So, I'm trying to use a regular door phone intercom unit with a 616.
I made the mistake of vetting my idea on a CICS so got my hopes up. The idea was to use an ata to connect a Viking e-20, have it hotline to a hunt group (broadcast) that had all the phones in it. Turns out 616 DR2 software has neither hotline or hunt groups...

I can get a DR5 cartridge easy enough, but looking at the manuals, there does appear to be the hotline capability, but not so much the hunt group.

Short of replacing it with a CICS (tempting). Any other ideas for programming this situation?

-B

Yikes! That's a pretty old unit - if it's not too expensive to switch to CICS (like if you have a bunch laying around) I would say that's the way to go.

Otherwise you could probably do the DR5 software to hotline to a DN, then setup an "Answer DN" button on each phone that needs to ring. I believe that was the method the old Algo/Nortel doorphones used to specify in the manual.

I have used a doorbell Fon DT-28NIT and connected it to a vacant CO port which rings all the phones.

"regular door phone"
But what is regular in your eyes?

Regular for me would be to use the appropriate door phone that was designed to work with the KSU, in this case a Digital Norstar Door Phone that attaches to your Norstar KSU.
Then there is the Analog Door Phone which can utilize the ATA or as ThePhoneConnection stated, a Trunk port, it is a 3rd party device therefore not a "regular door phone".

Toner is spot on with "Answer DN" method, and DR5 since DR2 does not support both Answer DN or Hotline.
So upgrading to DR5 would be somewhat of a cheaper choice, maybe add a C6 Module for Caller ID while your at it.
or
Would it be cheaper to make sure you have an analog door phone capable of using a Trunk port, if they have a spare....then it can ring any phone.

I would strongly advise to give the client the option of upgrading to CICS (with Caller ID card) anyway.
Note: If you go with a CICS, the Hunt Group programming is only exposed if you go to 3 digit DN's.


Starting with the cheapest route...
-DR2 with an Analog Door phone utilizing a spare trunk port - assign trunk to ring sets
-DR2 with a Norstar Door Phone, use the Door Phone's page chime feature and program pickup groups.
-DR2 with an Analog Door phone, install an ATA, install Aux ringer - program pickup groups.
-Upgrade to DR5 and use a Norstar Door Phone - program Answer DN or also use the Door Phone's page chime and program pickup groups.
-Upgrade to DR5 and use an Analog door phone - install an ATA, program Answer DN, program Hotline
-Going the CICS or BCM50 route.

Aux Ringer with Pickup Groups is another one to add to the mix.

It's nice to know the many methods to make it easier.

Good luck B!

Great info folks!!

Thanks so much!

I should add for those that need...

Norstar Doophone - was created for the Norstar KSU's
BST Doorphone (Business Series Terminal Doorphone) - was created for the BCM's

Compatibility:
Norstar Doophone
-All Norstar KSU's with any software versions - it will NOT work with BCM's.

BST Doorphone
-Any BCM with any release software
-All Norstar CICS/MICS KSU's with any software versions.
-All Modular (3X8, 6X16, 8X24) with software's DR2 and above - it will NOT work with DR1