Music On Hold by Easy On Hold

PBX/KEY Telephone System

A PBX or Key system is a telephone system that brings all phone extensions to one central control box. Learn how to integrate music on hold on a pbx/key system.

pbx phone on hold setup

Set Up Music On Hold
On Your PBX Phone System

When a call is placed on hold, the PBX phone system sends that caller to the "hold bus", an electronic circuit that may or may not have music on hold plugged in. We recommend a professional music on hold player that will provide a 24-7 stream of audio into the PBX hold input.

Simple Plug & Play

8 Ohms vs. 600 Ohms: Why Two Outputs?

music on hold player photo from back

On the back of your music on hold player are two connections labeled AUDIO OUT. The 600-Ohm output is intended for telephone systems. (If your particular situation needs a louder signal, you may use the 8-Ohm output without harming your equipment.) The 8-ohm output is appropriate for sound amplification systems, such as public address systems used by museums and amusement parks.

Do You Have Music On Hold Right Now?

If you currently are hearing music on hold, you have one of these threee things happening:
  • A music on-hold player is sending a streaming audio signal into the hold bus on your PBX phone system... or
  • Your PBX phone system is streaming an audio file from its internal memory into the hold bus... or
  • You use a "Hosted PBX" system, and the music is being provided off-site, along with your phone equipment.

It is simple to replace the audio content if you are using any of these options. Easy On Hold can work with your telephone technician or vendor to be certain you receive your music on hold messages in the approporiate audio format for use with your equipment.

 

If You Do Not Have Music On Hold Now

If your phone is dead silent when you place a caller on hold, your phone may or may not be music-on-hold-ready. Here's what to look for:

  • Check to see if you have an input on your PBX phone system labelled "MOH" which stands for "music on hold"
  • If you do have an MOH jack, you will need to check to see if it is "active". Most PBX phone systems have three "music on hold states": On - Off - Beep Tone. Your phone system may require programming.
  • If you do not have an MOH jack, one can be installed by a reputable telephone technician with music on hold experience. In the case of Nortel (Norstar, Meridian) brand phones, often we see that the music on hold jack is not present, but one can be "punched down" or connected to the connection block in your telephone room. It's always best to speak with the technician or firm that installed your phone system.

 

Replace your CD Player Or Radio For Professional Results

If you are replacing an in-use audio source such as a radio or CD player with your new professional music on hold player, remove the connection from the player and adapt the plug to RCA. Adapters are inexpensive. See audio adapter plug and view connection diagram.

Consider a quality hold music device.

You probably DO NOT need a music on hold player if...

  • You already own a professional music on hold player that accepts audio from: audio CD or mp3 audio file.
  • Your phone system is a Virtual PBX, which is off-site and accepts an audio file sent to your service provider.
  • You're currently able to load a music on hold audio file directly into your telephone system's memory. Typical formats used are: .wav - U-Law - A-Law - .vox.

More Ways Easy On Hold Can Help