We offer a full range of telephones that are tailor-made to work with TalkSwitch, but you're not tied to our phones. TalkSwitch works with standard analog telephones, including cordless and cordless digital (900 MHz, 2.4 GHz) phones. TalkSwitch also works with selected IP phones and softphones.

Yes, with two options for connection.

Most two-line phones have separate plug-ins for two incoming telephone lines (line 1 and line 2). If your two-line telephone does not have separate plug-ins, you can use a "Line 1 / Line 2" line splitter to separate the two lines.

Option #1 (Use your phone as one TalkSwitch Extension):
Disregard the telephone's Line 2 jack (plug-in). Connect the telephone's Line 1 plug-in to any one of TalkSwitch's extension jacks. You will still be able to access both telephone lines in the same manner as if you were using a single line telephone attached to TalkSwitch.

Option # 2 (Use your phone as two TalkSwitch extensions.):
You could use your two-line telephone as two separate TalkSwitch extensions. Connect the telephone's Line 1 and Line 2 plug-ins to two separate extension jacks.

Yes, except for the TalkSwitch 24-CA. See our list of approved IP phones and softphones.

Via your LAN, the same way a computer does. IP phones use your computer network to carry your telephone calls. In many cases the phone at a workstation will be plugged into the computer, which is then plugged into the LAN.

In larger offices, you (or your IT manager) might choose to keep your IP phones and your computers on separate IP networks, in which case you'll plug them in to a dedicated network socket, which is connected to the TalkSwitch Ethernet port.

No. IP phones use minimal bandwidth on the internal network and generally run at speeds of 80 to 100 kbps. If you are running a gigabit network you should not connect a PC to the LAN through an IP phone, because TalkSwitch IP phones support 10/100 base-T not 10/1000 base-T. However, having IP phones on your network will not cause slowdowns. 

No. VoIP is the service by which you make and receive phone calls over the Internet. An IP phone will function with traditional phone lines as well as with Voice over IP phone lines. Using IP phones in no way limits you to VoIP phone service. With TalkSwitch, you are still free to choose the type of provider that works best for you, regardless of the type of phones you decide to use.

IP phones will not work without power, but analog phones can. In the event of a power outage, all calls get routed over line 1 to jack E4 (extension 114). If you have an analog phone connected to jack E4, it will continue to function. No other extensions will function, whether they are analog or IP phones. Even if you choose IP phones for your system, you may want to keep a spare analog phone handy. Keeping in touch in a power outage is as simple as connecting an analog phone to jack E4. Once the power comes back, the system will resume normal function.

Yes! TalkSwitch TS-350i, TS-5501, TS-9133i and TS-480i telephones have line appearance. Depending on how you want to view your calls and lines, you can also get the Attendant Console software, which allows all users to see and control their calls directly on their PCs.

TalkSwitch works with any standard amplified wired or wireless headset manufactured by Plantronics, Jabra, Addcom, Accutone and VXI.

Lines are the connections to the telephone network supplied to you by your telephone company. Extensions are the telephones attached to telephone lines. TalkSwitch allows two or more extensions to use the same line.

For example, if you have 2 telephone lines connected to your TalkSwitch system, 2 people can make outbound or take inbound calls at the same time. While they're on the phone, the remaining extensions can speak to each other or retrieve voicemail, but anyone trying to make an outbound call would hear a rapid busy signal.

Yes, and many TalkSwitch customers do. TalkSwitch installation is designed to be simple enough that customers can do it themselves. The complexity of the installation depends on the wiring in your office. It is particularly straightforward in any new office building with typical "star" wiring. If this is the case, you will only need to plug in your phones. Alternatively, you can hire an Authorized TalkSwitch Reseller to wire and/or install TalkSwitch for you.

TalkSwitch Authorized Resellers can install and configure your system for you.

Yes. Although there is no direct connection for a T1 Line, TalkSwitch can work with a T1 Line and a Multiplexer (MUX), which splits the T1 into regular analog phone lines that can be plugged into the TalkSwitch.

Yes. TalkSwitch is covered with a one-year limited warranty on the entire contents of the TalkSwitch package.

In addition to the one-year limited warranty, all TalkSwitch units sold in the United States and Canada are eligible for extended warranties. TalkSwitch extended warranties cover one, two, or four additional years.

As with any phone system, you can only make or receive as many simultaneous phone calls as you have phone lines. If all your lines are in use, incoming callers will receive a busy signal, and further extensions will be unable to make external calls.

TalkSwitch remote extensions allow you to stay connected anywhere. Remote extensions are external phones that TalkSwitch treats as local extensions. Calls made to your office can be forwarded by TalkSwitch to any other land line, cell phone or pager you choose. Once you've entered the remote phone number (up to 10 per TalkSwitch unit) in the TalkSwitch configuration, it's accessed by a 3-digit remote extension number. Calls are forwarded by dialing out on one of your phone lines. 

Yes. If your calls are answered by the Auto Attendant, it can automatically detect faxes and route them to your fax machine. With automatic fax detection, you don't need a dedicated fax line.

Yes. With Mode Scheduling, 3 sets of call answering options can be set up. You can greet callers with one message during business hours, a different one after hours and another on holidays. After-hours calls can also be routed to available staff, a different number, or directly to voicemail.

Modes can be switched via your telephone using touch-tone commands, or automatically switched at times of day, days of the week or holidays that you configure.

TalkSwitch can work with call waiting, but we don't recommend it for use with the system. Because the Auto Attendant is unable to respond to a call waiting interruption, incoming calls will be handled inconsistently. We recommend adding an extra line if your call volume is too large for your current configuration.

Yes. Although the TalkSwitch built-in voicemail handles all of your messaging needs, keeping your phone company voicemail is a good idea if you anticipate receiving more calls than you have lines to accommodate. Your phone company voicemail can capture callers who would otherwise receive a busy signal. 

Call cascade is a powerful, flexible feature of TalkSwitch that routes calls through a series of options if the targeted extension isn't available. Call Cascade settings can be configured to ring other local extensions, remote extensions or ring groups, or it can send calls to another announcement or to voicemail. Different call cascades can be triggered depending on whether the target extension is busy, not answered, on "do not disturb" or screens the call.

Toll restriction prevents selected extensions of your system from placing long distance calls.

Call back and call bridge work together to save you money by allowing you to place calls from your office telephone system when you are away from the office. For example, you can check your voicemail and place some calls from your system while you're at a hotel overseas. Instead of using expensive hotel lines, you can have TalkSwitch call you at the hotel. Once that call is connected, you can access your system and place calls through TalkSwitch. This allows you to take advantage of your office long distance savings plan while you're on the road.

Once connected, you can call extensions, check Voicemail, change system settings and access Call Bridge, which allows you make outbound calls using the TalkSwitch phone lines.

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 finds an available line. You can also activate automatic route selection to have TalkSwitch automatically place specific kinds of calls on specific lines. For example, you can constrain long distance calls to lines or VoIP trunks that have particularly good long distance rates.

Yes. Voicemail capacity can be increased by 1, 2, 4.5 or 9 hours per TalkSwitch unit by adding TalkSwitch memory cards.

The maximum capacity of TalkSwitch systems is 32 lines, 32 VoIP trunks, 64 local and 40 remote extensions. You can increase the capacity of your TalkSwitch system up to these limits by either adding upgrade kits, additional IP extensions or networking multiple systems.

VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch systems use the Internet in addition to the traditional telephone network for calls, which can improve your integration over multiple locations and save you money. TalkSwitch can use VoIP to seamlessly, cost-effectively connect locations or to connect to a VoIP service As with any IP PBX, VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch systems require broadband connections.

TalkSwitch is currently in use in many countries outside of North America, but because different countries have different voltage requirements, dial tones and telecommunication regulations, we recommend you contact us for specific details about operability in your location.

Yes. Any VoIP-enabled TalkSwitch system can be connected to VoIP services from any of our approved service providers.

You can record a new message using a local extension or remote phone.
 

1. Pick up a local extension, or dial into the TalkSwitch system from a remote phone. If you pick up a local extension, you will hear the dial tone. If you dial in from a remote phone, the auto attendant will answer.
2. Enter command mode by either pressing # on an analog extension phone, or *55# on a TalkSwitch IP phone (note: other brands may use *55 Send or *55 Dial).
3. Enter the system password, followed by #.
4. Dial 4 [auto attendant number 1 - 9] # to record the message. For example, dial 41# to record the message for auto attendant 1.
5. Press # when you have completed saying the message.
6. Dial 5 [auto attendant number 1 - 9] # to listen to the message. For example, dial 51# to listen to the message for auto attendant 1.
7. Repeat Steps 4 to 6 to re-record the message, or hang up to keep the message.

The format is 8000 Hz, 8-bit, mono, µ-law. This is the only format that can be imported into TalkSwitch. Higher-quality formats, such as MP3, are not necessary since phone lines do not allow higher bandwidth and only support mono audio.

Recording in the right format is easy to do from your computer, as long as you have a microphone and the right audio software. There is free audio software available. Learn more about recording for TalkSwitch.

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software and select Extensions and Voicemail -> General Voice Mailboxes.
    
2. In the Mailbox Greeting section, click the Load Greeting button. The Load Greeting window appears.
    
3. Click the Browse button to browse to where your .wav files is located. Select your .wav file and click the Load Greeting button, then the Load button. The file is now loaded to the unit.

This may be a result of two different situations:

1. If the line is currently busy and you do not have the hunt/rollover service from the phone company, then the call will go into voicemail.
    
2. If calls are ringing, then going into voicemail, TalkSwitch may be set to answer after a predetermined number of rings that is larger than the number of rings set for your phone company voicemail.
   
   To remedy this situation, decrease the number of rings before the auto attendant answers (see below) or increase the number of rings before your phone company voicemail answers.

To decrease the number of rings before an auto attendant answers:

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Lines and Greetings -> Telephone Lines. The Telephone Lines section appears.
    
2. Under the Call Handling section, set the Routing option to less than the phone company's voicemail number of rings, or to immediately.

1. Select the Scheduling page in the TalkSwitch configuration software.

2. Select the Enable holiday mode checkbox to enable Holiday mode. The window enables the Settings button.

3. Click Settings. The Holiday Settings window appears. The calendar shows the current date in green.

 

4. Select your country in the Populate calendar with holidays observed in the list, and then click Populate. The calendar will show your country's statutory holidays in grey.

5. Using the calendar, select the month and then click the date of the holiday. The date is added to the Selected Dates area, and the calendar will show the date in blue. Click the date again to remove it.

6. Repeat Step 5 until all required holidays have been added.

7. Select the mode in the Use the following call cascade settings for Holiday Mode. Choices are Mode 1 and Mode 2. This setting determines whether extensions will use their Mode 1 or Mode 2 call cascades during Holiday Mode.

Configure Holiday Mode call handling settings:

1. Select either the Telephone Lines or VoIP Numbers page in the TalkSwitch configuration software, depending upon your line type.

2.Select the Holiday Mode (or similar label) tab under the Call Handling section of the page.
 

3. Select the call handling action. Choices are:

- go to auto attendant -- Plays the selected auto attendant.
- go to voicemail -- Accesses the selected voice mailbox.

4. If you selected go to auto attendant, select the auto attendant you wish to play in Holiday mode. You can assign the same auto attendant to multiple telephone lines. Alternatively, if different organizations share the TalkSwitch system, a different auto attendant can be assigned to each telephone line.

5. If you selected go to voicemail, select the voice mailbox. You can select a local extension mailbox, remote extension mailbox, or general voice mailbox.

6. Select when the system will perform call handling. Choices are:

- immediately -- The system will immediately perform call handling without using the ring sequence. Selecting immediately will disable the Edit button and other ring sequence controls.
- after 1 ring to after 9 rings -- The system will follow the ring sequence first, and then perform call handling if no one answers.

Information concerning setting up Auto Attendants or General Voice Mailboxes can be found in the TalkSwitch User Guide.

For optimal performance, we recommend 3 handsets per base.

If this happens intermittently, the handset is just searching for a DECT channel. If the message is always present, the handset is out of range from the base or there is a registration problem.

It takes approximately 2 minutes to register handsets to the base after the base has been powered up or reset. A base will only allow handsets to register for 5 minutes. In order to re-synchronize a phone to the base, you must press the reset button on the back of the base, and then, on the handset, select System settings -> Handset settings -> Deregister handset. This will automatically deregister the handset from its base and resynchronize it to the base you have just reset.

Verify handset is in range of the base:
 

1. Move the handset closer to the base, place it in the charger, and reset the base.
    
2. If it still won't register, press the reset button on the back of the base, and then, from the handset, select System settings -> Handset settings -> Deregister handset. Place the handset in the cradle to restart the registration process.

One at a time. Configure the first base and its phones as shown in the User Guide. Wait 5 minutes to allow the handsets to register to the correct base station and end the registration period for that base. Repeat the process for additional bases.

Reject sends a ringing call to a call cascade option. If the extension is configured as IP extension, the call will follow the Busy call cascade. If your phone is connected to the TalkSwitch phone system as an analog extension, a rejected call will follow the No Answer call cascade.

Up to two TS-850i handsets on a single 850i base can conference with an external party.

These are placeholders for future features.

Verify the following:

1. Check that the Ethernet cable between the WAN port on the base and the LAN port on your switch or router is properly connected.
    
2. Verify the base can retrieve an IP address. In Settings -> Network settings-> IP Mode, check that the IP mode corresponds to the IP mode of your router or Internet connection.

1. It's possible your router is blocking the ports required to communicate with the TS-850i update server on the Internet.
    
2. Ensure you have Internet access from the TS-850i base. The I-NET indicator should be lit. If you have Internet connectivity, you will need to configure your router to place the IP address of the TS-850i into the DMZ. If you require assistance, please contact TalkSwitch support.

The phone firmware could be corrupted, or it cannot be loaded. Click here for instructions on updating the firmware.

The phone is not correctly registered with the TalkSwitch system. This commonly occurs with external IP extensions if the correct ports are not open in the firewall. Go to the IP Configuration section in the TalkSwitch management software and run the Check Firewall test. If errors occur, ensure they are resolved.

Ensure the phone has the correct public IP address for the TalkSwitch system. If using a FQDN, try inputting the TalkSwitch unit’s current public IP address.

The HTTP port is not correctly mapped, or is being blocked at the TalkSwitch location. Go to the IP Configuration section of the TalkSwitch management software and run the Check Firewall test. If errors occur, ensure they are resolved. If the problem persists, go to Troubleshooting -> Extensions -> IP Extensions and try changing the HTTP port to another value. The default is 8484.

The phone could not find the TalkSwitch on the network. This may occur if a switch or router is blocking multi-cast packets. Try connecting the phones to the same switch as the TalkSwitch system, or go into the phones on-screen menu, select Options — Network Settings -> TFTP Server — Primary TFTP and enter the private IP address of your TalkSwitch unit. Save and reboot your phone for the changes to take effect.

The L keys on the bottom of the 480i, and in the middle of the 9133i phone are not line appearance keys. They allow management of multiple calls. The 7 keys on the right hand side of the 9133i can display line status information, and the soft keys on the screen of the 480i can be set to display line status.

This is a TalkSwitch feature called Call Pickup and there are two ways to do it.
 

1. To get the most recent ringing telephone line, press *9.
   
    

To connect to a specific ringing extension, press *7, then enter the extension number.

This may be a problem with the flash length. To resolve this problem, adjust the accepted flash length to work with all phones in your location.

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Troubleshooting -> Extensions -> Regular Analog Extensions. The Regular Analog Extensions section appears.
   
    
2. Under Flash/Recall Key Operation, (the default minimum is 400ms and the maximum is 800ms), increase the Maximum length by 50ms if calls placed on hold get disconnected. Decrease the Minimum length by 50ms if calls cannot be placed on hold.
   
    
3. Try the above settings and adjust as required. You may also need to adjust the setting on all your phones.

Complete silence at a local extension may result from a faulty line cord.

1. Find an existing extension that is operational and swap the phone (cord included) with the bad extension.
   
    
2. If the swapped extension works, then plug the original phone back in using a new line cord.
   
    
3. If this works, then simply replace the original line cord, as the wires may be reversed or damaged.
   
    
4. If the problem still persists with a new extension and line cord, reboot TalkSwitch and test again.
   
    
5. If the problem still persists, please contact Technical Support for further assistance.

During a power outage, or during initial set up, the phone may not have the time set on the screen. To set the correct time, confirm that the TalkSwitch system has the correct time configured in the configuration software. Next, call the extension without the time from another extension. Let the phone ring twice until you see the extension number appear on the screen.

If you are forwarding calls to a remote extension over a second line, there will be some volume loss created by bridging two lines together. Ensure that you have calibrated your phone lines, under Troubleshooting -> Telephone Lines -> Audio.

If the line levels are still too low, you may need to have the phone company 3-Way Calling service added to your line(s) and use Same Line Connect to forward the calls.

If you are on a cell phone call and it has voicemail, calls will automatically go to the cell phone voicemail. If you do not want callers to leave voicemail at your cell phone, you can enable the play accept/reject option on your remote extension. This will prompt you that you have a forwarded call and you can accept or reject the call. If no selection is made, then the call will follow the reject call cascade sequence.

To enable play accept/reject on your remote extension:

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Extensions and Voicemail -> Remote Extensions.
   
    
2. Under Call Handling, click on the Answered tab. The options for Answered appear.
   
    
3. Change the configuration from stay connected to play accept/reject prompt or play caller's name first.
   
    

Configure the cascade sequence if a call is rejected from this ext. to go to the voice mailbox of your choice.

You must first have the 3-Way Calling service from your phone company on all lines involved.

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Lines and Greetings -> Telephone Lines. The Telephone Lines section appears.
   
    
2. Under Telephone Company Services, check the 3-Way Calling box for each line.
   
    
3. Select Extensions and Voicemail -> Remote Extensions. The Remote Extensions section appears.
   
    
4. Select the Remote Extensions that will use this feature and check the Use Same Line Connect box.

Rollover (Hunt) is a phone company feature that allows calls to be forwarded to another line if the first line is busy. Most businesses with two or more lines subscribe to the rollover service so that only one phone number needs to be published for customers. You should configure all TalkSwitch lines that are part of the rollover group to answer in the same fashion. This feature is located in the Lines and Greetings -> Telephone Lines -> Telephone Company Services section.

A line hunt group is a feature that allows you to access an available phone line by dialing 9, or 81–88, rather than checking each line one at a time. By default, TalkSwitch is configured to hunt group 9 so that it will check each line starting at Line 4, through to Line 1. You have the ability to modify this or any other hunt group. Lines are hunted in the order they are listed in the TalkSwitch management software, under Lines and Greetings -> Line Hunt Groups

This will occur if phone lines are not wired correctly. We suggest using single-line phone cable (two-wire cable) to connect TalkSwitch to your lines. Connect the single-line phone cord between the unit and the phone jack and see if the problem persists. To check if a cord is single-line or two-line cord, look at a jack on either end of the cord. If there are two gold pins, then it is a single-line cord. If there are four gold pins, then it is a two-line cord.

Ensure the correct phone line is plugged into the line port on your TalkSwitch unit that you have set a particular configuration for.

Phone the number that you want associated with that configuration and watch the line lights on the TalkSwitch unit to confirm which port the line is plugged into.

To access your voicemail remotely:
 

1. Call into TalkSwitch. The auto attendant answers.
    
2. Press **, followed by your extension number. This will take you into the standard voicemail options and allow you to listen to your messages and change voicemail options.

NOTE: If your inbound call is answered by a local extension, they can transfer you to your voicemail box by transferring your call by pressing **, followed by your extension number.

To delete a voice mailbox password:
 

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Tools -> Voicemail Manager -> Delete Mailbox Password. The Delete Password window appears.
    
2. Select the appropriate mailbox from the pull-down menu, then click the OK button. The password has now been deleted.

Ensure you have programmed the correct phone numbers for the pager and/or the remote phone in the TalkSwitch management software under Extensions and Voicemail -> Local Extensions/Fax -> Voicemail tab -> Notification Settings.

In order to avoid multiple notifications, the system is designed to notify you for the first new message left in your voicemail box. If you have been notified of a new message, and have not retrieved it, and a second party leaves you a message, TalkSwitch does not notify you again. This is done to ensure you do not get constant notification if you receive a high volume of messages. You can set up TalkSwitch to notify on every new message under Extensions and Voicemail -> Voicemail Preferences section of the TalkSwitch management software.

If someone reaches your voice mailbox then hangs up, TalkSwitch removes the silence from the message but not the disconnect noise.

To remove hang up messages:
 

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Extensions and Voicemail -> Voicemail Preferences. The Voicemail Preferences window appears.
    
2. Under the Mailbox Setting section, check the box for the Remove blank and hang up messages option. The Only remove messages shorter than: option becomes available.
    
3. Select a value of 2.50 secs (or less). Note that if you set this value too high, then a legitimately short message may get deleted.

The unit's voicemail memory may be full. Check the voicemail capacity via the TalkSwitch management software under Tools -> Voicemail Manager -> Mailbox Status. If the voicemail capacity appears to have more than enough time to leave a message, reboot the TalkSwitch unit (power it off, then back on). If this doesn't resolve the issue, please contact Technical Support.

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Global Settings -> VoIP Configuration. The VoIP Line section appears.
    
2. Click the View Registration Status button. The Registration Status window appears.

If any of the VoIP numbers are listed as Not Registered in the Registration Status window, review the appropriate documentation for either your TalkSwitch VoIP Network, or for the Service Provider Network and review the following:
 

1. Under Global Settings -> VoIP Configuration:
   
   
   1. All required fields (Proxy Server, Registrar Server, Outbound Proxy and Realm/Domain) are entered and correct.
   2. At least one line is available for the Service Provider Network in the VoIP Lines section.
2. Under Lines and Greetings -> VoIP Numbers:
   
   
   1. The country code is blank, unless otherwise specified by your Service Provider.
   2. The phone number includes the area code assigned by your Service Provider.
   3. All phone numbers have the correct User Account and Passwords entered.

Under Global Settings -> IP Configuration. Click on Check Firewall. The software will test all ports on the system and confirm if they are correctly mapped through the firewall. If any errors occur, please see the troubleshooting notes in the software to remedy the problem. For information on how to set up your firewall, please visit www.portforward.com.

This symptom may be the result of a firewall blocking ports needed for VoIP traffic, or incorrect information stored in the TalkSwitch configuration. To correct the problem, check the following:

1. In the TalkSwitch software, go to Global Settings -> IP Configuration. Click on Check Firewall. The software will test all ports on the system and confirm if they are correctly mapped through the firewall. If any errors occur, please see the troubleshooting notes in the software to remedy the problem. For information on how to set up your firewall, please visit www.portforward.com.
   
   In the TalkSwitch software, go to System Information -> IP Configuration and verify the following:
   
   
   1. Confirm that the Public WAN IP Address is correct, if set statically.
   2. If you are using a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), remove it, save the configuration to TalkSwitch and try another call.

This symptom may be the result of restrictions in bandwidth available at your location or in the network. To correct the problem, check the following:

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Global Settings -> VoIP Configuration. The Codec Options button allows you to select the desired Codec.
   
    
2. If your firewall supports Quality of Service (QoS), enable it on the ports (6000-6036) that are mapped to your TalkSwitch unit(s).

This symptom may be the result of a VoIP Codec mismatch. Confirm the codecs supported by your Service Provider, then check the following:

1. Open the TalkSwitch management software, select Global Settings -> VoIP Configuration and ensure that the Preferred Codec is set to match a codec used by your Service Provider.

Note: The codec type affects the number of simultaneous VoIP calls that can be made through the network. Refer to the TalkSwitch User Guide for further information.