Seasoned telecom managers, interconnects, and VARs know that ISDN installations can be
a nightmare. Fortunately, Tone Commander’s 6210 and 6220 ISDN phones support
Auto-SPID and automatic switch detection, as well as parameter downloading. These phones
help reduce installation time and eliminate service support that has plagued ISDN
equipment users. Also, the phone’s feature key remapping program allows you to
emulate your existing phone setup.
Both sets include integrated speakerphones and can be ordered for S/T or U line
configurations with 10 or 20 programmable line/feature key positions. Each model is fully
compatible with Lucent, Nortel, and Siemens switch platforms, and supports all the
advanced call management features of traditional ISDN phones.
All models will support an optional terminal adapter that installs conveniently in the
base of the telephone set. The terminal adapter provides a data port connector and a POTS
line connector to work with equipment like computers, analog telephones, answering
machines, fax machines, and modems.
INSTALLATION
Installing the Tone Commander 6210 and 6220 ISDN phones was a cakewalk. First, we needed
to connect Tone Commander’s NT1U-220TC, a device that converts the ANSI standard 2B1Q
ISDN U interface to an S/T interface so that we could connect the ISDN phones. An AC
adapter is included to power the NT1U-220TC, as well as ISDN phone cords to connect to the
ISDN phone as well as the ISDN phone line coming from the CO. After connecting all the
appropriate cables, the 6210 and 6220 phones powered up and we were prompted for the
primary phone number on the LCD display. We entered the ISDN phone number and clicked on
the “Done” button. Then, the LCD displayed, “L1:OK L2:OK L3:OK Switch Type:
AT&T 5ESS.” Both ISDN phones auto-detected the switch type we were using, which
made the installation simpler. After about three seconds, the LCD display stated,
“Line 1 is now active.” A second or two after that, the LCD screen changed to
display the date and time, which was inaccurate since we hadn’t set the date and time
yet.
Curiosity got the best of us, so rather than fixing the date, time, and other settings,
we decided to pick up the receiver to one of the ISDN phones to see if we could get dial
tone. We didn’t get dial tone initially, so we pressed one of the call appearance
buttons. From experience, we knew most ISDN phones assign the first call appearance and
phone line to the top left corner button. Sure enough, we pressed the top left button and
we could hear dial tone coming from the receiver. We checked the other ISDN phone, which
was connected to another ISDN line, and we also received dial tone. We went back and
configured the time and date settings as well as some other settings. All in all,
installation was very easy, especially since the system provided an easy-to-navigate menu
system (via the LCD display). We were up and running in three minutes flat.
DOCUMENTATION
The documentation consisted of a single user manual and a quick reference guide. The
latest revisions to the documentation could also be found online on Tone Commander’s
Web site in Acrobat format. The user manual is very well organized with a table of
contents, a troubleshooting section, and several appendices. A picture of the phone is
included in the manual along with numbers next to each particular button or feature on the
phone. Each of the features is then explained (keyed by the number) in detail, making it
easy for a user to reference. Complex tasks, such as conferencing a call, are explained
very well in the documentation along with a picture depicting each button that needs to be
pressed. Overall, the documentation was complete and easy to follow.
FEATURES
The ISDN phones feature 10 multifunction keys for the 6210 and 20 multifunction keys for
the 6220. Included in both models is plug-and-play type support via the Auto Switch
Detection, Auto SPID, Parameter Downloading, and Feature Key Remapping. Each ISDN phone
works with Lucent, Nortel, and Siemens-National ISDN, and Lucent 5ESS-Custom ISDN. A very
good quality speakerphone is built into each phone for hands-free communications. Also,
users can upgrade via a dial-up server or by a portable hand-held downloader. Other useful
features include:
- Speed dialing keys.
- 36 name/number speed dial directory.
- Last number redial.
- Caller ID.
- Call logging, with date, time and duration, and speed dialing.
- Password protection option on call log viewing and installation setup.
- Soft keys: call menus, setup menus, line key feature programming, key inspection, and
more.
- Direct station selection with busy line status indicators.
- Flexible ringing options.
- Message waiting LED indication.
- Volume control, for both voice and ringing.
OPERATIONAL TESTING
After we were able to get dial tone on both of the ISDN phones (6210 and 6220 models), we
embarked on our testing.
Making Calls
We dialed from the 6210 to the 6220 ISDN phone, and the 6220 ISDN phone rang with
one of its eight distinctive rings that we previously selected. (After taking the call, a
counter on the LCD display shows the elapsed time spent on the call, which many users will
find helpful.) We put the call on speakerphone and then tested the speakerphone range.
From a distance of four feet, we could not hear the person on the other end at all. As the
person moved closer to the speakerphone and approached three and one-half feet, we could
hear the caller loud and clear.
It was interesting that we went from not hearing the person on the other end at all to
hearing the other person with perfect clarity and volume. You would expect that we would
hear the other person at four feet but at a much lower volume, and that the volume would
increase as we moved closer to the speakerphone. However, this was not the case. The
speakerphone was more like the binary system — either 0 or 1, on or off. There were
no varying degrees of volume caused by the person’s distance to the speakerphone.
This is most likely due to the microphone in the phone, which was intentionally designed
to pick up only those sounds from within a three-and-one-half-foot range, to reduce any
ambient noise. Overall, we were pleased with the speakerphone, which is designed for the
desk and not a conference room setting.
Conferencing Calls
While the two ISDN phones were still connected, we pressed the “Conf”
button on one of the phones. We pressed one of the call appearance buttons to get a second
line and then dialed the third party that we wished to conference. When the third party
answered, we pressed the “Conf” button again, and all parties were conferenced
together. Transferring a call worked similarly, but just required pressing the
“Tran” button followed by the phone number.
Call Log
Simply by pressing the “Call” button followed by choosing either
unanswered calls, answered calls, or outbound calls, you can track your entire call
history. If you have Caller ID, you can even determine those who called you but hung up
(unanswered call) and didn’t leave a message. Scrolling through the call log on the
LCD display was easy using the arrow buttons on the phone.
Other Capabilities
The 6210 and 6220 have the capability to set passwords so that certain menu
options are locked out, such as viewing the call log or getting into the installation
menu. One minor feature is the ability to change the contrast of the LCD display. The
phones have a feature called “Parameter Download,” which is an automated feature
for configuring call appearances and feature activator keys. If configured for
auto-download, whenever the phone is initialized or when the network configuration
changes, the “Parameter Download” will execute.
The phone itself features LEDs under each call appearance that illuminate with
distinctive colors and blinking patterns depending on the status. For instance, if a call
is on hold, the LED under the call appearance will blink green. If a call appearance is in
use at another station, the LED will be a steady red color. Besides the call appearance
buttons, many of the other buttons feature LEDs, including the speakerphone button and the
mute button.
If you have Caller ID available, another nifty feature is the ability to identify
additional incoming calls. By pressing a certain button on the phone and then selecting
the flashing call appearance button (incoming call), you can see the Caller ID for that
particular call. This is useful when multiple incoming calls are occurring and you need to
prioritize which call you take. It’s also useful if you are already on the phone and
are expecting an important phone call from someone. You can identify an incoming
call’s phone number without actually having to take the call first.
One strange bug we discovered was that when we put a call on hold and then took the
call off of hold, the LCD still displayed “call held” even though the call was
no longer on hold. We tried this on both phones with the same result. A minor nuisance,
but we felt we should point it out.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
As previously mentioned, the LCD displays “Call held” even though the call is no
longer on hold, and we’d like to see this problem fixed. Another improvement
we’d like to see in a future release of the phone is the ability to change the
default volume for the speakerphone.
CONCLUSION
TMC Labs truly loved Tone Commander’s 6210 and 6220 ISDN phones. Everything from
their well-designed button layout, to the ease of installation, to the useful LCD display
with an easy-to-use menu management system made this product a pleasure to test. TMC Labs
highly recommends anyone looking for an ISDN phone to look at Tone Commander’s 6210
and 6220 ISDN phones. |
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