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best expandable phone system ?
Q. Is there a consensus 'best' expandable phone system? Ideally it would have an answering machine. Are there any systems that allow more than one person to be on the line at a time without conferencing them?
A. Expandable in what way? More exchange lines? More extensions? What sort of trunks? POTS, BRI, PRI? By system what do you mean? PABX? Do you actually understand what you are asking here? Do you mean handling internal and external calls, or do you want two calls on one local loop? That needs ISDN or some other multiplexing method and isn't available on single POTS lines. Or do you mean an internal call between a couple of extensions and an external call using the local loop, which needs some sort of PABX or at least a key system. I really like the "insert your brand here" phone system. Most modern systems have a way to release privacy either fulltime or for a single occurance. Expandable by what? I think even the GE 4-line consumer phones can expand to 4 lines and 12 stations, but the answering machine goes in front of the system on a single line. Electronic key systems come sized in some sort of increment, either by 2x6, 3x8, 4x8, 6x16 (the first being lines, the second being stations). Most newer systems have a phone that can migrate through the entire product line. Among the newest, Comdial has a DX-80 system that comes out of the box at 4 lines 8 digital and 4 analog extensions, and can grow to 16x48x8. There is one phone, a 60 button set, but you can add an attendant's DSS (busy lamp station box). The nice features of this system is CID to ALL jacks, even the single line sets and it's built-in. The bad feature is it's price and it's made in China for Comdial. A Panasonic system, starts as a 3x8 with the 8 stations being multi-line or single line. Through expansion, you can grow to 6 lines and 24 phones in this cabinet, or 12 lines by 32 phones by swapping out the cabinet and keeping the phones. Either of the two systems above start at $600 retail for the cabinet plus $120-180 per phone for multiline sets. A GE system about $125 per set but you need electricity at each phone. The good thing about the GE is you can use existing wiring "daisy chained" to each location if you have one pair for each line. With an electronic key system, you will need "home runs" to each location and 1 or 2 pairs for each phone. You may also look on eBay for a used system. A Panasonic, oh wait, I have one of those listed :-), 308 cabinet can go for as little as $150 and you can buy all new telephones or use single line sets. Items to look for would depend on your budget. Stick to main brands and newer equipment. Look at the "NUTONE 2x6 PBX," but don't jump in and buy one if you don't understand the concept of PBX's. They are not user friendly no matter what someone tells you.
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