VOIP VS. PBX Phone Systems

Posted on August 31, 2012 by johnandre001

VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol has become a popular telephone option for homes and businesses now with the widening availability of broadband internet connections. In the past PBX has been the main resource for business communications requiring more complex types of telephone communications. The several differences between VOIP vs. PBX but the main reason VOIP has begun to overtake the choice of PBX is cost.

Most PBX offers many of the same advantages as VOIP and regular land based phone services such as call waiting, forwarding, caller ID but the expense is higher. VOIP vs. PBX reliability have differed in the past with PBX being considered more stable but with great advances in internet technology VOIP has become almost as stable as PBX. When individuals and businesses consider the differences VOIP vs. PBX the extensive cost of PBX has kept small businesses and individuals from using them. PBX servers have worked to create smaller more affordable systems but VOIP still remains the most affordable solution for private and small business use.

PBX creates the ability to have several connections using a main land line based phone service where VOIP utilizes an internet connection. When looking at VOIP vs. PBX one main issue comes into play that puts VOIP at the head of the comparison when mobility is an issue. VOIP can be employed wherever there is an internet connection and a PC where with PBX you can only use the system where your own land line is intact.

The main reason VOIP wins in a VOIP vs. PBX systems analysis is the fact that with PBX systems the customer must buy and maintain the equipment necessary for communications where with VOIP all of the equipment and maintenance is on the side of the VOIP processor. PBX offers a greater variety of features when it comes to things such as extensions so medium to large businesses are more likely to choose PBX in a VOIP vs. PBX analysis and in these cases the cost of installation and equipment maintenance is less of an issue. VOIP is largely the best alternative for private use, self-employed individuals, and small businesses that can do without the more advanced features to avoid the heavy responsibilities and costs. In VOIP vs. PBX studies VOIP is much cheaper on a call per call basis both in-state and internationally.

When you consider the differences between VOIP vs. PBX for your individual or company’s needs it will mostly be based on the differences of ease of use, speed of implication, and cost. Both are worthy services and have advantages and disadvantages that are best weighed out against what your basic telecommunication needs are.

Posted in Phone Systems | Leave a comment

Star2Star’s StarBox family of IP PBX Systems…… C1C New Dealer for Georgia!!

Posted on August 26, 2012 by johnandre001

Star2Star’s StarSystem Named Product of the Year

Star2Star wins Product of the Year award for fifth straight year


Star2Star’s StarBox family of IP PBX Systems

Quote start“In the coming months, we plan to build on the technology we’ve created over the past five years to bring some real excitement to the UC space”Quote end

Sarasota, Florida (PRWEB) February 02, 2012

Star2Star Communications, makers of “The World’s Most Reliable Internet Communications Solution”, today announced that the company’s flagship StarSystem Business Communications System has been selected as “Product of the Year” by Internet Telephony Magazine. This is the fifth consecutive Product of the Year award for Star2Star.

“We’re very gratified to receive this award,” said Norman Worthington, CEO of Star2Star. “In the coming months, we plan to build on the technology we’ve created over the past five years to bring some real excitement to the UC space,” he continued.

Star2Star’s patent-pending Constellation technology is one of the keys to Star2Star’s success. Constellation automatically sends calls over the best possible path, not just the shortest. Constellation can detect and avoid regional network congestion points, so calls connect quickly, with the highest possible quality, and the least possible delay. If any Constellation node is knocked off line, others pick up the calls automatically; the network heals automatically.

The Product of the Year award is the latest in a string of accolades for Star2Star. During 2011, Star2Star achieved 100% network uptime and was named to both the Inc. 500 and Forbes Most Promising Companies lists.

About Star2Star:
Founded in 2006 in Sarasota, Florida, Star2Star Communications develops and delivers business-focused Internet communication systems and service. Star2Star’s award-winning technology employs a powerful Blended Architecture that overcomes the limitations of other Internet phone technologies. Star2Star delivers innovative features and increased productivity while providing substantial cost savings.

Star2Star products are sold through a diversified international network of distributors, master agents, and certified installing dealers. Available across North America, Star2Star Internet communication systems are installed in thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses and in many large national retail and restaurant chains.

Posted in Customer Solutions | 1 Comment

How do you determine your cabling needs and wire requirements??

Posted on August 6, 2012 by johnandre001

Unless you want to be constantly installing a new voice and data network infrastructure, it’s important to take some time and determine the type of network cabling and structured wiring strategies that will serve your business well for the next several years. In order to manage this task, it is very important to consider short-term and long-term needs and in terms of changes in the corporate working environment, advances in technology that will affect how your industry functions and even the cost of network maintenance. This type of assessment requires breaking down those requirements into an orderly process of evaluation.
What Do I Need Today?

Before approaching any structured cabling contractors, identify exactly what you need up and running right this minute. Think in terms of how many workstations the network needs to accommodate. This includes telephony support for inbound and outbound calls, the number of trunks or lines needed to manage the traffic and even the types of features the network must support. You also want to think in terms of bandwidth for Internet based applications. Ideally, the voice and data network cabling structure must support real time responses that allow your staff to manage all relevant tasks quickly and efficiently.

How About Next Year?

Don’t assume that the network you need today will still be sufficient a year from now. In that time, your company could experience a significant increase in business volume. Plan for that when talking with different voice and data cable installers and structured cabling contractors. What you want is a voice and data cable network that can be expanded on an as needed basis, while creating a minimum of downtime for all essential functions. If you build this type of flexibility into the system on the front end, the expansion process will be relatively painless.

Expect the Unexpected

Conditions within companies and industries can change quickly. You could find yourself faced with shifts in the industry that affect how your company does business. For example, you may find that audio conferencing is no longer adequate for communicating with field personnel, investors, and customers. When this is the case, you may find that utilizing a greater array of Internet based communications is necessary. If the structured cabling network can already support the additional bandwidth needed to use those tools effectively, the only thing that must be addressed is training employees how to use those tools effectively.

Don’t Forget the Voice and Data Network Environment

The physical layout of your facility will also play a role in determining your cabling needs. Some forms of cabling are very sensitive to dirt and dust. Other structured cabling can work well in just about any setting. It is important to consider where the actual voice and data cabling will reside, assess the conditions that the voice and data cabling will endure and make sure the right type of materials are used to protect those cables. Doing so will go a long way in making sure your voice and data network is up and running, and experiences a minimum of costly downtime.

Posted in Network Cabling, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Recent network cabling project completed…..IBM Southeast office

Posted on June 30, 2012 by johnandre001

We recently complete a large 3 phase project upgrading there network cabling infrastructure for there office building.  Customer 1st Communications was brought in on this project as an technology consultant.  After careful planning, we were contracted with one of our electrical contracting partner “EC Services” to upgrade the infrastructure cabling throughout the office.  The project was broke down into three phases to completion.  The upgrades included Cat6 plenum rated structured cabling, IT room build outs with new racks, patch panels, switches.  The project lasted several months with technicians working diligently to meet the customers deadlines and schedule. Since, completion we have been asked to look at IBM’s Greenville location to perform there infrastructure upgrade.   We are excited for the opportunity and look forward to a long lasting business relationship with our new customer!

Network Rack - Smyrna Location

 

Posted in Network Cabling, Projects Completed | Leave a comment

Network Cabling – What can you expect from your cabling contractor when anticipating an office move…

Posted on June 6, 2012 by johnandre001

When you are planning the move or upgrade of your company’s network infrastructure, there are a number of important considerations that must be taken into consideration before you decide to contact a qualified installer. No matter which cabling contractor you choose, they will all require some basic information about your new office or space, as well as your current and future requirements. This article provides you with some network cabling and data wiring basics to help inform you of the issues that are crucial to a successful network implementation: one that meets your company’s technology needs, timeline and your budget. What you can expect in your first meeting with a Cabling contractor. When you do get to the point where you’re talking with a voice / data cabling contractor, you will invariably be asked some or all of the following questions: When will you be moving? If moving within the next 2 months, have you already set up your T1 or phone lines with your telecommunications provider? This is a very important aspect of an office move that too often gets overlooked. Many cabling contractors have been hired by persons who are in charge of moving an office in two weeks, only to realize that their telecommunications company requires 45 days notice to install a new T1 line. Be sure that you’ve made arrangements with your telecommunications provider well in advance of your move. How many voice & data drops will you need. A “drop” is basically one run of cable from a starting point (usually the wiring closet or server room) to the end point (usually an office or cubicle). Remember that for each office, cubicle or workstation, you will generally need one drop for the phone line, and one for the computer. You should also take into account drops that are required for things like dedicated network printers and fax machines. What type of construction is your new office space? Is it a hard cap ceiling (i.e. like a Sheetrock ceiling in a typical house) or a drop ceiling (also called acoustic ceiling). Drop ceilings are typically much easier to work with as they offer easier access to run cables through. Will the new space require plenum or non-plenum cabling? The answer to this will depend on the type of construction used in the new location. If your cabling will need to run above a ceiling that is also used as a space for the circulation of air in a heating, air-conditioning and ventilation system (plenum space), then you will be required to use plenum-rated cable. Plenum cable is jacketed with a fire retardant plastic jacket of either a low-smoke polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP), which limit the amount of toxic fumes in the event of a fire. Plenum cabling costs slightly more than non-plenum wiring, but it’s necessary to maintain code compliance. Will you be moving an existing phone system? This is a question that may or may not be asked, depending upon whether the cabling installer is capable of moving the type of phone system that your office uses. It may be that they can do this for you as part of the cost of wiring the new location, or they may sub-contract this out to another company that specializes in the type of phone equipment your office uses. What to Expect During Your Site Survey Once you’ve located one or more cabling contractors, the next step will be for them to schedule a visit to the new location (a site survey). This is usually a free visit where the cabling professional will assess the environment and layout of the new office space in order to come up with a price quote. Following are some things you should be prepared with to make the visit go smoothly and quickly: Make sure you or someone will be at the new location with keys to the new space and to the MPOE (minimum point of entry). If applicable, make sure that building managers or security officers at the new location have been notified that you and a 3rd party vendor will be accessing the new location. Have a floor plan of the proposed office space. This is generally something that will be provided to someone in your organization by your space planner, cubicle company or designer. Once in the new location, a cabling installer will be looking at several things to help him or her provide you with a quote. Specifically, a voice/data network cabling installer will be looking at or verifying: The type of construction in use. Location and appropriateness of the server room and/or wiring closet. Measuring distances of the various cable runs Determining whether an IDF (intermediate distribution point) will be required. For larger spaces, or spaces containing many company divisions, it is often necessary or beneficial to have multiple wiring closets to separate logical divisions in a network, or to extend a network beyond 300 ft from the MDF (main distribution point, usually the main wiring closet or server room). Determining whether any special cabling will be required, such as fiber optic to connect remote IDFs, or CAT6 over CAT5e for spaces that might cause interference in data transmissions. Once a cabling professional has been able to physically survey your new or existing location, they will then take the information they’ve gathered to provide you with a quote. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes from different vendors, as pricing can sometimes vary considerably depending upon the overhead and current workload of a particular cabling installation company.  What ever the situation maybe Customer 1st Communications can consult with you to make the transition to the new office an easy one!  Call 770-447-5000 x 226 today for a free consultation!  Ask for Andre Arceneaux, your sales consultant…..

Posted in Network Cabling | Leave a comment

C1C optimizing website….

Posted on May 3, 2012 by johnandre001

News

C1C has contracted with Practice Marketer to perform onsite and offsite optimization of the website.  We are hopeful that with the SEO in progress, that we will be able to be first on Google Search, for the technological services that we provide to our customers.  Stay tuned for more updates…..

Posted in about c1c | Leave a comment

Business Networks Must Prepare For Increased Video Conferencing Usage…

Posted on April 20, 2012 by johnandre001

Video conferencing is poised to be the next crucial test for IT managers at businesses around the world in 2012, according to a report published by the Computer Business Review. With so many companies moving to embrace video conferencing as the go-to communications tool both internally and externally, corporate networks must be made ready for the increased demands in terms of bandwidth and uptime that are a requirement for using this type of technology.

One of the key takeaways when examining the need to create a robust business network capable of supporting a diverse telepresence communications strategy is to take into account the varied demands that will be made on available resources. For example, the Computer Business Review report indicates that as many as 92 percent of Fortune 500 companies are experimenting with the incorporation of tablets such as the iPad into their communications infrastructure. This means that IT managers have to look beyond the establishment of high-bandwidth, wired endpoints within an office environment and also scrutinize how video conferencing can be incorporated into wireless, VPN, and cloud services. Multiple simultaneous telepresence sessions – complete with data sharing – are another concern when planning out the bandwidth available for this type of video communication, and security policies will have to be re-examined as greater numbers of workers begin to use their own personal devices as video conferencing endpoints.

Network organization will also have to take into account the need to provide different levels of video quality across a wider range of devices. Focusing exclusively on enterprise-level high-definition telepresence is simply no longer an option for companies deploying video communications across the entire company. IT managers and strategists will be asked to create a scalable infrastructure that can deliver the appropriate video conferencing resolution to employees accessing a meeting via either a mobile device, a home desktop codec, or a high-definition boardroom setup.

Aside from the certainty that its astronomical growth will continue, predicting the exact direction that corporate video conferencing will take in the future is a difficult task. The best way for a business to prepare itself for emerging communications technologies is to build a fundamentally strong network that offers a scalable and robust foundation for incorporating future expansion. End-to-end telepresence vendors such as Cisco provide this type of regimented and expandable approach to analyzing current network capabilities and strategizing how to best leverage existing bandwidth while still leaving the door open for additional expansion of video communications channels.

Posted in Customer Solutions, Network Cabling | Leave a comment

Re-Cabling Your Data Center

Posted on April 20, 2012 by johnandre001

In the first of a multi part post we will be exploring the key reasons data center managers should consider and how to implement a comprehensive approach when re-cabling their data centers.

Re-cabling the optical infrastructure in your data center is a daunting task. There are so many factors to think about, and that is just dealing with the physical cabling! There are other factors that must be negotiated. Typically this job will involve some amount of downtime for the data center. That adds on a lot of planning, politicking and action items. Best practice tells us to start at the beginning and move forward from there.

The “beginning” is examining WHY this may need to be done in the first place. If this is kept in mind, the goals of the project can be met and it really shouldn’t hurt that bad…


One of the major reasons the upgrade is needed is the rapid demand for more and more enterprise storage. What started with a few servers and possibly a mainframe a decade ago has now looks like a junkyard of hardware from various manufacturers that are tied together with an assortment of point to point fiber jumpers that an archeologist would have trouble separating.
Don’t take it too personally; most of us didn’t see this amount of growth coming. Enterprise storage has grown 30% year over year for the past 5 years! It’s not finished either; it is projected to grow at the same rate for the next 5 years as well! To handle all these storage needs, a cabling infrastructure must be modular and scalable. Running jumpers from point to point (directly connecting from one piece of hardware to another via duplex fiber optic patch cord) will simply not work.

Another reason is global IP traffic. This is expected to quadruple in the next four years. Video is one of the key factors here. People are visual, and video is so effective for so many business drivers (not to mention those funny or cute videos) that there is little chance of this demand shrinking. An optical infrastructure will need to handle the massive bandwidth required. Think of plumbing for this example. The typical fiber infrastructure will have a hundreds of “small pipes” running in every direction. These have come from years of smaller hardware upgrades where the old cabling could not be disturbed in fear of causing an outage. This has been the vicious cycle of the data center fiber optical infrastructure.

There are other issues that are prevalent as well.  Unreliable cabling is a big culprit for “random” downtime… These always tend to happen at the worst times. Fiber optic assemblies may all look very similar, but there are so many shortcuts that can be taking the manufacturing process that degrade the quality of the cable, yet are completely unseen to the naked eye…. Like ticking time bombs, just waiting to be unplugged and then plugged back in and. SNAP, broken fiber at 2PM on a Saturday right before your daughter’s birthday party…

There are more reasons, but these are the major and most common ones. The next topic to address will be what to think about when planning for this job.

Posted in Customer Solutions, Network Cabling | Leave a comment

10 things you shouldn’t do when running network cable….

Posted on April 18, 2012 by johnandre001

Improperly installed cabling can cripple network performance, create maintenance headaches, and lead to hidden costs. Here’s where things can go wrong.

 

Network cabling can be a finicky thing. There was a day when people without appropriate knowledge and training were tasked with running cable by virtue of their other responsibilities. For example, telephone techs and electricians used to be tapped because they were cabling people. However, while telephones cables can sometimes tolerate quite a lot of error, data cabling is less forgiving. I’m focusing here on twisted pair cabling, not fiber. Here are 10 mistakes to avoid when you’re installing network cable.

Mistake 1: Not planning for the future

Perhaps your organization has provisioned 100 Mbps network connections to the desktop for now, even though 1 Gbps has become pretty standard. But suppose your organization is going to move to a new location and you need to install new cabling. Are you going to go with yesterday’s best cabling technology or are you going to install something that will meet today’s needs and your needs for the next few years? Remember, the labor is the most expensive part of your project. While top-of-the-line cable won’t be the least expensive option, you should consider reasonably high-end cable for your installation. Maybe you don’t go with the absolute best — after all, many organizations won’t need 10 Gbps to the desktop for quite some time — but don’t go for cheap, either.

Mistake 2: Using different cabling for voice and data

Twisted pair cabling used to be expensive, so companies used to install different cabling for voice and data needs. Since voice was a less picky service and required only a single pair of wires, less expensive cabling was used for voice while data enjoyed the bulk of the budget.

Today, a complete installation can still be pricey but the bulk of the cost is generally labor; cabling itself really isn’t a massive cost. Further, with the rise of services such as VoIP, voice in many places has transitioned to being a data need and requires data-level cabling. In fact, with the right VoIP equipment, you can often get away with using an existing data cable and then making use of the VoIP device’s built-in Ethernet switch to save on the cost of running multiple cables, if that becomes absolutely necessary.

The point here: Don’t simply assume that you can or should use old style category 3 cabling for voice. If you’re going to run a separate cable for a phone, match the data cable type.

Mistake 3: Not using cable management

Adding cable management is often seen as a “would be nice if” type of scenario. Adding ladder rack, rack-based cable management, and the like does add cost. But it also makes ongoing maintenance much, much easier. Bear in mind that the cabling work won’t stop with the initial installation. More cables will be added, and things will be changed. Make sure that you label appropriate cables, color-code cables, or implement some other kind of process to make it easier to identify cables later on.

Mistake 4: Running cable in parallel with electrical cables

Data cabling used “UTP” — unshielded twisted pairs — to achieve its goals. The magnetic field generated by the low voltage running through the cable is a critical component of the communications chain. When you run this unshielded cabling in parallel with electrical cables, that magnetic field is disrupted and the communication becomes noisy and garbled. In many cases, transmissions will simply not make it from Point A to Point B. In other cases, transmission rates will slow to a crawl as communications are constantly retried.

If you have to go near electrical power lines, cross them in perpendicular instead.

And now for a story: Way back in the late 90s, I was asked to look into why a newly installed coaxial cable wasn’t working. It was a building-to-building connection between two buildings that were very close to one another. Upon arriving at the site, I looked up and saw that the coaxial cable was twisted around the overhead electrical cabling that ran between the two buildings. Needless to say, it was easy to identify the cause of the problem.

Mistake 5: Running cable near “noisy” devices and fixtures

Noise can be introduced onto data cabling by more than just electrical wires. Fluorescent lighting, motors, and similar items that shed electrical or magnetic interference will wreak havoc on your cabling infrastructure as well. Make sure that in your planning, you leave a data cable pathway that avoids these kinds of hazards.

Mistake 6: Not minding distance limitations… to a point

If you’ve run any cabling at all, you know that the typical distance limitation for UTP cabling with typical Ethernet — up to 1 Gbps anyway — is 100 meters. However, if you’re running cabling for some other purposes, such as 10 Gbps or 40 Gbps, be mindful of the distance limitations associated with the type of cabling you intend to use. For example, if you intend to run 10 Gbps for up to 100 meters over twisted pair cabling, you need to use Category 6A or better cabling.

Mistake 7: Not following laws/codes/ordinances

This is really important for many reasons. First of all, failure to adhere to local codes can create dangerous issues for safety personnel. For example, in most places, use of PVC-jacketed cabling is prohibited in air handling spaces. When PVC burns, it creates a toxic stew that can be harmful to firefighters and other personnel that might have to navigate the area in the event of an emergency.

If you fail to follow local codes related to low voltage cabling, you risk fines and may even have to rip and replace your cabling. So make sure you verify your responsibilities before you get started and make sure that any contractors you have working with you are aware of local ordinances as well.

Mistake 8: Not testing your cabling infrastructure

Once the cabling is installed, you should test every cable using appropriate tools to make sure that it will be suitable for its intended use. This includes verifying length and cable specifications matched to needs. If you need 1 Gbps transmission speeds, verify that the cable’s properties will support that need.

Mistake 9: Not following standards

You know, there are only eight individual wires inside a cabling jacket. So why not just terminate them at random, as long as you use the same scheme at both ends and you’re consistent between cables? Well… that’s a bad idea. There are standards in place for a reason. The cabling standards take into consideration just how the cables are twisted and placed in the jacket. If you deviate from those standards, you risk introducing noise and inefficiency into your cable plant that can have a negative impact on overall network performance. The standards I speak of are known as EAI/TIA-568-A and B and dictate the method by which data cables should be terminated.

Mistake 10: Not running a cable when you need one

When a new cable run is required what is really needed? When you start adding Ethernet switches, you risk introducing unknown elements and instability into an otherwise well-designed network. In general, people use mini-switches when they just need to add a port or two, so there is very little traffic planning undertaken. Depending on the reason behind the need for the additional ports, this can be problematic. If the new services require a lot of network resources, you can create bottlenecks where you didn’t intend to. The lesson: Unless you have a really good reason not to, just run another cable (actually, run two; the cabling is cheap but the labor is similar)

 

Posted in Customer Solutions, Network Cabling | Leave a comment

Moving your office here is a few things you should think about….??

Posted on April 18, 2012 by johnandre001

1. Who is going to be moving your current system / servers? Where should you put data / phone jacks in office? Wireless access points?

2. Who will be moving existing phone lines / numbers?

3. Do you need access control and which doors should have it or not?

4. Do you need CCTV cameras inside and outside the building? Where should they be located effectively?

5. If you are using TV’s / computer displays where to mount them and what connectivity do you want? i.e. laptop, dvd, blue ray etc…

6.Conference room, do you need a projector, screen, whiteboard, automation etc..

7. If you use paging / PA system where would you like for the speakers to go, and how many volume controls are needed?

8. When your equipment is transferred, is the equipment room set up to accommodate the equipment? i.e. wall rack, backboard, freestanding rack, shelves etc…

9. Do you need to expand current phone system or upgrading phone system? i.e. VOIP, PBX etc…

10. CONTACT ANDRE` FOR FREE CONSULTATION: CUSTOMER 1ST COMMUNICATIONS 770-447-5000 aarceneaux@c1c.net

Posted in Customer Solutions, moving your business servers | Leave a comment