Business Issue/Requirement:

The Polycom VTX-1000 is a unique device that enables wideband audio over the traditional PSTN, which is normally limited to narrowband communications. In standard operation, one VTX-1000 can call another; they will recognize each other and “train” so they can send digitally encoded wideband to each other.

This model works fine, but only for point-to-point connections. It would be quite beneficial to have the VTX-1000 operate in wideband as part of a conference call. Several VTX-1000’s could conference together; two VTX-1000’s could conference in wideband while still allowing other participants (such as mobile phone users) to join the call in narrowband; or a VTX-1000 could participate in a wideband conference with other SIP-based wideband endpoints.

ZipDX Feature:

ZipDX supports the Polycom VTX-1000 as a wideband conference participant, and thus enables all of these scenarios that were not previously available. In many organizations, these are popular options that are very much in demand.

Use this Feature:

To access a ZipDX conference with a VTX-1000, dial 1-888-ZipDX-88 number as you normally would, or enable the ZipDX call-me feature. (It is important to use one of these two techniques to connect a VTX to ZipDX. ) You will initially join the conference in narrowband.

Once established in the conference on your VTX-1000, dial *88. ZipDX and the VTX will “train” and transition to wideband mode.

Even when connected in wideband, you can still use the VTX dial-pad to enter ZipDX “*” commands. However, you will notice that the keypad is only functional when the VTX is at its “home” status with no menu choices selected. Also, you will notice a slight delay after a key is pressed and before it is recognized by ZipDX; this is due to the special coding scheme used by the VTX.

Notes: The VTX-1000’s special digital mode is designed to work very well over “conventional” telephone lines. However, your results may not be as good if you try to use the VTX-1000 when connected to an IP-PBX or via international connections that use VoIP. The VTX may not be able to train, or the connection may not last very long. This is because these alternate connections do not adhere to the strict timing requirements required by the VTX and a standard part of the conventional telephone network. If you are trying to connect and conference in these circumstances, consider a SIP-based, HD Voice speakerphone, such as the Polycom IP-6000 or IP-7000.

If a VTX wideband connection is established and then drops, the intelligent ZipDX system will try to re-establish it automatically. ZipDX keeps track of the quality of the wideband connection, and if too many failures are encountered, it will cancel the automatic retries and leave the call connected in narrowband. The ZipDX online dashboard shows which participants are connected in wideband by displaying a special “speaker” icon. This icon will appear next to a VTX connection when it is trained in wideband.