sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Avaya - Lucent Telephones & Systems Multi Tech

Has anyone used Multi Tech products and do you like the product?

I'm getting mixed messages out there about the reliability of Multi Tech.

The Multi Tech resellers say it's great but my Avaya rep (not Avaya) says he hates the product and it does not work that good.

I have a customer who has 4 sites all local. 2 of the 4 sites have Magix systems and one has a Partner. The 4th site is just analog phones.

My customer wants to 4 digit dial between all 4 sites.

My Avaya rep suggests installing IP Offices at the 4 sites. The cost to do this is way over my customer budget but with the Mutli Tech solution I should be able to save my customer a bundle.

I'm not a tech and have not sold this application yet but from what I understand I would have to replace the Partner with a Magix or IP Office, place out Multi Tech MVP at each site along with E&M Tie line cards and I should be able to network all the Magix systems together.

My customer does have a 5th site with about 5 phones and it was suggested to install a MCK Router at that site.

What do you think the most cost effective way to handle this application?

Thanks for your help.

First off, I know that Avaya has some GREAT, TOP OF THE LINE PRODUCTS.

But, you must understand, your Avaya rep makes money by selling solutions, and that usually translates to systems. And you know, sometimes, that actually means systems the client doesn't really need. (Like OVERSELL)

However, in your case, I think your client could actually use some Multi Tech products, and save some dough in the process.

For example, I have a LEGEND Client in the DENVER area with a PARTNER in ARIZONA.

They use a SINGLE LINE extension from the LEGEND routed VIA a MULTI TECH VOIP device (over their network) to a LINE PORT on the PARTNER.

This one happens to be 3 digits, but that's only 'cause the LEGEND is 3 digits. (You can pretty much set it to what ever fits your needs.)

I also know that other, similar products are out there. However, once this MULTI TECH Device was programmed and installed, we have had ZERO problems with it.

Understand, this solution ties MAIN to BRANCH with 1 path. I would wonder if your client really needs 5 simultaneous calls (MKC ROUTER) to the 5th site.

The multitechs are reliable little devices. The only thing that would cause problems with them is the same problems you would have if you replaced all of the systems with IP Office's. Any time you send a VOIP call across the public internet, you stand a chance of having call quality issues.

"4 digit dialing" is still possible using the multitech products with the systems you have including the partner. All you would need at each site is enough analog trunk and analog extension ports to handle the amount of links between sites you want plus a multitech unit at each site with enough ports to handle it and a VPN to each site.

I'm not sure on the prices for the MKC router, but you should compare the cost of that to the cost of a simple Partner+Multitech setup.

Another option for the customer since they are all local might be.....dare I say it..... Centrex service.

Thank you for the replies. My customer is using Centrex today and that is how they currently how they network their systems. However if they move away from Centrex / Verizon and go with MPLS they will save almost 2K a month.

Thank you for input on Multi Tech and MCK.