First Published: October 8, 2020

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Release Notes for Firmware Release 4.8

These release notes support the Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series running Firmware Release 4.8.

This release supports the following devices:

  • Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station

  • Cisco IP DECT 210 Multi-Cell Base Station

  • Cisco IP DECT 110 Repeater

  • Cisco IP DECT Phone 6823 Handset

  • Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Handset

  • Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Ruggedized Handset

The Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series is compatible with the following systems:

  • BroadSoft BroadWorks 21.0 and later

  • Asterisk 13.1 and later

The firmware release versions are:

  • Base station version: 4.8; (displayed on the device as firmware version V0480 B000x)

  • Handset version: 4.8; (displayed on the device as firmware version V0480 B000x)

  • Repeater version: 4.8; (displayed on the device as firmware version V0480 B000x)

New and Changed Features

The following sections describe the features that are new or have changed in this release.

Access Code Addition to Handsets

You can set an individual access code for each handset when you assign the handsets to the users. This feature helps to identify the extension you assign to each user.

You can assign the access code in the Terminal web page of the base station or the configuration file (cfg.xml).

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Base Station and Repeater Name Display

You can view the base station and repeater name from the administration web pages. The base station name is configured on the Management web page. The repeater name is configured on the Repeater web page when you add the repeater.

You can identify the base station or repeater to which the handsets communicate. The Extensions web Page has these changes:

  • The Location field is renamed to Terminal Position.

  • The Terminal Position includes the RPN number and the base station or repeater name.

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Certificate Time Validation Enhancement

You can specify the time server or set the PC time in the base station and enforce certificate time validation during TLS authentication. If the base station doesn’t receive the time, the certificate period validation is ignored.

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station

You can set up a simple Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) network with the Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station and Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Handset. The single-cell base station supports up to 20 handset registrations, with up to 10 narrowband, 8 secure narrowband, or 5 wideband active calls.

If you find that some building locations don't get a good signal, you can add up to 6 Cisco IP DECT 110 Repeaters with a Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station to the network. A repeater extends the DECT coverage of the base station.

If you need more than 10 narrowband, 8 secure narrowband, or 5 wideband active calls, or 6 repeaters, you need a multicell system.

The single cell base station can't be connected into a multicell network (that is, a network with the Cisco IP DECT 210 Multi-Cell Base Station).

The single cell base station requires Firmware Release 4.8.

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Cisco IP DECT 110 Repeater

You can use the Cisco IP DECT 110 Repeater to improve the DECT coverage on your building. The repeater works with one Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station and one or more Cisco IP DECT 210 Multi-Cell Base Stations.

  • With one single-cell base station, you can configure up to 6 repeaters.

  • With the multi-cell base station, you can configure up to 3 repeaters per base station.

The single cell base station and repeater require Firmware Release 4.8.

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Cisco IP DECT Phone 6823 Handset

The Cisco IP DECT Phone 6823 Handset is added to the Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series portfolio. The Cisco IP DECT Phone 6823 Handset looks similar to the Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Handset but doesn't have a rich feature set.

Where to Find More Information

  • Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

  • Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series User Guide

Multicell Provisioning Enhancement

You can configure a multicell system automatically without a primary base station. The multicell system uses one base station configuration file for all base stations.

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Paging

Users can set up paging on the DECT system. They can have up to three paging groups with handsets in each group. You configure the paging groups on the Management web page with the Multiple Paging Group Parameters.

To send a page, a user dials a group number. The base station listens to the paging group and all the handsets registered with the base station receive the page. The user sees or hears an incoming page notification. You configure the page notification in the Call Progress Tones Web Page.

Here are the paging scenarios when the user receives a page:

  • If the handset is idle, the page plays through the speakerphone.

  • If the handset is active, the priority level of the page which can be set between 0 and 3 determines the behavior. A user sees or hears the page notification and the page plays when the call goes on hold or after the call ends.

  • If the handset receives another page with an active page, the higher priority page interrupts the lower priority page. When both the pages have same priority, the active page plays and the incoming page goes on hold.

  • If the system has push to talk and paging configured, a page interrupts a push to talk session.

  • If the handset has Do Not Disturb (DND) mode set, the handset blocks all incoming pages.

Where to Find More Information

  • Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

  • Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series User Guide

Password Enhancements

You can set the minimum password length. Passwords can contain uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

You set the minimum password length and restrict the use of ASCII characters in the Security web page of the base station or configuration file (cfg.xml).

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Security for Media

You can configure the base station to protect media sessions with the call control system (RFC 3329). You can enable the media security only when the SIP transfer protocol is TLS.

You enable the media security in the Servers web page of the base station or configuration file (cfg.xml).

This feature has no user impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Session Log Enhancements

You can view these session logs in the Syslog web page:

  • Change in authentication

  • Change in HTTP sessions

  • Change in unrestricted access

  • Change in administrative access

  • Indication of attacks and misuse

  • Change in software image

  • Change in clock settings

  • Change in logging level

  • Security logs sent to server

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Shared Call Enhancements

Shared line users can now select a line from the shared lines list and make a call. When there’s an incoming call to a shared line, all the handsets with the shared line ring.

When the user has a call on a shared line, another handset with the same shared line can join the call (barge). If the user puts a shared line call on hold, another handset with the same shared line can retrieve the call.

Where to Find More Information

  • Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

  • Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series User Guide

Swap Call with Navigation Key

Users can use the navigation ring to swap a call. They press the navigation ring up or down to place the current active call on hold and answer the incoming call.

This feature has no administration impact.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series User Guide

Temporary Handset Addition to Base Station

You can temporarily add handsets without any configuration, SIP registration, or SIP account to the base station. To add the handset, you enable promiscuous mode in the Management web page of the base station, configuration file (cfg.xml), or press the Reset button on the base station for 5 seconds. Promiscuous mode allows you to add up to 30 unregistered handsets to the base station and update the handsets with the configuration file.

The base station controls the duration of promiscuous mode. The maximum duration in promiscuous mode is 255 minutes when enabled with the Management web page or configuration file. The maximum duration is 5 minutes when enabled with the Reset button. The handsets deregister when promiscuous mode times out. If a handset update is in progress, the promiscuous mode timer resets.

The server may request login credentials or a short activation code on the handset to download the configuration file.

Where to Find More Information

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide

Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series User Guide

Upgrade the Firmware

You can upgrade the base station and handset firmware with TFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS. You upgrade the base station first and then update the handsets after the base station update completes. The base station upgrade may take about 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete and reboot. After the base station upgrades, you can then upgrade the handsets. The handset upgrade may take 20-30 minutes to download and verify, and an extra few minutes to load the new firmware file. The handset must be placed in the charger and not removed until the handset loads the firmware file and reboots.

You access the Cisco Software Download page to get the firmware in zip files. The zip files contain these firmware files:

  • For the base station, the zip filename starts with:

    • IPDect-DBS110 for Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station.

    • IPDect-DBS210 for Cisco IP DECT 210 Multi-Cell Base Station.

  • For the repeater, the zip filename starts with IPDect-RPT110.

  • For the handset, the zip filename starts with:

    • IPDect-PH6823 for Cisco IP DECT Phone 6823 Handset.

    • IPDect-PH6825 and IPDect-PH6825RGD for Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Handset and Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Ruggedized Handset.

The Firmware Release 4.8 zip files contain these files:
  • Base station:

    • Cisco IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station: IPDect-DBS110.0480MPP-12_REL.zip

    • Cisco IP DECT 210 Multi-Cell Base Station: IPDect-DBS210.0480MPP-12_REL.zip

  • Cisco IP DECT 110 Repeater: IPDect-RPT110.0480MPP-2_REL.zip

  • Handsets:

    • Cisco IP DECT Phone 6823 Handset: IPDect-PH6823.0480MPP-13_REL.zip

    • Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Handset: IPDect-PH6825.0480MPP-12_REL.zip

    • Cisco IP DECT Phone 6825 Ruggedized Handset: IPDect-PH6825RGD.0480MPP-12_REL.zip


Note

  • If you upgrade the base station from Firmware Release V460B1 or earlier, the administration user ID and password reset to the default values.

  • After you install this load and then need to downgrade the release to Firmware Release V460B1 or earlier, you must perform a factory reset on the base station. This reset will set the administration user ID and password to the default values.

For detailed information about the upgrade procedure, refer to the "Maintenance" chapter in the Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide.

Before you begin

You need the TFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS server information.

Procedure

Step 1

From your browser, go to https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323307.

Step 2

If required, sign in with your user ID and password.
Step 3

Click IP DECT 110 Repeater with Multiplatform Firmware.

Step 4

Select All Release > MPP DECT v4 > 4.8.1.

Step 5

Download the zip file for the required version.
Step 6

Return to https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323307.

Step 7

Click IP DECT 110 Single-Cell Base Station with Multiplatform Firmware.

Step 8

Select All Release > MPP DECT v4 > 4.8.1.

Step 9

Download the zip file for the required version.
Step 10

Return to https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323307.

Step 11

Click IP DECT 210 Multi-Cell Base Station with Multiplatform Firmware.

Step 12

Select All Release > MPP DECT v4 > 4.8.1.

Step 13

Download the zip file for the required version.
Step 14

Return to https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323307.

Step 15

Click IP DECT 6823 with Multiplatform Firmware.

Step 16

Select All Release > MPP DECT v4 > 4.8.1.

Step 17

Download the zip file for the required version.
Step 18

Return to https://software.cisco.com/download/home/286323307.

Step 19

Click IP DECT 6825 with Multiplatform Firmware.

Step 20

Select All Release > MPP DECT v4 > 4.8.1.

Step 21

Download the zip file for the required version.
Step 22

On your PC, unzip the files.
Step 23

Access the TFTP server file system.
Step 24

If not available, create a Cisco directory.

Step 25

Open the Cisco directory.

Step 26

Copy the new base station firmware file to the Cisco folder.

Step 27

Copy the new handset firmware file to the Cisco folder.

Step 28

Complete the upgrade as described in the Cisco IP DECT 6800 Series Administration Guide.

Limitations and Restrictions

System Behavior During Times of Network Congestion

Anything that degrades network performance can affect phone system voice quality, and in some cases, can cause a call to drop. Sources of network degradation can include, but are not limited to, the following activities:

  • Administrative tasks, such as an internal port scan or security scan

  • Attacks that occur on your network, such as a Denial of Service attack

Caller Identification and Other Phone Functions

Caller identification or other phone functions have not been verified with third-party applications for the visually or hearing impaired.

Base Station Firmware Downgrade Limitation

After the upgrade for V460 B4, a downgrade of the base to a firmware version earlier than V460 B2 requires you to factory reset the base. This factory reset will reset the login credentials to the defaults. If you don't perform the factory reset, you can't log into the administration web pages.

Base Station Alert Due to a Clock Synchronization Error

The base station self-check process fails if there’s a clock synchronization error. When this error occurs, the LED on the base station flashes red, amber, and green. In this case, we recommend the standard RMA process.

Open Caveats

The following caveats are open at the time of the release.

  • CSCvv10832 Promiscuous mode - Misleading \"Failed\" popup message

  • CSCvv12830 Dect DBS210 sent in reSync request at incorrect time

  • CSCvv17686 The 6825 DECT IP Phone handsets - cradle powering indicator feedback (trials)

  • CSCvv20439 Deregistered handset during scrolling in central directory, handset first call fails

  • CSCvv20496 SCA-Led incorrect after handset retrieve the Hold call

  • CSCvu36700 3PCC-DBS: fail to unquote special char & ' added in Broadworks tags

  • CSCvv60897 SIP IOP test case 178 MCA missing header information

  • CSCvv83447 The 6823 DECT IP Phone handsets - cradle powering indicator feedback (trials)

  • CSCvu94051 Password change web UI issue

  • CSCvt96414 Not able to see the base station from handset

Closed Caveats

The following caveats were resolved for the release:

  • CSCvv08894 DBS210 repeatedly reaching out to get configuration files

  • CSCvv08911 The CP-6825-3PC-NA-K9 phone LCD display is constantly flashing