atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Toshiba Telephones & Systems CIX100/IPV8 Nearing 5 years - replace?

We have a CIX100/IPV8 system that was installed in 12/2007. The 5 year warranty runs out this December. The system has been reliable and we've been happy with it.

Should I be looking at replacing it at the end of the warranty? Are these systems reliable enough that they'll run pretty reliably for 7 or 10 years? If we keep it for a few more years, what should I plan on replacing? Are/will parts readily available? Is there something I should stock so that I have parts if/when it fails?

No way should you start thinking about replacing something that "has been reliable and we've been happy with it". Although probably not quite as bullet-proof as some of the older systems, the CIX100 and IVP8 are the next best thing to it. Parts are readily available. Not sure what type of relationship you have with your vendor but you may want to check with them to see if they offer any maintenance agreement. As long as you are happy with the system, I would just sit tight, its probably got at least 5 more years, probably more.

I still install such systems... it's in no way outdated at all.

The newer VM, the LVMU, is; in my opinion, inferior to the IVP8.

You might check into upgrading the system software, the major change (if yours is old enough) is that you can change the names in the displays yourself. If you can already do this, no advantage to newer software.

The only reason to upgrade is if you want features not found in your current system, and a CIX100 is really only limited by the number of slots... you can do Voice over IP, Unified messaging (by changing the VM)... there's certainly no *reason* to change. It should last another 10-15 years (although the VM *may* fail before then... SD card...)

If you want to use all the features of the new 5000 series phones, you could update the processor but your older phones should work fine for another twenty years.

You could add a circuit card for VOIP phones if you have a use for them.

Other than than, the CIX100 is current product of excellent reliability and the IVP8 is a solid VM, hopefully you have the compact flash kind but if you had an older hard drive that could be upgraded to a newer compact flash.

Travis and Ben you're fired. I'm looking up your bosses phone number right now.

Dennis think of this like the PC sitting on your desk or you laptop. How many of those are you still using 5 + years later? How secure are you that they will last a few more years.

How's your relationship with your Dealer? Have they suggested 5000 series phones and Unified Messaging or Umoblity?

The Dell that I use to program Toshibas, including one I did last night is about ten years old, runs XP Pro with the latest release of eManager and with the exception of being several pounds heavier than anything I could buy now, is perfectly fine.

I've been able to count on it for ten years and I have a new white Macbook with Windoz 7 Ultimate on it and still I take the old Dell because it is like an old shoe and it has all the programs on it and never gets a virus because it never touches the internet and I wouldn't go to places anyway that would give me a virus.

So as far as your CIX100 being old and ready to be replaced, I would say YES in about twenty years. There will ALWAYS be parts for it and Toshiba makes them backwards compatible.

The new 5000 series phones are VERY nice and you could use that as an excuse to buy new phones and upgrade the processor but if you like what you have and it works perfectly and you don't need voicemail to email that an IES16 or LVMU would give you, and NOT everyone needs instantaneous notification of an email, then be happy, save money and enjoy an intelligent purchase you made four years ago.

A good word to the wise, make sure you have a really good surge protector in between the AC and the Toshiba. We use ESI units from Utah that give you one millionth of a second clamping at 2500 volts and 2500 amps and they are very inexpensive, maybe half of what a service call would cost.

Even if it is is a Toshiba, even if you have a warranty, put a high grade surge protector on it, not the ones you buy for $15 from the home improvement stores that will certainly protect a toaster but not your Toshiba. Most of those clamp in several thousandths of a second, long enough to fry what they are supposed to protect.

Thanks for the responses. The IPV8 is flash, so it looks like we're ok there. The entire system is running off our UPS system so it's well protected for power line surges/brownouts. It's also in the same room as our servers so it is kept at 70deg F max.

Sounds like we're good for a decade, at least as far as the main system goes. The phone sets have been holding up really well. I'm going to end up replacing some of them that are in "rougher" areas.

Thanks a lot for all the info!!

Yeah, 5 years is way too old to be running that old IvP8. Send it to me and I will dispose if it properly!