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Posts Tagged ‘Multi-Link’

Corporate Cost Cutting Starts in the Telecom Department

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Hundreds of companies are launching initiatives to reduce the number telephone land lines and the associated cost. Many restaurant and retail store chains have 3 – 6 telephone lines per site. With broadband connections, this number can be reduced, dramatically reducing overall telecom costs. The Stick Phone/Fax/Modem switch can help you accomplish this.

36% of Companies are striving to reduce Telecom expenses.
Average cost of a business phone line is $50/month nationwide.
As IT and data acquisition improves and expands, there is less need for Analog Telephone Lines.
Companies are reducing their number of phones lines at their remote business locations.

However, not all Analog Phone Lines can be eliminated—typically the fax line remains, as well as back up lines for POS/Credit Card Terminals. Point of Sale Systems generally use broadband connections where available for high-speed payment card processing. However, 75% or more of these systems use analog phone lines as back-up in case of network downtime or equipment malfunction. These back-up phone lines, although seldom or never used, represent recurring monthly expenses for businesses.

The Stick Phone/Fax/ Modem switch allows companies to reduce phone lines by “Sharing” the remaining Analog line(s) with devices that use the telephone line.

The analog line can be used as an “out of band” inbound and outbound communications path for critical information exchanges.
Over 600,000 units have been installed by companies with remote locations.
ROI in less than 2 months.

How much can you save? Try out our cost savings calculator and find out in minutes!

Tags: back-up phone lines, command, comshare, cost cutting, CS5500, CS7500, faxswitch, line sharing, Multi-Link, out-of-band access, POS Sytems, restaurant applications, telephone switch, the stick
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Coming soon…The SR-3 Selective Ring Call Router

Friday, March 18th, 2011

After two years out of the Multi-Link product line up, The SR-3 call router is returning to production this year.

The SR-3 call processor is a passive line-sharing device that routes incoming phone (POTS) calls based on the “selective ring” service from the local telephone company. The SR-3 differs from the rest of Multi-Link’s line sharing switches that actively answer and route calls. The bottom line is the same—the main benefit is reducing phone lines and the monthly cost. Because the SR-3 routes in this manner, it can be used with common telco call packages that offer voice mail, call forwarding, and TTY/TTD.

The SR-3 routes up to three numbers per line. The selective ring service goes by different names depending on the phone service provider, and this service must be activated for the SR-3 to route properly. Typical cost for a selective ring phone number is $5 per month.

The SR-3 works on a standard POTS line and does not go “off hook” to screen but routes to the appropriate port based on the signature ring pattern for each phone number assigned to a single phone line. The primary phone number routes to port one, secondary number to port two, etc. Multi-Link’s “Smartware™” technology eliminates any user programming by automatically learning the ring cadence. Operation is totally automatic. The barge-in protection feature is optional. Outbound calls are processed in the normal fashion.

For SOHO applications, the SR-3 allows a phone and fax machine to share a single phone line while using different numbers. One phone line can be used for home and business, with automatic routing. Only home phones will ring when the home phone number is called, and business calls are directed to the business phone or fax.

Past users of the SR-3 will notice a new sleeker cabinet, but the functionality is exactly the same. We are now taking pre-orders for the SR-3 and expect to start shipping in April. Call 800-535-4651 with any questions.

Tags: dial-up modems, linkedin, LOM, Multi-Link, SR-3
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New version of The Power Stone is now in production

Friday, January 14th, 2011

Multi-Link is rolling out its latest version of The Power Stone, the popular phone activated remote AC power controller.

Basic functions of automatic and manual power reboot, power on call, and on/off toggling remain the same as the previous version. Changes have been made to default settings relating to rings-to trip, and the number of rings at which Power Stone will perform an AUTOMATIC OPERATION. The changes were made to accommodate the request of many users who were primarily using cell phones to control power to remote sites.

The new settings will apply only to Power Stone units with serial numbers starting at #27819 and greater. Refer to The Power Stone manual v.8 below:

The power stone user guide v8

View more documents from Scott Shelton.

All serial #’s below 27819 will continue to reference the original Power Stone manual. Refer to The Power Stone manual v.1 below:

Power Stone Manual v.1

Call us at 800-535-4651 for more details!

Tags: linkedin, Multi-Link, preventing unplanned service dispatches, reducing service-related costs, Remote Monitoring Solutions, remote power cycling, remote reboot, the power stone, truck rolls
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A Dedicated Phone Line for Postage Meters is Wasteful

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

If your business spends more than $50 a month in postage, chances are you are leasing a postage meter and benefit from convenience, reduced expenses, and time savings. Typically, money savings from using a postage meter average around a 20% per month, due largely to the ability to weigh and meter accurately. Authorized providers of postage meters include Pitney-Bowes, Neopost, Data-Pac, FP Mailing Solutions, and Hasler.

Chances are, like us, you are using the market-leader Pitney-Bowes. We employ a MailStation 2 with great results. Recently I had to update postage rates and download postage funds via modem. It only took about 10 minutes to accomplish. Curious about a technical question, I reviewed the user manual for the answer. While I was thumbing through it, I discovered something curious. In a section named Using an Analog Line to Establish Connections, it states “Use a dedicated analog phone line if possible (one that is not shared with other devices) to avoid possible issues.” Whoa, now— a $50/month phone line?

Being a manufacturer of line-sharing devices aside, Multi-Link , like all businesses, has to watch every expense. It would be counter-productive for us to save money on postage on one hand, and then just use the savings to pay for an additional phone line used just once a month, or even three months, for 10 minutes at a time! How many other companies can afford to pay that?

Installing the postage meter on a line-sharing device like The Stick would take only minutes, and the barge-in protection feature would keep any other telephony device, say a fax, from interfering during a download—and vice versa. Throughput speed is not diminished, and no PC interface or software upgrades are needed. Just plug and go. Take a look at the simple diagram below.

Line sharing with postage meter

View more presentations from Scott Shelton.

Hopefully, this will make your office manager very happy. (E)mail us with any questions on this or any other application: marketing(at)multi-link.net

Tags: cost cutting, dial-up modems, faxswitch, line sharing, Multi-Link, postage meter, telephone switch, the stick
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There has never been a better time to switch to Multi-Link!

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Are you looking for a dependable source for Phone Line Sharing products?

Whether you are looking for a fax switch, a phone switch, a phone splitter or any other form of POTS line sharing device, Multi-Link has the product you need.

Multi-Link’s line sharing portfolio (The Stick, Polnet ACP, SR-3, and Versa-Link ATX 250) allows you to consolidate multiple telephony devices onto a single standard telephone line, reducing the number of lines needed to support the business and the related monthly phone line subscription costs. At an average yearly cost of $600 per phone line subscription, Multi-link’s line sharing products have delivered cost reductions reaching millions of dollars per year.

The Stick (STK29112) is Multi-Link’s best selling line sharing device that screens and automatically routes all voice, fax, and modem calls to the right equipment every time — eliminating the need for costly dedicated phone lines. The Stick works on a standard analog phone line and is programmed by touch tones from a telephone keypad. DSL and CID compatible. Proprietary “Bell Spec” ringback technology. Share 3 devices with 1 line.

The Polnet ACP (ACP-3, 5, 9) is an industrial grade line sharing device (3,5,9) that actively answers, screens, and routes all voice, fax, and modem calls to the right equipment every time—eliminating the need for costly dedicated phone lines. The ACP has additional security and programming features that make it ideal for IT applications and critical data acquisition. DSL compatible. Share up to 9 devices with 1 line.

The ATX-250 (VersaLink) call processor is a versatile line sharing device that routes incoming phone calls based on the “Distinctive Ring” service from the local telco. Routes up to two phone numbers on one phone line. Also routes automatically with active fax detection. DSL and CID compatible. Share 2 devices with 1 line.

The SR-3 Selective Ring Router saves money by eliminating unnecessary phone lines. The SR-3 routes up to three numbers per line. It installs on a standard POTS line and does not go “off hook” to screen but routes to the appropriate port based on the signature ring pattern for each phone number assigned to a single phone line. The primary phone number routes to port one, secondary number to port two, etc. Multi-Link’s “Smartware™” technology eliminates any user programming by automatically learning the ring cadence. Operation is totally automatic. The barge-in protection feature is optional. Outbound calls are processed in the normal fashion.

Call us for a sales kit and product info at 800-535-4651.

Tags: ASAP104, ATX-250, command, comshare, cost cutting, faxswitch, line sharing, linkedin, Multi-Link, Polnet ACP, STK29112, the stick, Versalink
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The Stick Reduces Costs for KSU/PBX Installations

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Many businesses are facing a financial quandary when they have maxed out the number of extensions and expansion cards on their phone systems: “How to add new telephony equipment with no money to expand or upgrade the current KSU or PBX?”

One solution is a line sharing switch. Multi-Link’s line sharing portfolio (The Stick, Polnet ACP and Versa-Link ATX 250) allows customers to consolidate various devices onto a single standard telephone line, reducing the number of lines needed to support the business. At an average yearly cost of $600 per phone line subscription, Multi-link’s line sharing products have delivered cost reductions reaching millions of dollars per year.

It is also important to note that even with VoIP systems, there are an initial up-front costs for replacing legacy analog faxes, modems, etc. that can be prohibitive. By retaining a few analog lines and installing an analog line sharing switch, these costs can be avoided, or at least deferred until a time when these expenses can be justified. Many small branch deployments of IP telephony require analog interfaces, or analog phone gateways, for connectivity to the PSTN, fax machines, security systems, analog phones, and other analog devices. At $300-$500 for just two analog ports, it makes sense to use a line sharing switch to expand the number of analog devices that can connect through the gateway, rather than add more ports.

The Stick KSU/PBX Application

View more documents from Scott Shelton.

Tags: analog gateways, cost cutting, expand analog ports, ksu, line sharing, linkedin, Multi-Link, pbx, the stick, voip
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Multi-Link Generates Savings For Utilities

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Multi-Link devices have been an integral part of substation communications for over 15 years. Thousands of our devices are used by over 100 electric and gas utility companies to provide reliable communications with meters, power quality monitors, and relays.

With greater demand for connectivity to existing and new data reporting devices, more access points are required, which means more strain on budgets. With this unprecedented growth comes the ever increasing need to remotely access the control interfaces of the equipment. Engineers and technicians must be able to access their interfaces from remote operations centers or while on the road in order to assure maximum service availability.

Many utility companies are opting for the POTS line to provide a low cost and reliable means of data acquisition. However, by using the Polnet ACP, one POTS line can provide access to as many as nine devices making the ACP-9 an average cost of $60 per connection.

To find out how much money you can save, download the Multi-Link cost-savings calculator at www.multi-link.net/Phone-Line-Sharing-Calculator.

Multi Link Generates Savings For Utilities

View more documents from Scott Shelton.

Tags: cost cutting, Cost Savings Calculator, line sharing, linkedin, Multi-Link, out-of-band access, Polnet ACP, reducing service-related costs, substation communications, substations, utilities
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The Stick: FAQ Highlights

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding The Stick phone/data line sharing switch (STK29112):

The STICK Questions and Answers

Question: Is THE STICK compatible with phone company Voice Mail and/or Call Forwarding services?

Answer: Since the STICK must always “answer” the ring from the phone company to do its job, there will never be an un-answered call situation which means that the only time a message will be taken by the phone company VM will be when the line is already busy and another party tries to call the number. This can be of benefit to some people if the frequently occupy the line for lengthy periods. An on-site answering machine will be necessary to take messages when you can’t answer.

Question: How can I make Caller ID work with the STICK?

Answer: You must delay the STICK to answer after the phone company sends the CID data packet, between the 1st and 2nd ring from the phone company. See programming instructions in the User Manual and set “Rings To Answer” option register 14 to value of 2.

Question: How do I program the STICK?

Answer: Specific instructions are provided in the User Manual. It explains commands and responses. Tip: When entering a command to change the value in a register, enter the 2 digit register # followed immediately by the data to be entered. Examples; set Register 14 to 2 (enter 142), set register 13 to #345 (enter 13#345).

Question: All incoming calls, including Fax & Modem, ring on the telephone. What’s wrong?

Answer: Either you have lost power to the STICK (check that LED is glowing red) or the program options in the STICK may have gotten “scrambled” by a power glitch causing the STICK not to answer. In the first case, confirm your power source. In the second case, see the User Manual and reset the options to Factory Presets, then re-program any custom settings you may have had, i.e. CID ring to answer delay.

Question: Some FAX calls ring to my phones while others are received by the FAX machine directly. What’s wrong?

Answer: The FAX calls that are ringing on your phone are probably being initiated by the sender in a manual way, which will not have the CNG tone necessary for automatic routing and reception. The sender must either initiate their call in a way that will generate the CNG tone or you will need to enter the *2 Security Access code on your phone to transfer the call to your Fax machine. Another reason some FAX calls ring to my phones while others are received by the FAX machine directly is some equipment used for sending FAX’s may not be able to emit the CNG signal. They must then use the correct access stream as shown in the User Manual to direct the call to the FAX port with the Security Access Code, i.e. 555-666-777,,*2,,*2.

Question: Can I connect more than 1 modem to the STICK?

Answer: Yes. Generally, any analog telephony equipment can be attached to any device port as desired to meet individual needs.

Question: I am only sharing this line for Fax and Modem type equipment with no inbound voice calls. What is the best installation configuration?

Answer: Recommend connecting the FAX to Voice 1 and change option register “01″ to value of “0″. This will let all FAX calls, with and without CNG tone, find the FAX machine. The Fax port can be used for any other equipment, including a phone for outbound calls.

Question: Can I program the STICK from a remote location?

Answer: Yes, but you must have someone at the STICK location initiate a call to you from a phone attached to the STICK. After you answer, with the caller on the line, programming codes can be entered from either location.

Question: The light (LED) on the STICK blinks. What does it mean?

Answer: The blink pattern indicates which device port is active (off-hook or ring). A single blink for voice port, double blink for fax port, and triple blink for modem port.

Download The Stick Data Sheet.

Call 800.535.4651 for always free technical support. Email techsupport(at)multi-link.net.

Tags: FAQ's, faxswitch, linkedin, Multi-Link, telephone switch, the stick
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Affordable, More Secure Out-of-Band Network Management

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

The majority of Multi-Link’s phone/data line-sharing devices are being installed for out-of-band dial-up modem access to communication and data networks.

When the network is down and normal in-band access is denied, how do you recover the network equipment? Out-of-band remote access to serial console ports provides an efficient back door method for recovery. This can be through the use of a backup dial-up modem via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Serial console ports are the most reliable and dependable form of communication for equipment management. That is why most high value networking devices have one. Whether it’s a router, switch, firewall, PBX, network storage device, etc, no matter what is happening with the device, the serial auxiliary or console port is always up and running. It is a trusted way to find out what is going on and the quickest way to recovery.

Polnet ACP Phone/Data Line Sharing Switch

The ACP saves money for IT departments by eliminating costly phone lines dedicated for out-of-band dial up access to remote network equipment. Fixed telecom costs are dramatically reduced and a 3 month R.O.I. is typical. In addition to savings, the ACP is engineered to provide an additional layer of security to connected devices. Vulnerable pathways to equipment via the PSTN are protected by programmable Security Access Codes up to seven characters. There are over 35 million combinations to choose from, effectively creating a telephony firewall for dial-up connections.

Furthermore, our Remote Power Control products, The Power Stone and the IP Power Stone 3000, are invaluable tools for rebooting unresponsive equipment in remote areas. The Power Stone is a phone call activated AC power controller used to reboot and power up/down remote equipment. The IP Power Stone 3000 provides the ability to reboot locked-up equipment via web browser.

Either of these remote reboot products makes a perfect complement to the Polnet ACP, providing inexpensive, secure control of remote network equipment.

ACP deployed for remote out-of-band access

Tags: console port access, cost cutting, dial-up modem firewall, dial-up modems, faxswitch, lights-out-management, line sharing, linkedin, LOM, managed network services, monitor remote assets, Multi-Link, out-of-band access, out-of-band network management, reducing service-related costs, Remote Monitoring Solutions, remote reboot, secure remote service port access, telephone switch, telephony firewall
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