GRP26xx - Multicast Paging Guide

Multicast paging is an approach to let different SIP users listen to a page from a common multicast IP address. In multicast page call, one-way audio will setup from sender to listeners, but the listeners cannot talk to each other. The sender and listeners must be located within the same LAN.

Users could configure line keys or multi-purpose keys to send multicast paging. Also, GRP26XX Carrier-Grade IP Phones are capable to listen to at most 10 different multicast addresses by following defined preference.

This document serves as an end user guide on how to configure multicast page on the GRP26XX Carrier-Grade IP Phones. To learn more about GRP26XX’s basic and advanced features, please visit https://www.grandstream.com/support to download the latest User and Administration Guide for GRP26XX phones.

Sending Multicast Paging

Configuration

Using Virtual Multi-Purpose Keys

For al GRP26xx (excluding GRP2601/P/W), sender multicast page configurations are under Web UI 🡪 Settings 🡪 Programmable Keys 🡪 Virtual Multi-Purpose Keys.

1. Set the key Mode to Multicast Paging in drop-down list.
2. Enter the multicast paging description in Description field.
3. Enter multicast paging address and port in Value field.

The range of multicast page address is 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255 with a port not in use by phone.

The below figure shows the example of setting Virtual Multi-purpose Keys to multicast page sending key.

Using Multi-Purpose Keys

For GRP26xx models that support MPKs (GRP2604/P, GRP2614,GRP2616,GRP2634,GRP2636), the configuration for the multicast page sender can be found in Programmable Keys 🡪 Multi-Purpose Keys.

1. Select Multicast Paging from the Mode drop-down menu.
2. Under Value, enter the multicast paging address and click on Save.

Using Idle Screen Softkeys

For GRP260x, sender multicast page configurations are under Web UI 🡪 Programmable Keys 🡪 Idle Screen Softkeys.

1. Enable the option “Custom Idle Screen Softkey Layout”.
2. Under Custom Softkey Layout select the option “paging” from the available list.
3. Then save the configuration.

For GRP261x/GRP2624/GRP263x/GRP2650/GRP2670, in order to configure Multicast paging sending using Idle Screen Softkeys, go to Web UI 🡪 Programmable Keys 🡪 Idle Screen Softkeys.

1. Enable the option “Custom Idle Screen Softkey Layout”.
2. Click the Add Custom Softkey button and choose Multicast Paging Address from the Key Mode drop-down list.
3. Under Custom Softkey Layout, select the the option Multicast Paging Address from the available custom Softkeys.

Upon pressing the paging key on the idle screen, users need to select the configured muticast IP under Phone Settings 🡪 Multicast Paging to where the muticast paging will be sent.

Using Virtual Extension

For GRP260x, starting from firmware 1.0.5.19, users can configure a Virtual Extension for different modes, one of them being multicast paging. This can be done in the Web UI 🡪 Programmable Keys 🡪 Virtual Extension.

1. Choose Multicast Paging from the Mode drop-down list.
2. Under Value, enter the multicast IP Address.
3. To access the virtual extension Web page, scan the QR code or click the link provided. The virtual extension can also be used as an app (iOS or Android).

Send Multicast Paging Call

After configuring the sender multicast page, users could make a multicast page to remote parties.

1. Press the configured MPK, VPK or Softkey to send a multicast page.

The LED light of the key will turn green and the phone screen will show the multicast address with defined label. See Figure 3 Multicast Page screen.

2. Press the “EndCall” soft key to end the multicast paging.

Receiving Multicast Paging

Configuration

To receive multicast page, the GRP26xx must be well configured to listen to the right address and port. The configuration is set up under Web UI 🡪 Phone Settings🡪 Multicast Paging. There are 10 listening address supported with priority levels 1 to 10. Optionally, each of these addresses can also have a label that will display on LCD when the page is received.

Multicast Paging Configuration

Paging Barge

This option is to control the priorities between multicast page and common SIP call. Available options are Disabled and numbers 1 to 10. If the option is set to disabled then all incoming pages are ignored while in call.

When the option is set to number, Paging Barge is enabled. If the number of Paging Barge is higher than an incoming page’s priority value (determined by the position in the list 1-10) then the incoming page is not played. Similarly, if the Paging Barge value is lower than an incoming page’s priority value, and then the active SIP call will be held. As an example, if Paging Barge is configured as 3. During an active call if incoming multicast page priority is greater or equal to 3, the current active call will be held, and page will be played. However, if the incoming multicast page priority is 1 or 2, the current active call will be kept.

Paging Priority Active

This option is to control the priorities among different multicast pages. If the option is disabled, the phone ignores any incoming pages when a page is already being played. Otherwise, incoming pages with a higher priority will be played instead of the current page. For example, if the phone is playing a page whose priority is 5 and there is an incoming page with priority 3, the priority 5 page will stop and the priority 3 page will play instead.

Receive Multicast Paging Call

After multicast page listening well configured, please reboot the phone to let the settings take effect. When there is a page on the listening address and port, the phone will play the incoming audio automatically. User can press “EndCall” softkey to end the page.