sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems NEC Telephones & Systems NEC Elite 1PK vs. Aspire

We're opening a new office and the local vendors have either been recommending a NEC Elite 1PK or a NEC Aspire system. We'll have a total of 122 phones installed. I can't seem to find an objective review of both systems that describes the pros and cons of each. It's for a government installation and the system may increase in size over time, but I doubt it will exceed 200 phones. I've looked over the posts to this BB, and some of it's been helpful. We're somewhat new to phone systems; our previous experience being an ESI-IVX system. That's it. I'm open for sage advice.

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-andrew

Both are good systems. However, in that size range you may want to look at a more robust system...not that both can't do the job I am simply saying that in that size range usually you are looking for a TRUE PBX/IP hybrid and not a key hybrid system. I am assuming you don't want to buy another throw-away system because you grow OR network OR decide you need a new ACD or unified messaging or whatever. At 200 phones you are REALLY shoehorning yourself with those 2 systems IMHO when you add trunking.

The IPK is going to be almost at its capacity and no plans to expand it.

The Aspire will go to 384 digital stations and if set for PRI trunking you will have a true PBX.

DJ

I would beg to differ. The Aspire, while a great system is I don't consider it a true PBX even though it seems to hold an FCC certification for this. Also, you may want to look at your maximums again on the Aspire. Even in the XL cabinet with the bigger power supplies you are getting close to a shoehorn, though admittedly no where near the IPK.

[This message has been edited by Coral Tech (edited August 22, 2005).]

I would look at the 2000IPS instead of the EliteIPK. I dont know about the price difference, but if it is a government install you should get a decent GSA discount.

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I want to thank everyone for their responses, which I will take seriously. It appears we will have somewhere between 100 and 120 phones drops and probably initially use no more than 60 phones (including reception) for some time. I can't see this office growing into more than 100 phones, so that seems to be the upper limit. Right now, we're open for any leading edge system that can grow with us up to say 150 phones; be it Aspire, Elite IPK, or what have you. As we get close to a decision, I'll see you all again.

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-andrew

No special applications then? No special needs or wants? Phone systems need to know what you want it to do for you. Now is the time to put that wish list together of what you would like the phone system to do, explaing your operation to the vendors and see if they come up with anything you haven't thought of.

Your point is well-taken. I'm having our new office on-site mgr ask the gov't managers who will be populating the site what special needs they have. VoiP will not be a need for the foreseeable future. I suppose I'm still waiting for a knowledgeable someone to say to me, that for the size of office we're proposing with fairly prosaic needs (VM, speaker phone, and the usual bells and whistles -- nothing out of the ordinary) that either the Aspire or the Elite IPK is the system for us given our office's size (earlier message)

Go for the Aspire.

Just a note. The IPK can be expanded to 112 trunks and 320 stations by the way of EXPT2 and CHH cards. Messy but I have seen it done. Would not recomend this route my self..