This article will explain how to set up and use the various extension options that are available on the Advanced tab of the Modify Existing Extension page.

LIMITED ACCESS  

Checking this option reveals two data fields - "From" and "To".  If you want to place restrictions on which other extensions are able to call this extension directly, you can enter the range of extensions that are allowed.  Only this numerical range will be able to direct dial the user.  You are only allowed to enter a single range, so you will need to put some thought into your extension numbering plan before deploying this feature.  For example, if you want the senior managers in a company to be blocked from direct dial calls from all extensions except other senior managers and staff, you would want to number all of the allowed extensions in the same range.  In this example, the only phones that will be able to dial this extension are the users in the range of 4001 to 4050.

OUTBOUND PIN  

Checking this option restricts the ability for this extension to place outbound trunk calls.  Calls to 911 are still allowed by default unless you have further restricted 911 dialing.  Instructions for restricting 911, and for limiting access to PBX feature codes, are published HERE.   When the Outbound PIN option is activated, the user must enter the passcode as a prefix to the phone number for any outbound trunk call.  This PIN is defined globally, using the "Change Passcodes" tool link, located under the "Additional Tasks" menu tab.  In this example, to be able to dial a telephone number (not an internal extension or group number), the user must dial 841, followed by the 10 digit phone number, before pressing Send or Dial.

DUAL REGISTRATION

This feature can be used in one of two ways:

1. Register a second end point to an extension user.  This can be a softphone app running on a smartphone, desktop computer, laptop computer or tablet computer.  It can also be another IP desk set.  The second end point shares the same extension number as the primary end point and the same voicemail box.  Both of the registered phones can make outbound calls through the PBX, and inbound calls can be directed to either or both phones by using a feature code.

2. Send incoming calls simultaneously to a cell phone or other outside phone number. When this feature is deployed, any incoming call to the extension user, regardless of its source, can be set to forward out to a cell phone as a secondary destination.  Entering a feature code from the desk phone allows the user to choose whether incoming calls should only ring the desk phone, only ring the cell phone, or ring both phones.

To register a second end point:  Activate the Enable check box and also the SIP Peer check box  Leave the other fields blank.

After you save this change and reload the PBX, a second peer registration will be created and you will be able to register an additional end point to this extension number.  The secondary registration is identical to the primary registration, except that the User ID/Registration ID has a lower-case r added to it.  If you create a Dual-Registered SIP peer for extension 4540, for example, you enter 4540r into the phone for its User ID and its Registration ID.  The SIP password is the same one used for the primary end point.  When you have successfully registered a secondary peer, you will see two entries in the SIP status display (Additional Tasks/SIP Status):

Feature code 36 is used to control the inbound ring selection.  Pressing 36 from either phone's dialpad and pressing send (or dial, or the # key, depending on the phone) returns a system prompt:  "Changing Station.  Press 1 for Home, Press 2 for Remote Base, Press 3 for Home and Remote Base".  Pressing 1 means that only the primary end point will ring on incoming calls.  Pressing 2 selects only the secondary end point for incoming rings.  Pressing 3 means that both end points will ring.

To set a cell phone as a secondary destination:  Activate the Enable check box.  Make sure the SIP Peer box is NOT checked.  Enter a 10-digit phone number in the field.  Select a trunk for the PBX to use for the forwarded call.

Feature code 36 is used to control the inbound ring selection.  Pressing 36 from your desk phone dialpad and pressing send (or dial, or the # key, depending on the phone) returns a system prompt:  "Changing Station.  Press 1 for Home, Press 2 for Remote Base, Press 3 for Home and Remote Base".  Pressing 1 means that only the desk phone will ring on incoming calls.  Pressing 2 forwards all calls to the cell phone without ringing the desk phone.  Pressing 3 means that both the desk phone and the cell phone will ring.

When deploying this feature, pay attention to the ring behavior settings for the extension itself, plus any group ring behaviors.  You may need to adjust the "Number of Rings" setting on the SIP & Dialing tab.  If this is set too low, the forwarded call may not actually ring the cell phone for very long - or at all - before the extension voicemail kicks in.  If it is set too high, the cell carrier's voicemail may answer the call instead of the PBX extension voicemail.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

These 4 features are on by default, but any of them can be disabled for an extension by unchecking the box:

Unchecking the Show in Directory option will remove this extension from the Dial-by-Name Directory.  If you are using Dial-by-Name, you will want to turn off the appearance of any generic extensions, i.e. "Conference Room", or "Kitchen", etc. from the directory, or to make any named user invisible to the directory search function.  There are detailed notes about the Dial-by-Name Directory feature HERE.

The ability for an extension to transfer inbound and/or outbound calls to other extension users can be disabled with the next two options.

The last option is to turn off the "comfort" progress tone that the extension user hears after initially dialing a number.  The ring tone after dialing a number is called a "comfort" tone and it is intended to let the user know that the call is progressing normally.  It does not, however, necessarily mean that the destination phone is ringing yet.  If you turn this option off, the caller will hear silence until a connection is made to the terminating phone carrier - much the same as when you call from a cell phone.  This is more accurate feedback to the user, but it is also disconcerting since people are used to getting that ring tone immediately.

CALL RECORDING

If you want to turn on full-time recording for this extension, you may set that here.  You can also manage this from the "Call Recording Settings" link, which is a separate page under the Extensions tab.  Turning this option on will record all inbound and/or outbound calls associated with this extension - except for queue (ACD) calls.  Ad Hoc (on demand) recording is always available for any user by using either the prefix dial code (default is 75) or the in-call activation (*74).