General information for Ascom phones.
User management via remote connection
For some Telavox customers using Ascom devices, we have the option to help them add, remove and edit users remotely to their DECT base stations. On these customer images, there is usually info in the Alex box in Partner that refers to a ticket with instructions for which web address to log in via and which login details should be used. If it is not possible to access the page despite the correct web address, in some cases, an older browser may be needed to access this and the recommendation is then to test with Mozilla Firefox Portable .
When you first enter the base station, click on DECT User Administration
Once inside, you can either click on Show to display all user accounts currently in the base station, or New if you wish to add a new user.
To edit an account, you just click on the name of the account and can then freely change and save the contact details in the box that appears.
Usually, you enter name, phone number, SIP details (user & password) and IPEI/IPDI number here, where IPEI/IPDI is a type of serial number for the handset, which will be on the handset itself, its packaging or found via the handset's settings.
Should a user change or get a new handset, the following steps must be taken:
- Click Unsubs.
- Click OK
- Click on the user account to open the box again
- Enter new IPEI/IPDI
- Click Apply
- Click OK
Now the customer just needs to restart the handset. Alternatively, wait a little while and the handset will then be updated with the correct account via their base station. Note that some digits may be automatically cut off from IPEI/IPDI when you save, but this is only visual and will not affect functionality.
The field Auth. We usually don't need to change the code at all, but let this be.
If you wish to change something other than IPEI/IPDI, it is enough just to change and click OK and it will be changed immediately.
If you are unsure of what to fill in some of the fields or what format it should be in, it is recommended that you open another user and use it as a template when you set up a new account or edit an existing account.
Handheld devices
Ascom Handset:
Ascom has the following handsets in its range that can be connected to the IPBS Master base -> Ascom d41 , Ascom d62 , Ascom d81 , Ascom d43 and Ascom d63 .
Contact your Ascom supplier for more information on range, prices and functions.
Admin Menu:
The handsets have a hidden admin menu. The path there differs slightly by model. To enter the menu, you have to navigate to the Call tab and then select Call time.
Once inside this menu, the following command must be entered on the handset: -> * <- <- * ->
IPDI/IPEI and Serial Number:
Information about the device's IPDI/IPEI and Serial Number can always be read on the box from the manufacturer. You can also find IPDI/IPEI and Serial Number under the battery on all devices. The IPDI/IPEI number is entered into the DECT Master to link handsets to the system, it is the unit's so-called Identity number. Information about IPDI/IPEI can also be retrieved via the Admin menu.
Factory Reset:
From the handset, a Factory Reset can be performed by entering the Admin menu. At the bottom is Factory Reset. If you press it, the question “Reset portable?” pops up. Click Yes and the handset will then reboot. A reset success message will appear on the display when everything is done.
Bluetooth:
Ascom devices with Bluetooth provide the possibility to connect a Bluetooth headset to the device. One problem I have encountered is that the Ascom d62 has Bluetooth version 2.0. The latest headsets on the market usually have Bluetooth 3.0 or later and thus Bluetooth headsets for the Ascom d62 are no longer supported. Ascom recommends instead switching to the Ascom d63, which has Bluetooth version 3.0.
Manual register of handset against IPBS Master:
If a DECT unit fails to make an automatic registration against the master base, a manual registration can be performed from the handset. The path to the System menu may vary depending on the model you are using. Navigate to System and select Register. Important that the device's IPDI/IPEI is linked to a User in the Master base. Then follow the guide below:
1) Enter "System name". The IPBS system name is set during the installation of your IPBS Master.
2) Enter the PARK ID under "PARK". PARK ID can be found via the Master base under the "Users" tab.
3) Enter "AC". The system or user authentication code is also set during the installation of your IPBS Master.
4) Press no when prompted to "Enable deregistration protection".
5) Finally, the registration must be confirmed.
When the registration is complete, the message "Registration complete" will appear on the display. If the registration fails, start by doing a Factory Reset on the device via the Admin menu. If that doesn't help, check the settings on the User that is posted, is the IPDI/IPEI number correct? Also, check that the correct PARK ID, AC and System Name have been entered. In case of continued problems, contact your Ascom supplier.
Software Upgrade:
The handsets' software is visible under Users in your IPBS Master. It is also possible to obtain information about the device's version in the Admin menu. Ascom has an Advanced Charger for the Ascom d41 and d62 that can be purchased for updating handsets, the software that is installed is called WinPDM. Via the program, the devices can be updated and administered to a certain extent, e.g. address books can be administered and imported via the tool. We at Telavox do not have the Ascom Advanced Charger in our range, our recommendation is to contact Ascom if it would be of interest.
Site Survey:
There is a Site Survey tool for the handhelds. The Site Survey Tool can be found via the Admin menu. Here you can, for example, see and measure the signal from the handset to the base. A value up to -68 dBm is OK for satisfactory call quality. It is also possible to activate the range beep/error beep tester etc., to troubleshoot range between bases and so-called Speech coverage.
IPBS1 & IPBS2 Master configuration
Recommendations when installing DECT bases:
The DECT bases work on the 1800MhZ band. Each base has a range of up to 50 meters indoors, it is recommended that measurements be made for larger installations. IPBS1 and IPBS2 should be mounted on the wall for the best possible range. There are two different values that are good to know when installing a system, Air Sync coverage and Speech coverage. Air Sync coverage means target values that the DECT bases must have to be able to synchronize over the radio, recommended value for Air Sync is > -83 dBm. It is also important to take Speech coverage into account as the bases can communicate over radio for a longer distance than the handset can handle. With the correct planning of these values, you ensure that the sound quality is good until the handover is made to the next base. Ascom recommends not mounting DECT bases on metal, near electrical cabinets with high-voltage protection or near high-frequency fluorescent tubes. An IPBS1 or IPBS2 has 8 voice channels, which means 8 simultaneous calls per base. It is possible to put 3 bases close to each other, then you have to think about a distance of 20 to 25 meters between the bases.
Recommendations of Firmware and Bootcode:
We recommend Firmware version 14.1.16, it is verified and tested by Talk Telecom 2020.
Network:
Generally, port 16384 to 32767 is used for audio stream and signaling from IPBS Master to PBX, as well as communication between Master and Slave.
There are also other ports that are used, for example, administration via Web GUI port 80 and services such as LDAP port 389. NOTE! That the ports may differ between different Firmware releases.
Installation of the Ascom IPBS DECT Master:
Connect to the base by either entering the IP address in the browser or http://ipbs-xx-xx-xx, alternatively http://ipbs2-xx-xx-xx depending on the IPBS version. Note that xx-xx-xx are the last 6 characters of the MAC address. During configuration, you will be asked to reboot the system for some changes to take effect. Press Reset if the option appears at the bottom of the page.
Log in with the following credentials:
Username: admin
Password: changeme
TIP: If you do not know which MAC or IP address the base has been assigned. The IPBS bases have DHCP as the default value, in case of uncertainty about which IP address the base has been allowed to look in the DHCP server among leases, the hostname looks like the path for the MAC address. If you lack access to the DHCP server, in such cases, use some kind of tool for IP scanning (e.g. Angry IP scanner).
1) To start the configuration of the IPBS device, select whether the base should use DHCP or Static IP address. Go to IP and change the value to client if DHCP is to be used, change to Disabled if it is to be Static IP address. Important to enter correct information if Static IP address is selected, default gateway and DNS etc
2) Our recommendation is to set a personal password for the system. This is done under the tab General -> Admin. Also, take care to change the Device Name to what is desired, for example, the location of the IPBS base.
3) By default, there is no NTP server (time server) set in the base. Go to General -> NTP and enter an IP address for an NTP server, eg 193.11.166.2.
4) Go to DECT -> Master and change the value for Mode to Active.
5) Go to DECT -> System and change System Name to, for example, the company name or desired system name. Create a system password under the same path, this password must be entered in those slave bases that will connect to the system. Select "Subscriptions With User AC" if you want to set personal AC for all handsets connected to the system or "Subscription With System AC" if you want to create a system AC that applies to all registers. Change Tones to SWEDEN, Default Language to Swedish, Frequency to Europe and select Coder G711A with a Frame (ms) of 20.
6) Go to DECT -> Master and check Enable PARI Function. Select Protocol SIP/UDP and enter sip.telavox.se under Proxy and Domain. Tick Enblock Dialing and Allow DTMF through RTP. Registration Time-To-Live is set to 3600[sec].
7) Go to DECT -> Radio and enter the system name under Name. Enter the system password under Password, change the PARI Master IP address to 127.0.0.0
8) Go to DECT -> SARI and enter the SARI number that came with the order from the supplier.
9) Go to DECT -> Air Sync and set Sync Mode to Master.
10) Go to VoIP and tick SIP under "No Validation of Request URI".
11) To register SIP users and DECT devices. Go to Users and select New, retrieve and enter the information from the SIP user in Partner. Display name is optional, for example, enter the customer's desired display name. Long Name, Name and Auth. Name should be u<number> (Example u0101511560), Number should only consist of the number (Example 0101511560). Password is obtained from Partner under SIP user. IPDI/IPEI appears on the box from the supplier, alternatively, the data can be retrieved from the phone at startup if you cancel the automatic registration.* Auth. Code optional. ATTENTION! Only used if User AC is pre-selected under system, go back to point 5 for more information.
12) The d41, 43, d62, d63 and d81 handsets are automatically registered if IPEI / IPDI has been entered according to point 10. You can also register manually from the handset by selecting Menu -> Settings -> System ->Subscribe via the handset. Start by entering the system name, same as point 5. Enter PARK (Same as the SARI code, alternatively you can find it under Users) and enter Auth. Code, depends on what is pre-selected in point 5. Then press next and select No when prompted to Activate Deregistration Protection. Press Next and confirm the registration.
Connect IPBS Slaves to the system:
To connect and configure IPBS Slaves to the system, follow the "Slave" configuration wizard.
Upgrade Firmware:
Start by downloading a Firmware file and a Boot file from your Ascom supplier. We recommend version 7.2.17 as it is verified by us. ATTENTION! It is important to choose the right file for the right base station, for example, there is IPBS1 or IPBS2.
Start by going to Backup and taking a backup of the system. Then go to the Update tab and start by uploading the Boot file under Boot, then upload the Firmware file under Firmware and then perform a system reset. Always start with the Master base. It is important to update all DECT slaves in the system, otherwise, they will not sync up to the Master.
ATTENTION! If an IPBS1 is set as Master, it must not be updated to Firmware version 9.1.X or later. The Master function is eliminated with this version and IPBS1 functions only as Slave.
Configure DECT Cluster:
It is possible to configure DECT Cluster where radio sync is not possible between DECT bases. For example, a customer has two different sites but everything is part of the same LAN, DECT based on site 1 does not reach DECT based on site 2 and two clusters must be configured. Each cluster must have an Air Sync Master. Go to DECT -> Air Sync and change Sync Mode to Master on a base station. Sync Region is the number for the cluster you are building, choose a number and if several DECT bases are to be connected to the same cluster, you set one of the bases as Master in Sync Mode and the rest of the bases as Slave where the same Sync Region number must be entered. ATTENTION! Handovers via radio do not work between different clusters.
Other recommendations:
The IPBS Master has a function called Supplementary Services. Services like this are not used from the base to any further extent. Functions such as DND and Call Waiting are managed from Partner/Home using Profiles and activation of Call Waiting. From my own experience, the Enabled setting has caused some strange errors. Customers who have, for example, succeeded in entering commands with * or # by mistake can, for example, activate a plus service in the Ascom system, something that also complicates troubleshooting a bit. It is possible to change the value to Disable under DECT -> Suppl Serv.
Ascom has released firmware version 9.1.X for IPBS1 and IPBS2. If an IPBS1 is set as Master, it must not be updated to version 9.1.X or later. The Master function is deactivated for an IPBS1 and then functions only as a Slave.
IPBS1 & IPBS2 Slave configuration
Recommendations when installing DECT bases:
The DECT bases work on the 1800MhZ band. Each base has a range of up to 50 meters indoors, it is recommended that measurements be made for larger installations. IPBS1 and IPBS2 should be mounted on the wall for the best possible range. There are two different values that are good to know when installing a system, Air Sync coverage and Speech coverage. Air Sync coverage means target values that the DECT bases must have to be able to synchronize over the radio. The recommended value for Air Sync is > -83 dBm. It is also important to take Speech coverage into account as the bases can communicate over radio for a longer distance than the handset can handle, with the correct planning of these values you ensure that the sound quality is good until the handover is made to the next base. Ascom recommends not mounting DECT bases on metal, near electrical cabinets with high-voltage protection or near high-frequency fluorescent tubes. An IPBS1 or IPBS2 has 8 voice channels, which means 8 simultaneous calls per base. It is possible to put 3 bases close to each other, then you have to think about a distance of 20 to 25 meters between the bases.
Recommendations of Firmware and Bootcode:
We recommend Firmware version 7.2.17, this version is verified. Important that all IPBS bases have the same Firmware and Bootcode version installed. Otherwise, they will not succeed in the synchronization.
Installation of the Ascom IPBS DECT Slave:
Connect to the base by either entering the IP address in the browser or ipbs-xx-xx-xx where xx-xx-xx is the last 6 characters of the MAC address. During configuration, you will be asked to reboot the system for some changes to take effect. Press reset if the option appears at the bottom of the page.
Log in with the following credentials:
Username: admin
Password: changeme
TIP: If you do not know which MAC or IP address the base has been assigned. The IPBS bases have DHCP as the default value, in case of uncertainty about which IP address the base has been allowed to look in the DHCP server among leases, the hostname looks like the path for the MAC address. If you lack access to the DHCP server, in such cases, use some kind of tool for IP scanning (e.g. Angry IP scanner).
1) To start the configuration of the IPBS device, select whether the base should use DHCP or Static IP address. Go to IP and change the value to client if DHCP is to be used, change to Disabled if it is to be Static IP address. Important to enter correct information if Static IP address is selected, default gateway and DNS etc
2) Our recommendation is to set a personal password for the system. This is done under the tab General -> Admin. Also, take care to change the Device Name to what is desired, for example the location of the IPBS base.
3) By default, there is no NTP server (time server) set in the base. Go to General -> NTP and enter an IP address for an NTP server, eg 193.11.166.2.
4) Go to DECT -> Master and change the value for Mode to Off.
5) Go to DECT -> Radio and enter the system name that is set in the Master configuration under Name. Enter the system password created in the Master configuration under Password. Change the PARI Master IP address to the address that the Master base has received, e.g. 192.168.1.50. The DECT base is now told to synchronize with the system's IPBS Master.*
6) Go to DECT -> Air Sync and set Sync Mode as Slave.
* It is possible to connect IPBS Slaves via the Master base by leaving the slaves in broadcast mode and skipping the above steps initially. Briefly, you go to Device Overview and click on Add when a new IPBS is connected to the same LAN as the Master unit. The new IPBS base is listed under Uninitialized Registrations. When you add the device, you can set a Device Name, for example, the location of the base. The newly connected IPBS base starts communicating with the Master base as soon as you have confirmed the setting, it can take up to 5 minutes before all settings are downloaded.
Upgrade Firmware:
Start by downloading a Firmware file and a Boot file from your Ascom supplier. We recommend version 7.2.17 as it is verified by us. ATTENTION! It is important to choose the right file for the right base station, for example, there is IPBS1 or IPBS2.
Start by going to Backup and taking a backup of the system. Then go to the Update tab and start by uploading the Boot file under Boot, then upload the Firmware file under Firmware and then perform a system reset. Always start with the Master base, it is important to update all DECT slaves in the system, otherwise they will not sync up to the Master.
ATTENTION! If an IPBS1 is set as Master, it must not be updated to Firmware version 9.1.X or later. The Master function is eliminated with this version and IPBS1 functions only as Slave.
Configure DECT Cluster:
It is possible to configure DECT Cluster where radio sync is not possible between DECT bases. For example, a customer has two different sites but everything is part of the same LAN, DECT based on site 1 does not reach DECT based on site 2 and two clusters must be configured. Each cluster must have an Air Sync Master, go to DECT -> Air Sync and change Sync Mode to Master on a base station. Sync Region is the number for the cluster you are building, choose a number and if several DECT bases are to be connected to the same cluster, you set one of the bases as Master in Sync Mode and the rest of the bases as Slave where the same Sync Region number must be entered. ATTENTION! Handovers via radio do not work between different clusters.
Other recommendations:
The IPBS Master has a function called Supplementary Services, services like this are not used from the base to any further extent. Functions such as DND and Call Waiting are managed from Partner/Home using Profiles and activation of Call Waiting. From my own experience, the Enabled setting has caused some strange errors, customers who have, for example, succeeded in entering commands with * or # by mistake can, for example, activate a plus service in the Ascom system, something that also complicates troubleshooting a bit. It is possible to change the value to Disable under DECT -> Suppl Serv.
Troubleshooting IPBS1 & IPBS2
The Ascom system is equipped with a couple of tools for troubleshooting. I will list a couple of these and briefly describe them.
Device Overview:
This overview shows all IPBS bases in the system. here it appears which MAC addresses and IP addresses the bases have. Which Sync Region is set, Device Name on all IPBS bases and Connected Time. It is also possible to see if they have Sync with the Master base or not.
DECT Sync:
Under this menu, you can retrieve information about the IPBS Bases' sync values, their so-called RSSI value. There are also 3 colors, green means that the base is synchronized and has a good enough RSSI value to the nearest base, yellow means that it is synchronized but an RSSI value < -83 dBm and red means that the base is not registered due to too bad values or incorrect configuration.
Traffic:
Here you can follow all ongoing calls in the system, it is an interesting tool for troubleshooting if the phones do not ring during incoming calls. It is possible to see, for example, if the call comes in, when alerting to the handset is in progress and when the call is connected. If you do not receive any packets under Traffic, it is a sign that the packets are being dropped by, for example, the firewall, troubleshooting in the firewall's logs is recommended in that case.
Diagnosis:
Under the Diagnostics tab, there are some good and handy tools for troubleshooting. Here are logs to retrieve and configure (SYSLOG) from the system, alarms and an event log that shows various error codes and events. It is also possible to activate Tracing through Remote PCAP, the option is then to filter out which information you are interested in reading via Wireshark. If you are interested in SIP packages only, it can be ticked under the Tracing tool.
There is also a tab called Config Show where the entire configuration is visible in text form, in the event of a possible error report to your supplier or Ascom, it may be a good idea to send that information. Ping, traceroute and RFP scan are also good to know; they are also under diagnostics. The latter can, for example, scan the area to see if there are any other nearby systems. It is recommended to remove all old equipment before setting up the new system. RFP scan can then, for example, reveal whether there are still DECT bases from the old system.