service.
    
    
15. WHAT IS THE DRAWBACK OF USING DYNAMIC DNS?
    
    
    When DNS records are updated, they have to be sent all over the world so that everyone will be aware of the changes. Basically, one DNS server connects to another and swaps information. In many cases, the DNS servers are updated very quickly. But updates can take 15-20 minutes or more to propagate throughout the DNS system during times of extreme Internet traffic.
    
    
16. HOW OFTEN WILL MY PUBLIC IP ADDRESS CHANGE?
    
    
    This depends on the policies of your Internet Service Provider (ISP, the company that provides your Internet access). It can be a matter of days, weeks or even months before your IP address changes. A power loss to your cable or DSL modem usually results in the assignment of a new IP address.
    
    TalkSwitch has technology that helps keep this information up to date so that the system can function properly after an IP address change has been detected and updated.
    
    
17. WHAT IS A PORT NUMBER?
    
    
    In an address like 64.26.209.103:5060, the port number is the number after the colon ‘:'. For this example, 5060 is the specified port.
    
    Port numbers are required so that a computer or device can support multiple applications or streams of simultaneous data communication. Each stream or application uses a unique port number. You can think of it like mailing a letter to friend in an apartment building at a specific address. You need to specify the apartment number as well as the building address, so that the mail can reach the proper final destination.
    
    
18. WHAT IS NAT?
    
    
    Network Address Translation (NAT) allows multiple devices to share the same external IP address to access the Internet. NAT is typically used to allow all the devices in a subscriber's local area network to access the Internet through a router with a single public IP address.
    
    If a VoIP device is sitting behind a NAT, the private IP address assigned to it is not usable for communications outside the private network. The VoIP device must substitute private IP addresses with the proper external IP address. TalkSwitch can automatically check for the current public IP address and substitute the private IP address with the public address so that VoIP traffic is properly routed through the NAT
    
    
19. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC IP ADDRESS AND A PRIVATE IP ADDRESS?
    
    
    A Public IP Address is a globally unique number that identifies a device on the Internet. If you want someone on the Internet to connect to you, then you must tell them your public address. Also known as your "real" or "external" address.
    
    Private IP Addresses are typically assigned to devices on a LAN (Local Area Network) and are not used outside the LAN. These IP addresses are typically used where you have multiple computers all sharing the same Internet connection.
    
    To access the Internet, a computer or VoIP device must have an IP address. So what do you do if your ISP (Internet Service Provider) has provided you with only 1 IP address but you have more than 1 device that requires Internet access? You give each of the devices a Private IP Address. A router makes the different addresses work by performing Network Address Translation (NAT - See the next topic for details).
    
    
20. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT CAN HELP ENSURE CALL QUALITY?
    
    
    1. High-speed connections on both ends of the call: Good quality VoIP is not possible over a dial-up modem connection. Faster broadband connections can support several simultaneous VoIP calls.
    2. A reserved link between locations (ie. a Virtual Private Network [VPN] or private Wide Area Network [WAN]): This can eliminate or reduce delay associated with routing packets over the Internet.
    3. The right compression algorithm (CODEC) for your location: TalkSwitch supports 3 CODECs. The default CODEC is G.729, which uses approximately 20Kbps bandwidth upstream (your voice going out) and 20Kbps bandwidth downstream (your caller's voice coming in) for each call. G.729 provides very good call quality while minimizing bandwidth usage.

    
    The G.726 (32Kbps) CODEC provides better voice quality. However, it requires more bandwidth per call. A G.726 call typically requires 50Kbps bandwidth upstream and 50Kbps bandwidth downstream.
    
    The G.711 CODEC provides the best voice quality. The trade off is the bandwidth requirement. G.711 calls typically require 100Kbps bandwidth upstream and 100Kbps bandwidth downstream.
    
    For example, if you have a typical 1Mbps ADSL connection from your service provider, you usually have an upstream bandwidth of approximately 380 Kbps. But just because the service provider says that you have 380 Kbps upstream bandwidth does not mean that the full 380 Kbps is always available. A conservative approach is to estimate just over half of the upstream bandwidth is available. In this case, you could safely support 2 simultaneous G.711 calls, 4 simultaneous G.726 calls or 10 simultaneous G.729 calls. These estimates do not factor in other data traffic on the network. With additional traffic, the number of simultaneous calls supported by the link is reduced.