How the Line Hunter Works

The Line Hunter has been designed to provide effective call processing for two applications. First and foremost, it is a powerful call processor that handles both inbound and outbound traffic seamlessly.

Feature-rich and robust, The Line Hunter excels as a workhorse built for high-traffic commercial environments. The second function is designed for applications where inbound traffic is not important.

2-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY
The Line Hunter is a versatile 4-line Call processor that effectively handles two processing functions:
 

• FUNCTION 1  - FULL FUNCTION:
  Precision inbound call routing and outbound line hunting

• FUNCTION 2 - Outbound Hunting Only:
  Emphasis on out-going traffic.
  NO CALL ROUTING CAPABILITIES.
  Calls will only be directed to the PRIMARY LINE PORT ONLY (Ports 1, 4, 7, 10).

FUNCTION 1 - FULL FUNCTIONALITY

 
Precision inbound routing and outbound hunting:
- The benefit of this configuration is that all 12 ports have a unique telephone number (address) allowing the Line Hunter (using Selective Ring Service from Local Telephone Service Provider) to precisely route incoming calls to a particular device.

All telecommunications devices attached to ports on the Line Hunter will hunt for an available telephone line. NOTE: Selective Ring Service (3 telephone numbers per line: Master + 2 Selective Rings) MUST be ordered for each line for the precision inbound routing functionality.

High Capacity (12-Port) Routing:
-The Line Hunter is a four line call processor that uses the "Selective ring" service provided by the phone company to route calls to the proper port. Each phone line is assigned a "master" phone number and up to two unique phone numbers that ring in a distinctive pattern when a phone call addressed to a specific number comes in. For line 1, a single burst will ring device 1, a double burst ring will ring device 2, and a triple burst ring will ring device 3. Lines 2, 3, and 4 follow the same sequence.

The "Selective Ring" service goes by different names depending on the telephone company - Custom Ring by U.S. West, Smart Ring by GTE, Ring Master by Southwestern Bell, Call Identification Service by Ameritech, Ident-a-Ring by Verison, etc. These "ring management" services all work in the same manner. Up to three different telephone numbers can be requested from the phone company.

The numbers ring through a single line coming into a business or residence and each number can be distinguished by the pattern of the ring. These ring patterns are made up of various combinations of ring bursts.

Examples of the different ring patterns:
 

• Original Telephone Number - Regular Ring

• Second Telephone Number - 2 Rings
  (Short Burst - Short Burst)

• Third Telephone Number - 3 Rings
  (Short Burst - short Burst - Long Burst)

NOTE:
Each Service Provider has its own ring cadence identification.

The Line Hunter can be connected to up to 12 independent telecommunications devices. Each device has its own unique telephone number. The Line Hunter rapidly routes incoming calls to the appropriate device.
 

Operational Note:
Operating with less than 4 Telephone Lines will diminish the inbound routing capabilities. (4 Lines = 12 Ports, 3 Lines = 9 Ports, 2 Lines = 6 Ports, 1 Line = 3 Ports).

Unless all four telephones operational, the vacant PRIMARY LINE PORT and its subordinate ports will be by-passed and not be available for call routing functions.

Example:
If a telephone line is not attached to the Line 4 Position, Ports 10, 11, 12 will NOT be included in the routing sequence.

If a line is not connected, there will be no inbound call routing to its group.

HUNTING
- The Line Hunter hunts for an available line in a sequential order. That is, a device attached to port 1, 2, or 3 will be connected to line 1 if available. If line 1 is not available, it will be connected to line 2, 3, or 4 if they are available.

If no lines are available, the device will not be connected to any outside phone line. A busy tine can be provided to any device that requests an outside line when none are available (programmed using DIP SWITCH).
 

HUNT ORDER
- The hunt order for devices runs sequentially

Ports 1, 2, 3 first try to access LINE 1, then LINE 2, LINE 3, and LINE 4. Ports 4, 5, and 6 start with LINE 2, LINE 3. LINE 4 and LINE 1. Ports 7, 8, and 9 hunt LINE 3, LINE 4, LINE 1 and LINE 2, etc.

PHONE SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY
- The Line Hunter was not specifically designed to be integrated into the rollover sequence. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER OF YOUR PHONE SYSTEM FOR DETAILS.

PANEL FRONT - DEVICE SIDE

PANEL BACK - LINE SIDE

Precision Inbound Call Routing

AND...

Fast Outbound Line Hunting

FULL FUNCTION CONFIGURATION
- The benefit of this configuration is that all 12 ports can have a unique telephone number (address) allowing the Line Hunter (using Selective Ring Service from Local Telephone Service Provider) to precise route incoming calls to a particular device (or station).  

All telecommunications devices attached to ports on the Line Hunter will hunt for an available line. NOTE: Selective Ring Service (3 telephone numbers per line: Master + 2 selective Rings) MUST be ordered for each line for precision inbound routing functionality.

FUNCTION 2 - Outbound Line Hunting

This configuration places emphasis on outbound traffic. Up to 12 telecommunication devices are always in queue to hunt for one of 4 available lines, but only 4 ports will accept inbound calls.

Incoming traffic will NOT be routed. Incoming calls will be directed to the PRIMARY LINE PORT ONLY.

• Line 1 will ONLY connect Port 1 (Primary Line Port)

• Line 2 will ONLY connect Port 4 (Primary Line Port)

• Line 3 will ONLY connect Port 7 (Primary Line Port)

• Line 4 will ONLY connect Port 10 (Primary Line Port)

CALL ROUTING IN THIS CONFIGURATION

If Selective Ring Service is not used, the Line Hunter has no ability to 'locate' (or route to) ports.
 

• Line 1 will connect Primary Port 1 ONLY.

• Line 2 will connect Primary Port 4 ONLY

• Line 3 will connect Primary Port 7 ONLY

• Line 4 will connect Primary Port 10 ONLY

No further routing is possible - Ports 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12 are invisible to incoming traffic.

Inbound Calls go Directly to Primary Line Ports ONLY

Outbound Calls - All 12 Ports Hunt for Available Line

DIP SWITCH:
There is a six-position DIP switch that will enable/disable any phone lines connected to it (follow silk-screen on back panel for position selection). The DIP switch will also enable/disable a busy signal for outbound calls when the phone lines are not available.

It is recommended to disable any line that is not in use for the Line Hunter to be more efficient when hunting for any available line. Changes to the DIP switch settings take place immediately. Power does not need to be re-applied.

DIP Switch Programming

LED INDICATORS:
It has one green LED to show power status and four red LEDs to show the status of the 4 lines. The red LED indicators will glow solid when the line is in use.

They will flash if the line is enabled by the DIP switch but determined to be non-functioning, and the indicators will remain off if the line is disabled by the DIP switch or is idle.

FRONT PANEL - DEVICE INTERFACE:

The Line Hunter is equipped with 8-position modular jack interface (sometimes referred to as RJ-45) on the device (front) side. 8-position jacks are universal interfaces and can accommodate another 8=position jack or a smaller 6-position modular jack (sometimes referred to as RJ-11). Either type of modular jack will provide optimum performance.

FRONT - DEVICE INTERFACE

REAR PANEL - TELEPHONE LINE INTERFACE:
Four 110-Type, 4-pair connectors are provided on the line side. Termination is made to the BLUE/WHITE insulation displacement connector.

BACK - LINE INTERFACE

POWER SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BREAKER ((FUSE):
The Line Hunter comes with a power switch and circuit breaker that is manually reset.