Setting up the Technical Information Screen (DOS-based VP Systems)

Many of the entries on this screen are preset when you run the Setup utility and specify a telephone system. If you were able to select the specific phone system with which you are working when you ran the Setup utility, you probably do not need to adjust default entries made on this screen.

Be advised that due to differences in the screen design between DOS-based and NT-based VP systems, the placement of fields on several system screens vary slightly. To locate the information on a particular field most easily, consult the Index to find the page number of this document that contains the field description.

Fields used in DOS-based VP systems are prefaced below with VP, and fields used in NT-based VP systems are prefaced with NTVP. If the NTVP field resides on a certain tab on the screen or if the VP field resides on a certain screen page, the tab or page is identified next to the field name.

4.9.1 Technical Information Screen Field Descriptions

NTVP: (See PBX Information screen for comparable field)

Some PBXs and key systems generate a sequence of touch tone (DTMF) digits to let the voice mail system know when a caller hangs up. If the telephone system you are working with can do this, enter the digits here. If the telephone system does not provide this feature, leave this field blank.

VP: Hook-flash Length

NTVP: (See PBX Information screen for comparable field)

When the VP system hook-flashes (for example, to transfer a call), the length of the hook-flash is determined by the value in this field. Most telephone systems accept a hook-flash of between 350 and 650 milliseconds. If in doubt, contact the vendor of the telephone equipment or the local telephone company.

If you change this value, you must exit the system and re-boot the computer for the change to take effect.

VP: Pause Length

NTVP: (See PBX Information screen for comparable field)

When you enter a comma in a digit sequence (for example, the digit sequence to initiate a transfer), the VP system interprets the comma as a pause and stops dialing for an interval. This field defines (in milliseconds) how long this interval is to be.

VP: Number of Seconds of Silence to End Recording NTVP: (See General Information screen for comparable field)

When the VP system is recording a message, it determines that the caller has finished speaking if he/she remains silent for a specific interval. Use this parameter to specify how many seconds of silence the VP system should detect before ending recording. If you enter 0 in this field, silence detection is disabled.

Note: If the telephone system does not provide positive disconnect (DTMF tones or a break in loop current), you may experience silent messages in mailboxes when a caller hangs up before leaving a message. You can use a combination of this parameter and the parameter MINIMUM MESSAGE in the configuration file VM.CFG to minimize these “blank” messages. Use caution when setting the NUMBER OF SECONDS OF SILENCE TO END RECORDING parameter. If this time is set too short, you may stop recording caller’s messages when they are simply pausing for a moment.

See section 12 for information on the MINIMUM MESSAGE parameter.

VP: Number of Seconds of Non-Silence to End Recording NTVP: (See General Information screen for comparable field)

While the VP system is recording a message, it is monitoring the line for dial tone (continuous non- silence). If dial tone is detected, the VP system assumes the caller has hung up, and stops recording. This field lets you specify how many seconds of continuous non-silence need to be detected before assuming it is dial tone.

Note: If you set this number too low, a caller who pauses and says “aaaahhhh” could trigger the dial tone detection. If you set the number too high, 15 seconds, for example, the C.O. or PBX might remove the dial tone before it has been on the line long enough to be detected.

VP: Automatically Update All MWI Lamps at

NTVP: (See General Information screen for comparable field)

Some telephone system automatically cancel all message waiting lamps at a pre-set time (such as midnight). Also, many telephone systems do not restore the state of message waiting lamps following a power failure. You may program the VP system to automatically re-send the message waiting lamp ON sequence for every mailbox with new messages, and the OFF sequence for every mailbox with no new messages, once each day at this time. The following limitations must be considered:

• The VP system may need to make dozens or even hundreds of calls to update all message waiting lamps on the system. The time you enter here should be at the time of lowest activity on the system.

• The time set here should not conflict with the daily EXIT TO DOS TIME set on the GENERAL INFORMATION screen.

Some telephone systems do not allow unnecessary added MESSAGE WAITING ON indications to be set. If you are not experiencing problems with message waiting lamps, leave this field blank. Intermittent performance of message waiting lamps may be caused by problems that are not related to the use of this feature.

Note: If you have only an occasional problem with message waiting lamps (such as a power failure), you can invoke the message waiting update manually. From the main screen, press <Ctrl-F1> simultaneously. The update process begins, and you see an advisory message on the screen that the update is running. To cancel the update before it completes, press <Ctrl-F2>.