sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Panasonic Telephones & Systems DBS 96 Questions

I have a customer that found a used Panasonic DBS 96 telephone system thats for sale. The only details I have so far are that it is a VB-43060 with a CPC B Processor.

My Questions:

1. How current are these systems?
2. Is there a simple way for the seller to tell me what expansion card(s) if any are installed?
3. What would be reasonable install and config estimate(in hours) to install the system and setup 10 phones with 4 lines?
4a. Can the system be configured with a PC?
4b. and if so is the software usually inluded? approx. cost?
4c. is proprietary cable required/included? approx. cost?
5. what would it cost($$ for equip) to add voicemail to the system if it doesn't already have it?

I will be contacting the seller tomorrow. If there any questions that I should ask please let me know.

Thank you.

Welcome to the board Barry

Now to try to answer your questions.

1) Not very current. Discontinued around 2000. Parts still available.
2) The seller should be able to tell you how the cabinet is configured.
3) A proper install would take most of a tech's day with training.
4a) Yes, DBS Manager
4b) Probably not.
4c) Cable is RS-232C. Probably not included.
5) Depends on the voicemail. Some are more money than others, some are more reliable than others, some have more features than others. A lot depends on the features you want and the name brand.

It also depends on the company doing the work. If it is a company that is known for quality work and has a good reputation, expect to pay a more. Find a good vendor and let them do it right the first time and everything will work out.

**Sorry, we cannot post prices on the open forum. Please send any pricing information via PM or E-mail**

Thank you for the info.

Sorry for the questions about costs.

I have found out that the VM board is a RETORIX.
Any opinion?

Again, Thank you for your response.

A Rhetorex board is very common in PC based voicemail systems.

What is more important is what voicemail this Rhetorex board is residing in. It will also need to be able to integrate with the DBS system. Most third party voicemail systems should be able integrate with it, but check it out and make sure before you buy it.

Goodluck :thumb:

a DBS is a fairly old system, not knocking them, I liked working on them back in the day, but maybe a newer system would suit your needs better?

a DBS 96 is a pretty big system for 10 phones, I guess it depends on what else you might have in it...voicemail, analog phones, how many phone lines, etc.

Thanks for the help guys!

Final determination is too much, too old, very little info available, no manuals avail., no software... I have advised him to pass.

I am going to post another question in the general forum for recomendations.

Again,
Thanks for all the help!