FAQs

What is PoE and why should I use it for my VOIP phones?

PoE, or Power-over-Ethernet, is a means by which to power compatible network devices, in this case your phone.
Unlike older digital telephone technology, where the phone system supplied power to the phones. VoIP telephones require power which is not supplied by the phone system. This can be accomplished by using a PoE Data Switch which provides power over CAT5e or CAT6 Cable to the VoIP device.
The perks of POE are: 1) Placement of the phone is not restricted by an available electrical outlet. 2) A POE switch can be plugged in to a battery backup or UPS that will keep the switch up, in turn keeping the phones powered, during power surges, drops, or outages.

What type of cabling do I need to have for a VoIP Telephone System?

CAT5e or Higher. CAT5e short for Category 5 Enhanced, Cat5e standard provides performance of up to 1000mbps (1000 megabits or one gigabit per second) and can be used up to a maximum length of 328 feet. This type of cable is used in structured cabling for computer networks, telephony, and video.

I have heard that Category 3 cable is rated at 10mbps and a VOIP call really only needs around 100K. Can I re-use my existing category 3 cable for VOIP if I switch out the connectors to RJ45?

Although the bandwidth with on Category 3 cable is sufficient to use for VOIP it is never recommended. Most problems with VOIP are caused by cabling/network issues. Category 3 is rated at 10mbps and in order to attempt to use it for VOIP all connecting switches must be programmed to run at that limited throughput. You cannot set the switches to auto-negotiate, they must be programmed and, in addition all must be set to full duplex. Full duplex does not play well at 10mbps.

Even doing everything correctly does not guarantee a quality VOIP call. I would strongly recommend a minimum of Cat5e or Cat 6 cabling for all VOIP installations.

What is UCaaS?

UCaaS is short for Unified Communications as a Service. Unified communications as a service is a category of “as a service” or “cloud” delivery mechanisms for enterprise communications. Similar to the platform as a service, with UCaaS, unified communications services can be made available from the cloud to businesses from SMB to an enterprise. It includes features like Voice, Chat, Video, Voice Mail, VM to Email, Call Recording etc., all billed monthly as a service package.

What is ACD?

ACD is short for automatic call distribution. It is a telephony system that automatically receives incoming calls and distributes them to an available agent. Its purpose is to help inbound contact centers sort and manage large volumes of calls to avoid overwhelming the team.

What is a softphone?

Basically, a softphone is a type of software-based phone. It allows you to make phone calls over an internet connection without needing designated physical hardware, and it can be installed on desktops and mobile devices. In short, softphones help you make telephone calls without an actual telephone.

How do I contact Mastor Support or request a service call:

You can always call us at 314-997-9000. If you have an afterhours emergency, please follow the prompts and leave a message for our on-call service technician

You can also use the request support form on this website.

How do I contact NUSO support directly?

By phone: 24/7 call 844-438-NUSO Option 1 (technical support) Please have your account number or NUSO phone number handy.

Or you can open a support ticket any time by emailing [email protected] . Please include your account number or NUSO phone number and a description of the problem.

If you have access to the NUSO management portal, you can also open a service ticket via the support tab on your dashboard.