sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems DR5 versus Centrex

We just took over a Nortel 824 with Centrex software. The application is a building with tenants. Each tenant will have 1-2 lines and 1-2 phones. Right now the building only has one tenant with one line. The rest of the system is as it was 2-3 years ago, but no active lines nor no tenants using the phones.

There will be no Centrex lines on the system---ever. My question is---Being more familiar with DR5, my first thought was to change out the software from Centrex to DR5---but I'd like to get some other opinions.

If I start up the DR5 software using the Square template, won't I be better off??

I want only the one or two lines to be accessed by the tenant, and I don't want a "9" access to be enabled.

No matter what software we use, we'll have to start from scratch. Right now, the extensions start with 336. I'd like them to start with 221 to keep things somewhat normal.

Any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated.

I have never personally used Centrex software, & of course I'm in the middle of changing vehicles so my manuals are ????

In any event, if it was me, I'd play with the s/w a bit and see if you can change an extension's DN to the "22x" range. If so, then you can default the KSU and go from scratch.

If not, slap in your DR5 s/w and go from scratch. At least with the DR5, you'll be more familiar with the programming

The only difference in the "Templates" is the button assigning locations.

With the DR5 s/w, you won't need to dial "9" to get out unless you want to. Just assign lines/ringing to each tenant accordingly.

In either scenario, take system notes beforehand, especially personnel & their extensions in case they have them shown on their business cards.

I always prefer to default when possible anyway, just to get rid of any weird programming done before.

Thanks, Dave. That's exactly what I was thinking, too---but I have never run across this before. We have an 824DS here in the shop that we use for testing....so I'll default the DR5 software, do a Square Template and then go from there.

In checking their Centrex software a few weeks ago, I accessed a line by 1. pushing the line key, 2. dialing "9" and 3. by hitting a key that was programmed as a speed dial. I can't remember which one, but one way--it didn't work too good, because, I think, it was trying to insert a "9" and the dialing process was not correct. That's what got me thinking about changing to DR5.

Anyway,.....thanks for the help.

If it'd be me, I would have incorporated the "9" within the speed dial, when I programmed the button.