TITLE :UCM6104 innovative IP PBX appl ASIN : B00E5V7RV0 BRAND : Grandstream PRICE: $351.77 If not sure !!!!!! Check !!!!! Check Prices>> |
Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Very nice, especially when combined with VoIP service
By Eric T
I have not been a big fan of Grandstream's ip phones, but this ip pbx system is pretty nice! We have some offices that have been using these for a few months now, so I thought I'd do a review.
First, I love that it shows the current ip address on the LCD screen. Makes it easy to find the device on your network after you first connect it.
It has a built-in router capability and its own firewall security. This has pros and cons. The WAN/LAN ports are gigabit, so that is great if you do use it as a router. Most users won't use the router feature, but the extra security features are welcome (though they are rather confusing to setup).
The last two digits in the model number (02, 04, 08 or 16) indicate how many FXO (line-in) ports the system has (2, 4, 8 or 16). Example: The base model UCM6102 has 2 analog line-in (FXO) jacks. These FXO ports let you use 2, 4, 8 or 16 standard analog telephone lines. But the real power of this system is that
it supports even more simultaneous calls, 30, 45, 60 or 60 (depending on model) when using a digital (VoIP) phone service like voiSip. This not only saves you money, but provides more line capability, and is very easy to set up on this pbx. It is about like setting up email. Just enter the voiSip provided server address, username, password info into the pbx and you're all set for multi-line digital phone service. You can still use an analog jack (or two) for a landline backup if you need to. Nice feature that really makes the base model 6102 the best value.
All four models have 2 analog line-out (FXS) jacks. This lets you connect a couple of analog phones, or more likely a backup phone and a fax machine. If you do plan to use an analog fax machine with a VoIP service, make sure your internet service is not only fast, but also has low jitter and latency. Human ears can tolerate some jitter, but fax machines are not as forgiving.
The web based gui menu is
pretty good for a first effort. I think it still needs some development and refinement, but Grandstream is offering free firmware updates for the life of the product (typically a few years while the product is in active production). The menus are generally easy to navigate, once you spend a little time learning your way around. There's some inconsistency in the phone industry about terminology, so you may need to refer to the manual for a "translation" to find out what something does.
The build quality is pretty good. I think they could use a nice type of plastic, and a solid black would look better. But the two tone color fits the Grandstream brand color scheme, so they just have a different style preference than I do.
Some tips. Analog "land lines" get more spikes than power lines do. And these small pbx systems are not exactly "robust" when it comes to spikes. So if you plan to connect telco lines to the FXO ports of this device, be sure you use a
phone line surge protector on every line, between the wall and the pbx.
Other options in this product category are Cisco's UC320, the Xblue X50, and the LynxVox digital phone system. The Cisco is a lot pricier than UCM6102, but is a bit more robust. The Xblue is more of a direct, entry level competitor, and is usually bundled with phones. The LynxVox is the most powerful system, and it is only slightly more expensive than the base model Grandstream.
In summary, the Grandstream UCM6100 systems are feature packed devices, at a very attractive price range, with only a few software and menu quirks to deal with. The base model, with its 30 simultaneous VoIP call capability, it an especially good bang for the buck.
My biggest concern with the Grandstream pbx would be using it with Grandstream phones, which I am not very fond of. Consider using other brand ip phones, or free software phones.
Enjoy!