Phone System Project
Current status
We began using the new phones in staff offices and FBCS classrooms in December 2007. Dorm lines are still using the older phone system, which continues to degenerate. Old phones start squawking night and day, work only occasionally, or refuse to work at all. Any significant blip in the electrical system could require an immediate replacement. This creates pressure to replace the system faster than funding allows.
As a nonprofit organization, we completed a case study and applied for an upgraded license from 3CX, the provider of our phone software. They approved our application and granted us the Professional license, a value of $995.
Next steps
Voice quality is the most significant issue we face. We have taken several steps to address the problems. When our students arrived for fall semester with their laptop computers, voice quality on the phones decreased dramatically. The problem is that our phone traffic shares bandwidth on the current computer network, and we must separate the phone and computer networks to eliminate the data congestion. This requires additional hardware and wiring. Although we anticipated that possibility, our current fund for phone system is low, with donations used for server upgrades, switch equipment, and phone purchases.
Next we must extend our phone network into East Wing dorms, which have never been wired for network. Several volunteers recently completed the work necessary to run wiring into the dorm areas. We nearly have enough network equipment and cable for this project, but we cannot add more phones before we address the voice quality issues.
The final step is to buy and provision new phones for dorms, meeting rooms, and other stations. We will have a total of 80 phones across campus.
Funding
We have used donated funds in the phone system fund for the upgrades to the phone server, network equipment, and related support costs. The phone system fund stands at $3,700.00, while the project requires a total of $15,300 to complete, a difference of $11,600.
If all funding were available now, we could begin wiring fiber across campus and have the phone system functioning over a period of several weeks. If funding for the network infrastructure ($5,300) were available now while funds for Phase II rollout ($10,000) would become available over several months, we could create the framework and then buy phones as funds allow.
Cost estimate
Testing equipment |
$700 |
Equipment for testing, research |
Phase I rollout |
$1,600 |
Phones for initial business line deployment |
Network testing |
$500 |
Software, equipment for testing |
Network infrastructure |
$7,200 |
East Wing CAT 5e wiring, switches |
Phase II rollout |
$10,000 |
Remaining phones, command modules |
Total |
$20,000 |
On track to complete the project within budget |
Partners
We have already seen a strong response from alumni and other partners who helped with the project. Alumni gave readily to the project. Volunteers ran wire and connected equipment. Consultants offered their knowledge for free. We have been blessed by these gifts, and we are so grateful to God and His people for meeting our needs.
Possibilities for collaboration include funding, volunteering, and consulting. If God lays this project on your heart, please
11/17/2008 UPDATE: Thanks to the generous responses to our appeal for funds, we have received adequate contributions to upgrade our phone system. Please remember us in prayer as we work on deploying this new technology.
02/05/2009 UPDATE: We have completed the upgrade to our new phone system, with ongoing work to iron out a few bugs. We're thankful to those who contributed financial support along the way. We're also grateful to those who offered advice or time as we considered, planned, and completed this project. Thanks especially to these individuals:
- Amzie Yoder
- Conrad Shank
- Dave King
- Johann Butikofer
- Joshua Tosten
- Lynford Slabaugh
- Keith Zook
Updated 02/05/2009 RZ
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