How Will Telco Signalling Affect Vg Programs?

[Guest IVR_Newbie]

I'm a newbie trying to build an IVRS solution on Dialogic D/240JCT over a T1 line. My T1 telco provider just told me that I have to set up the Dialogic card correctly to work, and the specifications are:

 

1. One T1 for Bothway (in and out)

2. Line encoding: B8ZS

3. Multi frame format: ESF

4. Line signalling/Signalling Method: NI-1

 

It appears to me that it is not a pulse-type based protocol (e.g. DTMF/DP), nor using the Pulse on idle or Pulse on busy Line Signalling method.

 

My question is: Would VoiceGuide support this scenario when the Dialogic card is configured to support these T1 requirements?

 

I am a little unclear here --- would VG scripts need to depend on the telco settings? I originally think I only need to config a Dialogic card to run properly and then apply VG programs to run, but as I learn more, I feel there are more considerations to take into account. Am I correct? Please give me more clues on how to set up my first workable platform. (I'm yet to get my Dialogic card to test, which will be available in 4 weeks' time.)

 

Many thanks

[SupportTeam]

The recommended T1 configuration for VG on T1 lines is: "Robbed Bit with Wink Start". Sometimes this is referred to as: "Robbed Bit D4, AMI, Super Frame, E&M, Wink Start".

 

I strongly recommend configuring your lines as above instead of trying to get the ISDN protocol going.

 

Installation is usually a big headache if an ISDN protocol is used instead of Robbed Bit signaling, and we have found in the past that most people who started trying to set up ISDN just gave up and changed lines over to Robbed Bit.

 

You may also want to read:

http://voiceguide.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1177

[Guest IVR_Newbie]

Thanks for advice. The challenge is that the telco nearly insist me to go on the ISDN configuration (for whatever reason I don't know), and also reflected in differences in pricing.

 

Hence, may I know are the problems you mentioned relate to the Dialogic -> T1 problem, or are they related to the application software (VoiceGuide) level?

 

Sorry to have to ask deeper down despite your earlier advice. Hope you would understand the difficulties I am facing.

 

Many thanks!

[Guest IVR_Newbie]

To confess more about my rationale, I only get the budget approved for one D/240JCT for one T1, and my application needs outgoing dialling and fax capabilities. I have wrongly planned that out of the 23 or 24 lines subscribed for my T1, I could allocate some as 'in' and some as 'out'. Recently, to my alarm, I recognize my big mistake that the 'in' or 'out' needs to be on a T1 level for the T1 on analog, robbed-bit protocol.

 

So my 'hidden agenda' is that I know I can cover this mistake by using ISDN, which allows 23 lines for bothway. However, as you strongly recommended me to go for analog, robbed bit, I can sense the risk of going on an ISDN solution.

 

But, as I say, to go for analog is an 'instant death' to me! Hence, you see I have been trying to know if there is still a chance for 'survival' if I go down the ISDN path.

 

I hope by now you understand my difficulties. Thanks for your further advice!

[SupportTeam]

Robbed Bit installations are pretty standard so they are easy to setup and more importantly debug when something is going wrong.

 

Each telco does ISDN just that little bit more differently. So half the time when you plug the cable into the Dialogic card and set to use NI-1 things will just work and half the time things will not work...

 

If something does not work you pretty much will have to call in your local telephony specialists to figure out what is happening - which they can usually do after plugging in their protocol analyzers etc and then the fun begins trying to find what settings on the telco’s switch and Dialogic card needs to be changed to make it all work...

 

It's a good idea to check if any of the other T1s on the telco's switches are connected up to Dialogic cards using NI-1, that way most of the configuration settings should have been already worked out and this would be a good sign that getting your T1 up and running using NI-1 should be fairly easy.

 

(how different is the pricing between the telco's ISDN lines and Ribbed Bit lines?)

[SupportTeam]

I'm pretty sure Robbed Bit lines can usually be configured as in/out ie: enabled to allow both outgoing and incoming calls on each of the channels of the T1 line...

 

This may of course differ from telco to telco depending on what hardware they themselves are using...

[Guest IVR_Newbie]

Many thanks indeed! Your advice is very useful.

 

The resolution I just told was that I negotiated with the telco and they would allow me some time to get the test on NI-1 and then if it doesn't work out, they would allow me to switch back to analog D4.

 

So, it seems to be the best deal I can get for now. In fact, once I can get my 'hidden agenda' issue resolved, I will change back to the analog, robbed bit set up as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary risk, and headaches!

 

Once again, please have my sincere thanks on all your useful advice!

 

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