EPABX & Intercom Systems Guide
Every call. Connected.
Everything you need to understand, choose, install and run a telephone intercom system for your home, shop, office, school, hotel or factory. Written in plain language by the NavKar Systems team.
What is an EPABX?
EPABX stands for Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange. It is a small telephone exchange that sits in your building.
Your telephone company gives you one or more outside lines. Without an EPABX, each line can ring only the phones wired to it. With an EPABX, every outside line is shared by every phone in your building, and every phone can call every other phone for free by dialling a short extension number such as 21 or 205.
Outside line (CO / trunk)
The telephone line from your service provider, also called a P&T line, CO line or trunk. A "308" system takes 3 of these.
Extension
Each internal phone. A "308" system connects 8 extensions. Extensions call each other free and share the outside lines.
Reading the model
Most models follow lines then extensions: 104 = 1 line, 4 extensions; 216 = 2 lines, 16 extensions; 432 = 4 lines, 32 extensions.
PAX
Private Automatic Exchange: internal calls only. Our 26, 40, 42, 60, 62 and 80 line PAX systems are made for large internal networks.
Intercom
Any system that lets phones in one building talk to each other. Every EPABX is an intercom; not every intercom is an EPABX.
Caller ID (CLI)
Shows the caller's number on the phone screen. Needs a system with CLI and a caller ID phone such as the Beetel C51 or M71.
Four kinds of intercom.
Start with how many phones you need and whether you need outside lines.
| Type | Best for | Outside lines | Wiring | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lift & Talk | Boss to secretary, two floors of a home | None | 2-core cable between phones | From Rs. 1,450 |
| Line intercom (Diplomat 004) | 4 phones calling each other | None | Every phone to the unit | From Rs. 2,050 |
| EPABX | Homes, shops, offices, schools | 1 to 8 | 2-core cable, phone to EPABX | From Rs. 2,350 |
| PAX | Large internal networks | Internal use | Multi-pair cable, MDF | From Rs. 15,900 |
| Wireless intercom | Rented spaces, no drilling | None | No wiring, plug into power | From Rs. 7,999 |
| IP-PBX | Multi-site offices, VoIP | Via gateways or SIP | Office network (LAN) | From Rs. 19,900 |
How big a system do you need?
Three numbers decide your system. Count them before you buy.
- Phones today. Count every desk, room, cabin, counter, kitchen and gate that needs a phone.
- Room to grow. Add about 20 percent. 10 phones today means planning for 12.
- Outside lines. Count the landlines or SIM lines you will connect. Most homes need 1; a busy office needs one line for every 4 to 6 people who make outside calls at the same time.
Example: a clinic
Reception, doctor, pharmacy and lab = 4 phones, 1 line. Choose a 104 system such as the CCL 104B, or a 105 to leave one spare port.
Example: a 10-person office
10 phones + 20 percent = 12 extensions. 2 lines for outside calls. Choose a CCL 312B (3 lines, 12 extensions) or a 216B for more room.
Example: a school
24 classrooms, office and staff room = 28 phones. Choose a 232B or 432; add the school broadcast kit for announcements.
Example: a factory
40 points across sheds and office, 4 lines. Choose the CCL 848S (8 lines, 48 extensions) or a 60 line PAX for internal calls.
Not sure about your numbers?
Tell Navya where it is going and how many phones you need. She will suggest the right system and a phone bundle in under a minute.
Ask NavyaEvery model, side by side.
| Model | Lines | Extensions | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diplomat DP-002 Lift & Talk | 0 | 2 | Two-point intercom |
| Diplomat 004 | 0 | 4 | 4 phones, internal only |
| Diplomat 104 / CCL 104B | 1 | 4 | Home, clinic, small shop |
| CCL 105B / Accord 105 | 1 | 5 | Shop, showroom |
| CCL 108 / 108B | 1 | 8 | Small office, bungalow |
| CCL 206B | 2 | 6 | Office with two numbers |
| CCL 308B | 3 | 8 | Busy small office |
| CCL 312B | 3 | 12 | Growing office |
| CCL 216B | 2 | 16 | Office, hostel, guest house |
| CCL 416 | 4 | 16 | Busy office, showroom chain |
| CCL 224 | 2 | 24 | School, hospital wing |
| CCL 424 | 4 | 24 | Large office |
| CCL 232B / 432 | 2 / 4 | 32 | School, hotel, factory |
| CCL 848S | 8 | 48 | Campus, large factory |
| CCL 26 / 40 / 42 / 60 / 62 / 80 line PAX | Internal | 26 to 80 | Large internal networks |
| CCL IP-PBX IP-500 | SIP / gateways | Up to 500 IP phones | Multi-site, VoIP |
Most systems are also sold as ready bundles with Beetel phones, so you get everything in one box.
What every button does.
Feature lists vary by model. Check the product page for the exact list.
Call transfer
Answer a call at reception and pass it to any extension, with or without announcing it first.
Hold with music
Put the caller on hold while you find the right person. They hear music instead of silence.
Call pickup
Answer a phone ringing on another desk from your own phone.
Conference
Join an outside caller with two extensions on one call. Supported on CCL 108, 216, 308 and similar models.
Welcome message
An auto attendant greets callers before ringing (on models with an inbuilt message, such as the CCL 108, 216, 308, 312 and 416).
Day / night mode
Ring different phones during office hours and after closing.
Call restriction
Allow only local, STD or ISD dialling from each extension to control your phone bill.
Caller ID (CLI)
Internal and trunk caller ID in FSK and DTMF on supported models. Needs caller ID phones.
Flexible numbering
Choose extension numbers of 1 to 4 digits, such as 21 for reception or 301 for room 1.
Memory dialling
Store frequently used numbers and dial them with a short code (up to 48 on CCL 108 and 216 class models).
Door phone & lock
Talk to visitors at the gate from any phone and open the lock with a code.
Battery backup
Connect a 24 V battery (two 12 V 7 Ah batteries in series on CCL systems) to keep calls working in a power cut.
Pair the right phone with every port.
| Phone | Caller ID | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Beetel C11 | No | Cabins, rooms, kitchens: simple, reliable |
| Beetel B25 | Yes, with display | Desks and wall mounting |
| Beetel C51 | Yes, caller ID screen | Reception, owners, accounts |
| Beetel M71 | Yes, backlit display, speakerphone | Reception and operator desk |
| Beetel X-90 cordless | Yes | Shop floors, homes, walking around |
| CCL IP phones | Yes | IP-PBX and VoIP systems |
Caller ID only shows when both the EPABX and the phone support it. For example, the CCL 108 supports caller ID, but the Beetel C11 phone has no screen to show it.
Read the telephones guideAnswer the gate from any phone.
Connect a door phone to a compatible CCL EPABX and every phone in the house can talk to the visitor. Add the CCL door lock converter and a NavKar electronic rim lock, and you can open the gate from your handset without walking out. Our ready kits include the lock, converter and phones.
Lines from a SIM. Phones over the network.
GSM gateway
No landline? The CCL FCT-GSM-DU takes a mobile SIM and gives you a normal telephone line you can plug into any EPABX line port. It works with 2G, 3G and 4G SIMs except Jio.
FXO gateway
Connects your existing landlines to an IP-PBX or VoIP system. Available in 2, 4 and 8 ports.
FXS gateway
Connects ordinary analogue phones to an IP-PBX, so you can keep the phones you have. Available in 8, 16 and 32 ports, and a 4 + 4 combo.
IP-PBX and IP phones
The CCL IP-500 connects up to 500 IP phones over your office network, across floors and branches. Pair with a PoE switch to power the phones over the network cable.
How to install an EPABX.
A trained electrician can install a small system in a few hours. Larger systems take a day or two, mostly for cabling.
What you need
- The EPABX, its power cord and the RJ11 leads in the box
- 2-core telephone cable, one run from the EPABX to every phone
- A rosette (telephone socket) in each room, and an MDF or junction box for larger systems
- Wall plugs and screws, cable clips or conduit, a drill and a punch-down or screw terminal tool
- Optional: a 24 V battery set for backup (two 12 V 7 Ah maintenance-free batteries on CCL systems)
Step by step
- Plan the location. Choose a dry, ventilated indoor wall near the incoming telephone line socket and a power point. Avoid kitchens, bathrooms and direct sunlight. CCL systems work between +5 and +45 °C.
- Mount the EPABX. Fix it at about eye level with the screws provided so that ports face down and the box is easy to reach.
- Lay the cable. Run 2-core telephone cable from the EPABX location to each room. Keep it at least 30 cm away from mains wiring and never in the same conduit. Label both ends of every cable with its extension number.
- Terminate. Fit a rosette at each phone point. For 8 or more extensions, bring all cables to an MDF box next to the EPABX, then use the RJ11 leads to connect the MDF to the extension ports.
- Connect lines. Plug the service provider's line (or GSM gateway) into the LINE / CO ports. Plug each extension cable into an EXT port.
- Power and backup. Connect mains power. Connect the battery set if you have one; the EPABX charges it and switches over during a power cut.
- Test. Lift each phone and listen for internal dial tone. Call extension to extension, then dial an outside number from every phone and receive an incoming call.
- Programme. Set extension numbers, ringing groups, day / night mode and call restrictions from a programming phone using the codes in your manual. Our support team can guide you over the phone.
Something not working?
No dial tone on one phone
Swap the phone with a working one. If it still has no tone, check the cable joint at the rosette and at the EPABX port, and confirm the cable is in an EXT port, not a LINE port.
Cannot make outside calls
Check the line cord in the LINE port and that the outside line works on a single phone. Check whether the extension is restricted from outside dialling in programming.
Caller ID does not show
Both the EPABX and the phone must support caller ID. Use a caller ID phone such as the C51 or M71, and confirm your service provider has caller ID enabled on the line.
Crackling or noise
Usually a loose or corroded joint, or cable laid next to mains wiring. Re-terminate the joint and re-route the cable.
System stops in a power cut
Connect and charge a battery set. Batteries age; replace them every 2 to 3 years.
Still stuck? Message us on WhatsApp from any page and our team will help.
What suits you.
Homes & bungalows
A 104 or 108 system with caller ID phones on each floor, plus a door phone and lock kit at the gate.
Clinics
A 104 or 105 system: reception, doctor, lab and pharmacy, with transfer and hold music.
Shops & showrooms
A 105 or 108 system with a cordless phone on the floor and a caller ID phone at billing.
Offices
A 308, 312 or 416 system with a welcome message, day / night mode and call restrictions.
Schools & colleges
A 224 to 432 system, or our school broadcast kit with door phone and speaker units in every classroom.
Hotels & factories
A 432 or 848S, a large PAX, or an IP-PBX for multiple blocks.
Questions, answered.
Do I need an outside line to use an EPABX?
No. Every EPABX also works as an internal intercom with no outside line connected.
Can I use my existing telephones?
Yes. Any standard analogue (tone or pulse) telephone works with our EPABX systems.
Can I connect a mobile SIM instead of a landline?
Yes, with a GSM gateway such as the CCL FCT-GSM-DU. It works with 2G, 3G and 4G SIMs except Jio.
How far can a phone be from the EPABX?
Hundreds of metres on good 2-core cable. The limit is the loop resistance of the cable; CCL specifies under 600 ohms per extension.
Can I add more extensions later?
Fixed models such as the 104 to 432 have a set number of ports, so buy with 20 percent spare. For bigger growth, step up a model or choose a PAX or IP-PBX.
Will it work during a power cut?
Yes, if you connect a battery set. CCL systems use 24 V (two 12 V 7 Ah batteries).
Do you install?
Most customers use a local electrician. We provide wiring diagrams and phone support; for large projects, send a bulk enquiry and we will help plan it.
Do you offer GST invoices and bulk prices?
Yes. Every order includes a GST invoice. For projects, use Bulk Enquiry for special pricing.
Let Navya pick it for you.
Answer four quick questions and get the exact EPABX, phones and accessories for your space.
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