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How To: Configure Over-the-Phone (Multicast) Paging

Cam
  • Updated

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  1. Notes
  2. Yealink
  3. Polycom
  4. Grandstream

Notes

Multicast paging allows users to send a broadcasted page to any phone or phones on the same local area network.  Each device brand is different and requires device overrides to be configured for multicast to function.

In some cases network switch configuration is required to allow multicast on the LAN.

Some brands, like Polycom, use a proprietary multicast protocol and may only work with Polycom-specific devices.

Multicast is the preferred method for over-the-phone paging. Sending pages directly from the hosted (cloud) phone platform would be extremely taxing to the internet bandwidth; each device would open a talk path/channel with the phone system. Keeping the paging on the local network is faster and much less of a burden to the network infrastructure.

 

Yealink 

Single-zone:

This configuration will put a "Page All" key on the 3rd soft-key. 

multicast.listen_address.1.ip_address="224.5.6.20:10008"
multicast.listen_address.1.label="Page All"
programablekey.3.type="24"
programablekey.3.value="224.5.6.20:10008"
programablekey.3.label="Page All"

Multi-zone

This configuration gives the user a drop-down style menu on soft-key 3 for paging multiple zones. 

multicast.paging_address.1.ip_address="224.5.6.21:11008"
multicast.paging_address.2.ip_address="224.5.6.22:12008"
multicast.paging_address.3.ip_address="224.5.6.23:13008"
multicast.paging_address.4.ip_address="224.5.6.24:14008"
multicast.listen_address.4.ip_address="224.5.6.24:14008"
multicast.listen_address.1.label="Service"
multicast.paging_address.1.label="Service"
multicast.listen_address.2.label="Sales"
multicast.paging_address.2.label="Sales"
multicast.listen_address.3.label="Parts"
multicast.paging_address.3.label="Parts"
multicast.listen_address.4.label="Page All"
multicast.paging_address.4.label="Page All"
programablekey.3.type="66"
programablekey.3.label="Paging"

With the multi-zone configuration you must add a listen address parameter to each phone that would like to receive the paging from a specific zone. E.g. the following command would give the phone access to listen to Service pages. 

multicast.listen_address.1.ip_address="224.5.6.21:11008"

 

Polycom

First you must configure the IP/port used for paging: 

ptt.address="224.0.1.116" 
ptt.port="5001"

The following parameters create two page zones; group 1 is "Page All", group 2 is "Sales." Applying these override parameters to the devices will give the ability to send pages to these two groups.

ptt.pageMode.enable="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.label="Page All"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.label="Sales"
feature.nonVolatileRingerVolume.enabled="1"
np.normal.ringing.toneVolume.chassis="1000"
np.normal.alert.messageWaiting.tonePattern="silent"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.available="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.allowReceive="0"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.allowTransmit="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.available="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.allowReceive="0"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.allowTransmit="1"

In order for devices to receive pages, they must "subscribe" to the page group(s) and be allowed to receive pages. E.g. the following commands would give the phone access to receive only Sales pages.  

ptt.pageMode.group.2.subscribed="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.allowReceive="1"

While the following command would give the phone access to receive on both zones: 

ptt.pageMode.group.1.subscribed="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.allowReceive="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.subscribed="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.allowReceive="1"

To put a page key on the phone: 

feature.enhancedFeatureKeys.enabled="1"
softkey.1.action="$FPage$"
softkey.1.enable="1"
softkey.1.label="Paging"
softkey.1.use.active="1"
softkey.1.precede="1"

Example of a full Polycom Configuration

ptt.pageMode.enable="1"
ptt.address="224.0.1.116" 
ptt.port="5001"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.label="Page All"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.label="Sales"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.allowReceive="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.allowReceive="0"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.allowTransmit="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.allowTransmit="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.subscribed="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.2.subscribed="1"
feature.nonVolatileRingerVolume.enabled="1"
np.normal.ringing.toneVolume.chassis="1000"
np.normal.alert.messageWaiting.tonePattern="silent"
feature.enhancedFeatureKeys.enabled="1"
softkey.1.action="$FPage$"
softkey.1.enable="1"
softkey.1.label="Paging"
softkey.1.use.active="1"
softkey.1.precede="1"

<-- Only sales phones --> 

ptt.pageMode.group.1.subscribed="1"
ptt.pageMode.group.1.allowReceive="1"

Grandstream

Grandstream hardware will vary based on device type which "P Codes" may be needed to configure multicast. You can download the latest P code configuration templates at Grandstream's support portal.

You will have to decide which key you want to configure the paging key to be on, and find that P code in the Grandstream documentation. Here is an example for sending: 

GXP21XX

P325="23" ## Multi-purpose Key (MPK) 3 Key Mode - 23 = Multicast Paging ##
P307="1" ## MPK 3 Account - 1 = Account 1 ##
P308="Page All" ## MPK 3 Label ##
P309="224.5.6.20:10008" ## MPK 3 Multicast IP and Port (Value) ##

GRP261X

P324="23" ## MPK 3 Key Mode - 13 = Multicast Paging ##
P304="1" ## MPK 3 Account - 1 = Account 1 ##
P305="Page All" ## MPK 3 Label ##
P306="224.5.6.20:10008" ## MPK3 Multicast IP and Port (Value) ##

To enable receiving Multicast on the phones: 

P1569="224.5.6.20:10008" ## Multicast listen IP this override also varies by device type ##
P1570="Multicast-Receive" ## Multicast String this override also varies by device type ##

Additionally, the following overrides provide multicast priority:

P1566="1" ## Paging Barge - 1 = Priority ##
P1567="1" ## Paging Priority - 1 = Active ##

Full Grandstream Config Example on a GXP2160:

P325="23" 
P307="1" 
P308="Page All" 
P309="224.5.6.20:10008" 
P1569="224.5.6.20:10008" 
P1570="Multicast-Receive"
P1566="1"  
P1567="1"

 

Side Note: 

Grandstream Soft Key to speed dial to an extension (e.g. Algo Master Multicast)

P2989="Paging" ## Soft key Label ##
P2990="399" ## Soft Key Value ##
P2987="10" ## Speed Dial Configuration ##
P2988="0" ## Account 1 ##

 

In each of the brand's configurations/overrides there are caveats and other configs to consider. Please refer to the administration guide or other documentation on a brand-by-brand basis. 

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