I'll try to approach your question in the same order that you listed them

As far as not going with Verizon, good luck.

In regards to what you mentioned in the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs...here's what you have........ You have 1 T1 but it has been split in half. A full T1 is 1.544Mbps and you've already stated that you have 11 lines for fax and voice, you probably do have a 12th channels but it's probably being used for caller ID info. 12 channels at 64K each =768K, so that's half. That leaves you with, roughly, with 768 which you use for Internet. There's typically a CSU that a single T1 goes into and then that splits up the voice channels from the Internet/data. Off of that CSU is where you then get 2 cords with one plugging into a router and the the other feeding into your PBX using a PRI/T1 card.
In the switch programming you tell the card how many channels it uses. The cable that comes from the Winstar's CSU is set for only voice so the splitting of voice and data has to be done before the line is brought to your PBX/switch-PRI card.
If you were to trace the line back from your PBX's PRI-card and then also trace the line from your internet router..........you'll probably find that these "T-off" of one common device.

If you are happy with this then that's what you'll need to ask for when you go to shop for a new provider. It's usually cost effective for a small office but that's really where the advantage ends. There's no tehnological, or service redudancy benefit, from this service configuration. It doesn't really give you any redundancy because if the main T1 that feeds your office goes down ....you're toast.......both the voice and Internet side will die.

Good Luck

Eric

2wire

Excellent call Eric. Where I work we have some similiar setups and you nailed it to a T.

Just a little more info. When checking out for new service provider, ask them about channel banks for the T1. Even if you are only going to order half of a T, you will have the expansion to get additional service later.

You may want to seperate your voice and data services like Eric suggested. Then check into DSL for the office, or even a cable modem. These options may be cheaper than what you currently have in place. I am not sure about the pricing in NY, but it may work out for you.

Also, for some of our remote offices, we went with AT&T for both local service and long distance. Then we would check out the pricing for bundling both our voice and data with them or get price quotes from other service providers for the data. Sometimes they will match, but only for a name provider like Verizon or MCI.

Good Luck.

2wire

galve.

thanks guys for your replies. they were both helpful and insightful. i am having trouble w\ this message board in that my replies to this thread are not showing up, but thankfully i saved the text of my last reply which i wil repost here below. if this is the econd time you are reading it, i appologize in advance for my stupididty.

here goes:

i still believe that we have two T1s coming into our office b/c the 764 up/764 down bandwidth is dedicated, always there, regardless of how many lines are in use. but one of the newer service providers mentioned in passing that my internet connection may be provided by some sort of DSL solution. (personally, i dont think Winstar deals w\ DSL)

i was poking around w\ my PBX yesterday and it has lead me to some new questions that you guys may be able to help me with. as i said in my above post, 7 of our 11 lines plug into the pbx. and there are another 5 slots free. actually, unfortunately when i take one of the cables reprsenting an "outside line" and i place it into one of the unused slots, that line no longer rings on the pbx. i can hear the line ringing on my cell phone (which i used to call that particular line) but the office phones do not ring.

when i place the same cable back in its righful place the PBX will start ringing. furthermore, if i switch two cables that are in active slots, both lines will ring tho i suspect the button reprsenting each line on the operator console will be switched as well (i wasnt close enough to the opeartor console to check this out for sure, but it makes sense.)

this leads me to believe that the 5 unused slots are not yet activated. anybody know how i can activate these, if in fact this needs to be done?

also.. i am currious about some other seemingly available slots on my pbx. each of the above twelve slots comes in packs of 4.. so we have 3 sets of each. but right next to each set of four there is a 5th open slot that is slightly separate from the other four. does this slot also represent a possible line? (meaning that in its current state our PBX can hold as many as 15 lines?) somehow i dont think so. what is the Purpose of this 5th slot?

i also spoke w\ a Tech at winstar asking him about my current setup. he mentioned that each of their Ts offers 96 channels? is this possible? what kind of T is this? any ideas?

finally, one of you mentioned "good luck going w\ out verizon"... which i find an interesting statement. we have been w\ out verizon for about 6 or 7 years now and for the most part we have been very happy. we went thru a rough patch 3 years ago but it was typically due to an issue on our end. meanwhile, we saved a ton of money over verizon. i'd like to hear a lil more about your expeirnces w\ other voice and data providers.

thanks in advance for taking the time to reply!

cmm.

The problem with the ringing on the system is probably due to the fact that the original lines are in a pool that are assigned to the console phone. All you would have to do is add the other lines ports to the pool and then call in and make sure that the lines ring on the console phone.


The open slot (port) on the card next to the other 4 lines ports is a port for analog phone in case of a power failure. I believe that is what it is for, it has been awhile since I have wired for a power fail phone.

Good Luck.

2wire

2wire

The problem with the ringing on the system is probably due to the fact that the original lines are in a pool that are assigned to the console phone. All you would have to do is add the other lines ports to the pool and then call in and make sure that the lines ring on the console phone.


The open slot (port) on the card next to the other 4 lines ports is a port for analog phone in case of a power failure. I believe that is what it is for, it has been awhile since I have wired for a power fail phone.

Good Luck.

2wire


Also, please confiirm the extra port for a power fail port if you get the chance to try it before I get the chance to try it or look it up in the book.