VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Version 1.1(2) Release Notes
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Table Of Contents
Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Version 1.1(2) Release Notes
Setting Echo Cancelling Policy
Modifying Serial Settings for Async Ports
Setting and Clearing MWI Messages
SMDI Support for Voice Mail Integration
Updates to Cisco CallManager Compatibility
Using Cisco CallManager Version 3.1
Using Cisco CallManager Version 3.2
Changes to the Cisco CallManager Interface
Adding the VG248 Gateway to Cisco CallManager
Configuring VG248 Analog Ports
Obtaining Technical Assistance
Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Version 1.1(2) Release Notes
April 17, 2002
These release notes are for use with the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway with software version 1.1(2). The VG248 enables you to integrate analog telephony devices and existing voice mail systems (using Simplified Message Desk Interface) with Cisco CallManager IP telephony systems.
These release notes provide the following information:
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Updates to Cisco CallManager Compatibility
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New and Changed Information
The following topics describe features now available in version 1.1(2) of the VG248 software:
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Enabling Fax Relay Per Port
When making fax calls through a VG248, the VG248 uses either fax pass through or Cisco fax relay to transport the document information. Fax pass through sends the signals in an audio form similar to that used for a normal voice call, and Cisco fax relay encodes the information in a different format which is converted back to analog fax signals by the other party in the call.
Fax relay is more robust and should normally be enabled. However, some types of modems sometimes appear to the VG248 to be sending fax signals. In these cases, Cisco fax relay should not be initiated. If you experience these modem problems, disable fax relay on the affected ports on the VG248.
In previous versions of the VG248 software, you could enable fax relay for the entire device. All ports would then be configured to initiate Cisco fax relay or to use fax pass through only.
With version 1.1(2), you can now enable fax relay on a per port basis instead. This enables you to configure individual ports for Cisco fax relay or fax pass through to ensure best performance depending on the types of fax machines attached.
After upgrading to version 1.1(2), Cisco fax relay is enabled by default on all ports. To disable Cisco fax relay and use fax pass through instead, follow these steps:
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Setting Echo Cancelling Policy
You can now select an alternative method for cancelling echo that might be present in the system. For an explanation of the echo issues in IP telephony networks, refer to the document, Echo Analysis for Voice over IP, available at the following location on Cisco.com:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/intsolns/voipsol/ea_isd.htm
The default echo cancelling technique in version 1.1(2) is identical to previous software versions. You should only change this setting if you experience certain specific echo issues in your network and you are instructed to do so by a Cisco technical representative.
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Modifying Serial Settings for Async Ports
The VG248 software release 1.1(1) introduced the use of the Async 1 and Async 2 serial ports for the transportation of SMDI information to accomplish integration with analog voice mail systems. However, the Async 1 and Async 2 ports were only able to run with a certain fixed serial configuration: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit.
Version 1.1(2) extends this capability by enabling you to modify these parameters. Versions 1.1(1) and 1.1(2) of the VG248 software requires that you disable flow control on the Async serial links.
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Async port speed
This parameter defines the baud rate used for the Async 1 and Async 2 serial connections used to connect VG248 devices to an analog voice mail system or to a legacy PBX. The speed of the Async 1 and Async 2 must be the same, and this speed must match the baud rate of the analog voice mail system's SMDI port. If you have chained multiple VG248 devices together, ensure that each device is set to the same port speed.
Async 1 or 2 Data Bits
You can set the number of data bits being used for the serial connection of the Async 1 or Async 2 port to be 8 (the default value) or 7.
Set this value to match the corresponding setting of the device to which the Async port is connected.
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Async 1 or 2 Parity
You can set the parity on the Async ports to: none (the default setting), even or odd.
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Async 1 or 2 Stop Bits
You can set the number of stop bits being used for the serial connection of the Async 1 or 2 port to be set to either 1 (the default value) or 2.
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Setting and Clearing MWI Messages
If the VG248 is not properly setting or clearing message waiting indicators (MWIs), you should verify that you have properly configured this option.
To enable the VG248 to set or clear message waiting indicators (MWIs), ensure that the MWI port (commonly referred to as VG248 port 0) is configured within Cisco CallManager to have a unique directory number. If this port does not have a directory number, the VG248 is unable to set or clear message waiting indicators.
See Chapter 5, "Integrating Cisco CallManager with Voice Mail Systems Using SMDI" in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide for details:
Previous Updates
The following topics describe features previously available in version 1.1(1) of the VG248 software:
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SMDI Support for Voice Mail Integration
You can use the VG248 with v1.1(1) software to integrate your existing voice mail systems (such as Lyrix, Octel 200, Octel 250, Octel 300 and Octel 350) and legacy PBX systems with Cisco CallManager. See Chapter 5, "Integrating Cisco CallManager with Voice Mail Systems Using SMDI" in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide for details:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_1/sw_confg/vg248smd.htm
Support for Italian Phones
The VG248 now supports the tones, cadences and telephone impedances used by standard Italian phones. Countries previously supported include: North America (USA and Canada), United Kingdom, Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.
Call Forward Dial-Tone
When forward all is activated, users now hear a distinctive dial tone to indicate that all calls are currently being forwarded to a different directory number.
Documentation Roadmap
Table 1 provides summaries and locations of available documents for the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway.
Table 1 Available Documentation for the Cisco VG248
Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Hardware Installation Guide
Provides the site preparation, safety information, and hardware installation and setup instructions to safely install the VG248.
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http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_0/hard_ins/index.htm
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Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide
Provides information about understanding, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting the VG248.
Online at Cisco.com—HTML and PDF versions of this document are available from Cisco.com:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_1/sw_confg/index.htm
Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Version 1.1(2) Release Notes
Describes known caveats and any documentation errata for the VG248.
Online at Cisco.com—HTML and PDF versions of this document are available from Cisco.com:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_1/rel_note/vg248rn3.htm
Updates to Cisco CallManager Compatibility
You configure the VG248 differently depending on the version of Cisco CallManager you are using in your network. Refer to these sections for tips on using the VG248 with your version of Cisco CallManager:
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Using Cisco CallManager Version 3.1
The Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide provides the information needed to use the VG248 with Cisco CallManager 3.1. Refer to the "Documentation Roadmap" section for information on obtaining this document.
To use auto-registration with the VG248 and Cisco CallManager 3.1, you must use Cisco CallManager 3.1(3a), which is available at the following location on Cisco.com: http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/tablebuild.pl/callmgr-31.
Using Cisco CallManager Version 3.2
Cisco CallManager 3.2 includes some interface changes that require you to manage the VG248 slightly differently than with Cisco CallManager 3.1. The following sections provide details about these changes:
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Changes to the Cisco CallManager Interface
When using the VG248 with Cisco CallManager 3.2, you have access to new features, including:
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This allows you to add the device as a VGC gateway to Cisco CallManager and then configure each of the ports as VGC phone models. This consolidates each of the 48 analog or SMDI ports onto a single device. However, once you add the gateway and ports to Cisco CallManager, you still must configure these ports in the VG248 interface. See the "Adding the VG248 Gateway to Cisco CallManager" section for details.
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This port appears if you are using the VG248 to integrate analog or SMDI devices. However, the VG248 uses this port only when setting or clearing MWIs on phones using SMDI. See the "Configuring VG248 Analog Ports" section for details on configuring ports.
Important Caveats
When using the VG248 with Cisco CallManager 3.2, these important caveats apply:
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You must add the VG248 to Cisco CallManager manually. See the "Adding the VG248 Gateway to Cisco CallManager" section for details.
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During the upgrade process, Cisco CallManager automatically creates a new VG248 gateway device based on the port information you entered in Cisco CallManager 3.1
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You can ignore these fields; they are not used by the VG248.
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Although you cannot locate the device using the gateway search, you can locate the device by searching for the VGC phone model.
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If you use this option, Cisco CallManager automatically configures 49 ports, rather than 48. You can delete port 49; it is not functional.
Adding the VG248 Gateway to Cisco CallManager
With Cisco CallManager 3.2, you must manually add the VG248 as a gateway following this procedure:
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Only one MAC address exists for the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway, but Cisco CallManager requires unique MAC addresses for all devices. By entering only 10 digits of the MAC address, Cisco CallManager is able to use the MAC address for the gateway and append additional information to it to create the MAC addresses for the VGC phones. See the "Configuring VG248 Analog Ports" section for details.
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Configuring VG248 Analog Ports
Each port on the VG248 corresponds to an analog or SMDI device in your IP telephony network. To manage these devices using Cisco CallManager you must add each port to the Cisco CallManager database. To Cisco CallManager, each port is recognized and handled as a phone. For example, if you have 48 devices connected to the VG248, you must add and configure 48 ports to Cisco CallManager. Cisco CallManager recognizes 48 separate phones connected to it.
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Before You Begin
This procedure is identical in Cisco CallManager 3.1 and 3.2 and is also described in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide. It is included here for your convenience.
However, this procedure describes the process for adding analog ports to Cisco CallManager. If you are using the VG248 to integrate SMDI devices with Cisco CallManager, you must refer to the detailed procedures included in the software guide. See Chapter 5, "Integrating Cisco CallManager with Voice Mail Systems Using SMDI" in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide for details:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_1/sw_confg/vg248smd.htm
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If you need assistance entering the directory number information, refer to the documentation and online help included with Cisco CallManager for details.
Fax Over IP Support
The VG248 supports fax pass through and Cisco fax relay using the Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP). For detailed information about fax support on this and other Cisco voice gateways, refer to the Implementing Fax Over IP on Cisco Voice Gateways document available from Cisco.com at the following location:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/fxmdmnt.htmResolved Caveats
Table 2 includes the list of caveats from the VG248 1.0(2) or 1.1(1) that have been resolved with this software update 1.1(2).
Open Caveats
Open caveats are unexpected behaviors or defects in the software releases for a product. Table 3 contains information about known problems for the VG248.
If you have a Cisco.com account, you can search for known problems on the Cisco bug tracking system tool, called Bug Toolkit. To access Bug Toolkit do one of the following tasks using a web browser:
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Table 3 VG248 Open Caveats
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Audio volume is reduced on extensions with a Ringer Equivalence Number (REN) of three.
The VG248 supports a maximum REN of three per port. This means that as many as three devices, each with a REN of one, can be connected as extensions to a single VG248 port. The VG248 allows a maximum of two devices to be off hook at any time.
The VG248 will not be damaged if devices with a total REN greater than two are off hook at the same time on a single port, but users on these extensions might experience quieter audio than normal, and possibly no audio at all.
To work around this problem, ensure that no more than two extensions on a single port are off hook at the same time. To, do this, restrict the total REN of all extensions on a port to two.
For more information, refer to the section "Connecting Too Many Phones to the VG248" in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide:
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VG248 loses audio during excess broadcast network traffic.
If the VG248 is attached to a network on which a large amount of broadcast traffic occurs, this traffic might have adverse effects on the operation of the VG248. These effects include reduced audio quality and, in extreme circumstances, loss of Cisco CallManager registration for some ports. If the latter situation arises, a large number of discarded packets are reported (both for receive and transmit) on the VG248 Network Statistics screen. To get to the Network Statistics screen from the Main screen, select Display > Network statistics.
These situations would occur only if the broadcast traffic were to exceed several Megabits per second. This is far higher than the normal rate and likely would cause other network problems.
The workaround is to identify the source of the broadcast data and prevent it from generating excessive amounts of network traffic. The VG248 will recover and recommence normal operation once the excessive broadcast condition ceases.
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FTP sessions to the VG248 will be disconnected after 10 minutes of inactivity.
When an FTP connection has been established to the VG248 (typically for the purposes of performing a software upgrade), and has been left idle for 10 minutes, the VG248 automatically disconnects that session.
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Successive VG248 ports are not guaranteed to obtain sequential directory numbers when registering with Cisco CallManager in auto-registration mode.
On start up, the VG248 attempts to register all its enabled ports with Cisco CallManager in numerical order. However, this numerical registration of directories is not guaranteed. One reason numerical registration might not be successful is that there might not be large enough contiguous blocks of directory numbers available.
To work around this problem, manually create the ports in Cisco CallManager before enabling them on the VG248. You must know the device name that the VG248 will give to each port; this name is normally derived from the VG248 MAC address. You can then explicitly assign directory numbers to ports, thus following any desired pattern.
For more information, refer to the chapter "Configuring Analog Phones Using Cisco CallManager" in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_0/soft_con/vg248swp.htm
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VG248 port status shows up as "Not Found" in Cisco CallManager.
The VG248 requires Cisco CallManager version 3.1(1) or greater. However, version 3.1(1) and certain other Cisco CallManager versions do not contain support for the VG248 within the Real-time Information Service, which is used to collect information for display through the Cisco CallManager web interface. Therefore, the current status of VG248 port registrations is not available for these versions of Cisco CallManager.
This is solely a display problem; VG248 ports are able to register successfully with all versions of Cisco CallManager from 3.1(1) onwards. The ability of the ports to perform all required telephony operations is not affected by the lack of support by the Real-time Information Service.
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Loss of functionality due to insufficient network bandwidth.
Cisco recommends that you connect the VG248 to a switch or router port capable of full duplex operation. In addition, Cisco recommends that this port be capable of running at 100 Mbps. If there is insufficient network bandwidth available, reduced audio quality is likely to occur. Also, some ports might lose their Cisco CallManager registrations.
The bandwidth requirement does not apply only to the connection between the VG248 and the Ethernet port to which the VG248 is attached. The same capacity is potentially required at each intermediate connection in the path to remote endpoints or gateways. For example, if the route to the rest of the VoIP network involves a 1.5-Mbps T1 link, this is likely to result in losses of functionality on all but the most lightly loaded VG248.
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Voltage might be too low for Message Waiting Indication (MWI) lamps on some phones.
Some older phones that use MWI lamps might not light up, even if the VG248 port is configured to indicate Message Waiting with the Lamp setting. To check this setting, choose Telephony > Port specific parameters > MWI type from the Main screen:
This problem arises because these MWI lamps require a line voltage greater than the maximum voltage that the VG248 can supply.
If you suspect that your MWI lamp should be lit, check the configuration of the port and the status of the messages in your mailbox. If the configuration is correct and you have a waiting message, you should try replacing the phone with one of a similar type to confirm that your phone is not faulty. If the lamp still does not light, you probably have a phone that cannot have its MWI lamp lit by the VG248. Other phone functionality is not impaired by the lamp deficiency.
The only workaround to this problem is to consider replacing your phone. Test the new phone before committing to a large purchase.
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Interrupted FTP put operation might leave a partial file present on the VG248 filing system.
If you are using an FTP put operation to write a file to the VG248 internal filing system, and the operation is interrupted, a portion of the file might remain on the VG248 system. In such a scenario, if the partial file is a software build-image file, the VG248 will probably fail when restarted.
To work around this problem, always check the size of the file after the transfer to make sure it is the same size as the original file. If it is not the same size, re-attempt the file transfer.
For more information, refer to the "Resolving an Incomplete Upgrade" section in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide:
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Silence suppression is always reported as off.
When a call is in progress, the VG248 per-port status screen displays the codec in use and indicates whether silence suppression is active.
Silence suppression, which is configurable in Cisco CallManager, means that no media packets will be transmitted if they contain silence. Transmission will resume once the user commences speaking.
The VG248 does not support the silence-suppression feature; therefore this setting will always be off. However, the VG248 can communicate with parties performing silence suppression, so you can allow this feature to remain enabled in Cisco CallManager.
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Unable to achieve modem connection speeds greater than 33.6 kbps per second.
Running a modem connection through a VG248 port involves complex conversions between the VG248 and the far end-modem. Therefore, normal modem speeds might range from 28.8 to 33.6 kbps.
Some modems might run at speeds slower than 28.8 kbps per second.
For best performance, Cisco recommends that ports intended for use with modems are configured with Cisco CallManager to use only G.711 media.
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Failure to connect with Cisco CallManager in auto-registration mode
The VG248 should be able to connect to Cisco CallManager using auto-registration or manual registration. However, auto-registration might not work with some versions of Cisco CallManager 3.1 and 3.2.
To avoid this problem, configure the VG248 ports in Cisco CallManager before enabling them on the VG248 itself.
For more information, refer to the "Configuring Analog Phones Using Cisco CallManager" section in the Cisco VG248 Analog Phone Gateway Software Configuration Guide:
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/voice/c_access/apg/vg248/v1_0/soft_con/vg248swp.htm
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Async LEDs light even if serial settings are incorrect
An analog voice mail system or PBX attached to one of the Async ports on the VG248 via a serial connection must have its own serial interface running with settings matching those on the VG248. Specifically, these settings are: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit and no flow control.
When the Async 1 or Async 2 port has a serial connection to a voice mail system or PBX, the corresponding LED on the VG248 front panel should light, indicating the link is established at the hardware level. However, a lit LED does not necessarily indicate that the speed and parity settings are correctly matched.
If you experience problems using SMDI, check that the necessary Async 1 or Async 2 LEDs are lit, and then check the serial interface settings of the voice mail system or PBX.
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FTP directory listing on VG248 does not show correct date information.
When you issue a directory listing command in an FTP session, the date stamp for each file is shown as "Jan 1, 1900." This is because the VG248 filing system does not store a date or time for its files. However, because some FTP client programs normally show such information in directory listings, the VG248 displays a fixed date value for those clients for compatibility reasons.
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Message Waiting Indicator might cause some modems connected to VG248 to erroneously detect ringing.
If a VG248 port is configured to indicate Message Waiting with the Lamp setting configured, and there is a message waiting, then a modem connected to this port might falsely detect a ringing condition. If the modem is configured to auto-answer, it might also attempt to answer the call. In some cases, this situation can prevent the modem from making an outgoing call (even if auto-answer is not configured). From the main screen on the VG248 choose Configure > Telephony > Port specific parameters > MWI type to change the MWI type.
Not all modems detect the lamp Message Waiting Indication (MWI) as ringing, and those that do are typically not prevented from making outgoing calls altogether, although some attempts might fail.
The workaround for this problem is to disable the Lamp MWI for this port (ideally disable MWI altogether). If this is not possible or is impractical, then the problem might be cleared by retrieving the waiting message, then cancelling the MWI. Furthermore, you should disable auto-answer on modems connected to VG248 ports that have the Lamp MWI setting configured.
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Fax machines connected to the VG248 might return to the on-hook condition immediately after answering an incoming call.
When the VG248 receives an incoming call, Caller Identification (CID) is sent along with the signal in order for the called device to ring. In some countries, CID information is sent between the first and second rings, while in other countries it is sent just before the first ring.
In cases where the CID information arrives before the first ring, some fax machines answer the call but immediately hang up.
To work around this problem, disable Caller Identification for VG248 ports to which a fax machine is connected. To do this, choose Configure > Telephony > Port specific parameters from the main menu on the VG248.
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Message Waiting Indicator (MWI) might not behave as expected after a configuration change.
The VG248 supports three methods of Message Waiting Indication (MWI):
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You can select any of these three methods, pairings of the methods, or no MWI at all (from the main screen select Telephony > Port specific parameters > MWI type). The display on the phone will not necessarily be updated to reflect configuration changes you make.
The MWI Caller ID (CID) option is affected by whether incoming call Caller Identification is enabled or disabled for a port.
To work around these issues, clear all Caller Identification information before changing the MWI configuration for a given port. Then, manually check for waiting messages once the configuration is finalized.
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Certain modem calls may fail if fax relay is enabled
Certain modems, when connected to the VG248, send signals during operation that the VG248 detects as fax tones. If the VG248 is configured with Cisco fax relay enabled and the Cisco fax relay negotiation between the VG248 and the remote party is successful, a Cisco fax relay connection initiates between the two endpoints. However, this Cisco fax relay connection is not suitable for general modem traffic, and the modem call fails soon after it has been established.
The only workaround for this problem is to disable the use of Cisco fax relay and to rely on fax pass through instead. In VG248 software images prior to 1.1(2), you must disable Cisco fax relay for the entire device. With version 1.1(2), you can disable fax relay on a per-port basis. See "Enabling Fax Relay Per Port" section for details. Ensure that Cisco fax relay is enabled on only those ports to which fax machines are connected.
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Large amounts of input gain may cause dialing problems
The Input gain setting determines how much to increase or decrease the volume of audio from the attached analog handset before sending it across the IP Telephony network. The default value is 0dB, which leaves the audio unchanged, but can range from -6dB to +14dB. With certain telephone handsets, if this parameter is set to too high a value (for example, 12dB or higher), problems might occur when dialing digits. These problems result because dialing digits involves sending certain frequencies of tone from the telephone to the VG248. If the volume of these tones is increased to such an extent that they become distorted, the VG248 cannot recognize them properly.
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Ordering Documentation
Cisco documentation is available in the following ways:
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http://www.cisco.com/web/ordering/root/index.html
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http://www.cisco.com/go/subscription
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Documentation Feedback
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You can self-register on Cisco.com to obtain customized information and service. To access Cisco.com, go to the following URL:
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Inquiries to Cisco TAC are categorized according to the urgency of the issue:
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Which Cisco TAC resource you choose is based on the priority of the problem and the conditions of service contracts, when applicable.
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