Channel groups

What is a Channel group?
Adding a Channel group
Configuring a Channel group
Renaming a Channel group
Deleting a Channel group

What is a Channel group?

Channel groups are containers of telephone lines configured on your switch and they normally reflect the type of line coming into your organisation and their groupings, e.g. ISDN 30, ISDN2, Analogue Fax lines etc.

The Discovered Channels folder

When you first configure the system, a channel group, called Discovered Channels, is created by default in the Directory. The function of the Discovered Channels folder is to pick up newly discovered channels and it should not be renamed or deleted from the system. Once you have created your own groups, you can move channels from the Discovered Channels folder to the newly created ones. For information on how to move channels from one group to another, check the  Moving a channel between two groups section.

Adding a Channel group

If you are not using any directory synchronisation object, TIM Plus will not know what groups exist within your organisation. In this instance a Discovered Channels folder is automatically added to the Directory.

If you are synchronising with a third party system (e.g. Cisco AXL), you will automatically pick up the Channel groups as they are configured in your phone system.

Once you create your own groups in the system, you can move channels from the Discovered Channels folder to any other folder of your choice. For information on how to do this, visit the Moving a Channel between Channel groups section.

If you would like to add additional groups yourself, ensure that you have theChannel groupstab selected, then click on theAddbutton on the  top right corner of the panel. This will open a new window allowing you to add the group's name and any access code your group  might be using. Once you set these parameters, click on theAddbutton and a new group folder will be created in the Directory.

Configuring a Channel group

To configure the Channel group's properties, select the group and click on thePropertiesbutton from the top right corner of the panel, as shown below:

This will open a new window where you can configure the properties of your Channel group:-

General

Each Channel group will require a name by which it can easily be identified. This is normally related to the name by which it is referred to in your organisational directory.

Channels in this group emulate network termination

This option is applicable only if you have a call recording option in place. If your trunk is part of an ISDN group, it can be ignored. If the trunk is part of a Private circuit, you will need to turn this on, by tickink the box next to it.

Telephony

The Telephony option allows you to decide whether you would like to exclude the Channel group from having calls logged and/or recorded against it (assuming a Magic box in place to allow recording). If you do not want calls for this channel group logged, recorded or included in call statistics, tick the box provided:

NOTE: If channels are excluded from call statistics, they will not be counted when looking at call concurrency.

Tariff

Within TIM Plus, you have the ability to cost different groups of channels at different rates. To apply a different tariff,  expand the drop-down list and selected from the options provided.
By default, TIM Plus is supplied with a standard BT tariff which will automatically pick up national, international and mobile dial codes. Bespoke tarfiffs can also be provided. For costing contact your supplier or [email protected] who can refer you to the appropriate person for pricing.

Renaming a Channel group

To rename a Channel group, highlight the group you want to amend and click on thePropertiestab.

In the new window, highlight the current name and overwrite this with the new group name, then pressSave.

Deleting Channel group

To remove a Channel group from the Directory, select the group you want to remove and click on thePropertiesbutton. In the new window that opens, you have the option to delete the selected group. You will also be asked to confirm the deletion, in order to prevent groups being deleted accidentally.