sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Vodavi Telephones & Systems Starplus DHS

Greetings Voo Doo Specialists

I have a customer that purchased a location that has a Starplus DHS SP7000-00. My job is to evaluate this system for their future needs.

What is max line capacity?
What is max ext capacity?
Can this system be expanded by card additions?
In skin VM or VM module needed?
Remote Programming?

Give opinion on reliability or known problem issues.

Thanks

John

Ed will be the master guru of this system--but I can help out to begin with.

1. Watch out for the Memory battery on the DHS. We have had to replace 3 of these since spring. Not a huge deal, but the batteries need to be desoldered and the a new one put in and resoldered. They are getting old. The system is fine, but the battery is a PITA to replace. We now carry at least one 3x8 DHS with a new battery in our shop at all times..

2. The DHS can be configured for 12 lines and 24 phones---but if I remember correctly, there were Card limitations that if you had 12 lines --you could only have 16 stations---and if you had 24 stations---you could only have 9 lines. But if that seems a problem---then you would swap out the cabinet for a DHS-E and be able to go, much bigger.

3. Cabinet starts out 3x8. Expansion is done by 3x8 cards (modules)and a 6 port C.O. module.

4. No in-skin VM! Have to use SL cards, I think. To me, this is the weak part of the system---but I just remember back having some trouble with VMs on the system--but back then, we were new to the DHS and new to the Vodavi VMs. Ed might have a handle on this. Right now, the ones that we support are ALL without VM.

5. Phones are nice--solid-.

6. System is overall--a good, solid piece of equipment, but is older digital technology.

7. We like working on it--but just don't like that baterry and don't care for the S/L adapters for VM or for Cordless phones. I think they are 2 ports each and are about 6" wide and 10 " long--mounted next to the KSU.

8. Vodavi reliabilty in my opinion is very, very, good. As good or better than most.

9. I do not have any experience with the DHS and any remote programming. Wait for ED.

Hope this helps out.

Thanks JW, it helps a great deal.

One more bit of info. In the current install it has 1 25 pair amphenol to 66 block. I'm considering thiis to mean it is 3x8. If it is any larger it would have another amphenol. Is this assumption correct?

What Mick said...

If you're going to have voicemail, you'll want FP3 software, otherwise the phones will always say FWD xxx.

The system did integrate well with the Vodavi Dispatch voice mail.

We sold a bunch of these and most were pretty good. The FP1 software did tend to loose programming easily after power surges. As Mick said, the batteries are dieing.

If I have a customer that wants to add voicemail or expand, I recommend a new system. The DHS-E cabinets are hard to come by and the original DHS-E (FP2) had some issues.

The DHS-E did have a built in modem. The DHS that you have does not. You could the Option Card and connect an external modem for remote programming with the DHS software. However, the Option cards seem to be failing nowdays and locks up the whole system.

Vodavi didn't actually make this system, it's made by TCom. Basically, it's the same thing as a Tadiran Ice, Comdial lsdkfjsldf (forgot the model), and a bunch of other systems.

The DHS programmed rather nicely. More like a Norstar than a Vodavi product. It did not seem to have the Vodavi quality to it. We finally quit selling them after numerous problems on a few systems.

And, I don't think Ed ever sold any of these. He had more to choose from with Vodavi due to his dealer status.

We have plenty of refurbished phones in stock if you need some. Call me on my cell if you need any programming help (John, not just anybody).

-Larry

Yes, you are correct! Unless there is an additional 3x8 card that no one connected.

Thanks JW & Larry.

Since this customer will be wanting VM and a few more extensions than 8 I think I will be recomending something else. Not to mention it is almost eighty miles from me I want the remote capabilities.

These guys are gonna spend bout 350K on remodel so trying to make this system fit just ain't in the cards.

I did my best, thanks again.

Larry, you are right, we never sold this system except for one to a residential customer. He insisted upon having because his brother had one in his house in Ohio. I never got up to speed on it, but since there are a lot of questions coming in for it here, I have downloaded the manuals and have been studying them. I am no pro on it by any stretch of the imagination.

True, it is very similar to the Tadiran ICE and Comdial DX80. It's also being marketed directly by T-Com according to their web site. Vodavi experimented with it as their low-end product about 10 years ago, but it didn't stay around very long.

John, I wouldn't do it if you aren't totally familiar with the product. You have already indicated that you aren't. I think that any interconnect should just stick with what they know and do it well. You can't be everything to everybody. The customer will probably appreciate your honesty.

Quote: (Ed)
--------------------------------------------
I think that any interconnect should just stick
with what they know and do it well.
--------------------------------------------

That is some advise that will make you a solid Tech , and a true profossenial.

I honestly can say i have chased rainbows, or the greener grass theory for twenty years in interconnect.

You can get by , sure but why not get by and be a pro at the same time.

That's what he has us for...

Actually I agree with you Ed, but John bought my lunch the other day so I owe him. Wait a minute...isn't St. Augustine about 80 miles from Gainesville?

Thanks TJ and Ed.

I was 99% sure this system would work for my customers needs but I told him I would get info from others such as yourselves. I didn't want the customer to think I was recommending throwing quality eqipment away just so I could sell him something.

Larry, Yes this is eighty miles from me but it is north not west. This is a location in Ulee up around Fernindina.

Thanks again guys! :thumb: