The Grandstream UCM IP PBX Product Review: Why Do PoE, FXO and FXS Matter?

I am what you might call a “phone geek”.

I’ve developed, supported, and tinkered with just about every popular SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) based VoIP platform out there, and I’ve been in search of a system that every day IT Pro’s, business owners, and even homeowners can install and manage without any real training. I think the best systems are intuitive and un-restrictive. They should be feature-rich, and most of all, competitive in their price point.

I ran across the Grandstream UCM back in 2013, before I had an affiliation with VoIP Supply. I bought a UCM 6102 just because I thought it was interesting, and I was just starting to sink my teeth into the VoIP field. It was a small (similar in size to a consumer wireless router) PoE powered IP PBX with two FXO and two FXS ports. It was Asterisk powered (arguably the leader in open source IP telephony) and therefore SIP based. That meant I could use any SIP based IP phone with it.

So, why does any of that matter? A small form factor means you can put it just about anywhere. This is especially useful for small businesses, who might not have a server room, with a network rack. Something very unique is that you can power it with PoE. What’s PoE? It’s when a network switch delivers power to devices, like phones, wireless access points, or IP cameras over a standard network cabling. The UCM comes with a 12V DC power supply, but, of course, it’s optional since you can just plug it into your (PoE enabled) switch to run it. This gives you a lot of options when deciding where to place, or mount it in your building.

The FXO and FXS ports also add to the flexibility in that you can continue to use your analog service (FXO port), and also use analog devices such as a fax machine, wall phone, door phone, etc (FXS). For a detailed explanation of FXO and FXS be sure to watch VoIP Supply’s video:What is FXO/FXS? You are not restricted to using analog service on the system, as you can also use SIP trunks, but it allows you to transition for one to the other, or use a hybrid of both.

In the next blog of the Grandstream UCM IP PBX Product Review series, we will talk more about Asterisk and some important features.