Introduction #
Today, even small business owners are empowering themselves with call recording systems. Hence, it is critical that you use a beep tone generator into your recorded phone calls if you want to keep yourselves away from legal compliance and be courteous to your customers. VoIPTools is now ready with 3CX Recording Beep that inserts an audible beep into your recording phone calls to initially alert and then prompt the call participants at regular intervals that the phone call is being recorded. This ensures that the callers are aware of the ongoing call recording. It also contents legal requirements for phone recording in some of the U.S. states and other countries.
How does it work? #
Once the phone call has started to record, the 3CX Recording Beep waits for the specified initial delay (in seconds) and then plays an audible beep to alert both the call participants about the ongoing call recording. This will be the last beep for the call if you have opted to play the beep only once. However, if you have opted to play the beep throughout the ongoing call, then the 3CX Recording Beep continues to play the beep according to the configured frequency (in seconds) until the call lasts.
Prerequisites #
Before you begin with the installation steps mentioned in this guide, you need to ensure that your computer meets the minimum requirements mentioned below for installing 3CX Recording Beep.
1. 3CX Version V16 and V18 (Professional or Enterprise Version Only)
2. Windows 10 or above / Windows Server 2012 or above
3. Microsoft SQL Server 2014 or above (Including the free SQL Express edition)
4. Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) 7.0 or above
5. .Net 4.7.2 or above
NOTE:
- When installing SQL Server, we recommend you install it in “Mixed Mode” to include SQL Authentication, and install SQL Management Studio
- When installing IIS, be sure to install Basic Authentication, .Net Extensibility, and ASP.Net 4.X
Installation #
Download software
You can order ‘3CX Recording Beep’ on-line at https://www.voiptools.com. Your order confirmation email will include your license key and a link to download the software.
Install Prerequisites
There are a number of prerequisites that must be installed prior to installing ‘3CX Recording Beep’. These prerequisites include Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and Microsoft SQL Server
Install 3CX Recording Beep
This User Guide contains step-by-step instructions to successfully install ‘3CX Recording Beep’. Begin by extracting the installer from the downloaded zip file (Step 1 above), then run the setup program named 3CXRecordingBeepInstaller.exe
Register your License Key
You must register your license key to activate ‘3CX Recording Beep’. Your license key is included in your order confirmation email, and can also be found in your order history on our website.
Step By Step Installation Procedure #
The following section guides you through a detailed walk-through of the installation process.
Step 1: Download 3CX Recording Beep #
You can find the software download link in the Order Confirmation Email, or you can find it in your order history on our website.
Step 2: Install the Prerequisites #
Click on the software installer downloaded in Step 1. The installation wizard will automatically identify the prerequisites and assist you with each installation required to 3CX Recording Beep. It includes .NET Framework (Web Installer), SQL Server Express (Web Installer), and SQL Server Management Studio.
- Click the downloaded installer executable to launch the Prerequisites Setup Wizard and click Next.
2. In the Prerequisites window, install all the required prerequisites identified by the installer, or select/ unselect the applications based on your requirements and click Next to continue.
The installer will download and install the selected applications. It may take several minutes to complete.
The Microsoft SQL Server License Terms page gets displayed if you install SQL Server Express. Click Accept to acknowledge the license terms and continue.
- In the Media Location field, browse to change the location and click Install to begin the installation of SQL Server Express.
- Click Close when you install the prerequisites.
Installation is in progress. It may take several minutes to complete the installation.
- Click Yes in the Confirmation Message Box to reboot the computer.
Step 3: Start the installation process #
- Click Next on the 3CX Recording Beep Setup Wizard screen.
- On the Select Installation Folder window, the Folder field displays the path where the 3CX Recording Beep gets installed. You cannot change the location path.
- Click Next to continue
Step 4: Test Relay Settings #
- In the 3CX Relay Services window, in the Relay Host field, enter the IP address or FQDN of your 3CX server.
- Enter 8801 in the Relay Port field.
- Enter the public key you took from VoIPTools Relay services in the Public Key text area.
- Click the Test Relay Settings to confirm ‘3CX Recording Beep’ can communicate with the Relay services running on the 3CX server.
- If the ‘3CX Recording Beep’ is successfully able to communicate with the Relay services that run on the 3CX server, a Success message box appears. Click OK. If the test fails, you will not be able to continue until communication with the relay is established.
Click Next to continue with the installation.
Note:
- You must set the Relay Port to 8801.
- If the test was unsuccessful:
- Confirm you have the correct firewall port open (default TCP 8801) on the 3CX server and the firewall protecting the 3CX server.
- Confirm that you have entered the correct IP address / FQDN for the 3CX server.
- Confirm that the 3CX Recording Beep and Relay use the same port and protocol.
NOTE:
If the Relay test fails, you cannot continue the installation until you establish communication with the Relay.
Step 5: Configure the database #
When configuring 3CX Recording Beep, select an existing Microsoft SQL Server instance in your environment. The database server can be a remote SQL Server (How-to configure SQL server to permit remote connections (https://www.voiptools.com/configure-sql-server-for-remote-access-over-internet/)) or a local instance running on the VolPTools server.
- On the SQL Database window in the Server field, select the desired instance of SQL Server.
- To use SQL Authentication, uncheck the Trusted Connection checkbox.
- In the Username and Password fields, enter valid SQL login account credentials.
NOTE:
- We recommend you use SQL Authentication rather than Windows authentication. Many of our tools leverage a Call Flow Designer (CFD) application running on the 3CX. Frequently our CFD applications require access to a SQL database. If the 3CX server and the database server are not in an Active Directory domain, Windows authentication will fail.
- To use SQL Authentication, you must configure the SQL server to run in Mixed Mode. If you install SQL Server with our tools, we configure SQL in Mixed Mode.
- To use Windows Integrated Authentication (not recommended), check the Trusted Connection (Windows integrated authentication) checkbox.
NOTE:
In the Database field, the installer will automatically display the default database name. We encourage you to use the default name. To upgrade or reinstall 3CX Recording Beep, select the current database name from the list.
- Click the Test SQL Connections buttons to confirm connectivity to SQL Server. and click OK on the Test Results message box.
Step 6: Installing 3CX Recording Beep #
- Click Install in the Ready to Install window.
The application installation may take several minutes to complete.
Check the Launch 3CX Recording Beep checkbox and click Finish when the installation is complete.
3CX Recording Beep Configuration Screen #
The ‘3CX Recording Beep’ configuration screen enables you to register software, configure beep options for desired group and desired type of calls, and start/stop ‘3CX Recording Beep’ service.
Register Software (License tab) #
Registration is required to enable your software. Registering also makes it possible for VoIPTools to provide a replacement key if your license key is ever lost. Also, it enables VoIPTools to notify you of any product updates, and reminders if your key is reaching the renewal date.
To register, click the icon that appears on the desktop once the installation is successfully done.
In the Prerequisites window, install all the required prerequisites identified by the installer, or select/ unselect the applications based on your requirements and click Next to continue.
Figure 9: Software Registration
1. On the 3CX Recording Beep configuration screen, in the License tab, enter your registration information in all the required fields (Note the red dot denotes a required field).
2. Click Register.
NOTE:
The license key permits you to install this software on one computer. This is not free software.
Configure ‘3CX Recording Beep’ Settings (Settings tab) #
The Settings tab enables you to configure beep settings for the desired group, and for the desired type of calls like Queue Calls/Inbound/Outbound calls. You can also configure the beep settings to play only once or as per the configured frequency.
Figure 10: ‘3CX Recording Beep’ Settings
The beep sound that plays during the ongoing call recording is an audio file that you select while creating the digital receptionist in the 3CX console. Other settings for the digital receptionist in the Create Digital Receptionist page should be configured in the Destination for invalid or no DTMF input section as mentioned in the image below:
Figure 11: 3CX Management Console-Create Digital Receptionist page
• Instructions to Configure Beep Settings
1. In the Settings tab, and from the Group Name drop down, select the desired group from the list for which you want to apply the beep settings.
2. Beside Beep Options:
a. Select Only Queue Calls option if you want to apply beep settings only for the Queue Calls.
b. Select All Calls option if you want to apply beep settings to any or all of the type of calls like Inbound/Outbound/Queue Calls by checking the desired check boxes.
3. Beside Play Options, check Play Once check box if you want ‘3CX Recording Beep’ to beep only once during the ongoing call recording. Or, uncheck the option if you want to play the beep periodically as per the configured frequency (in secs)
NOTE:
• If you check Play Once check box, then the ‘3CX Recording Beep’ will beep only once according to the configured Initial Delay (in secs) irrespective of how long the call lasts for.
• If you uncheck Play Once check box, then the ‘3CX Recording Beep’ will beep initially as per the configured Initial Delay settings and then, continues to beep periodically as per the configured Frequency settings until as long as the call lasts for.
4. In the Queue field, enter the desired ‘Queue Number’ so that the beep settings will be applied to all the calls associated to that queue.
5. In the Extension to Barge field, enter the number of the Digital Receptionist that would barge and beep during the ongoing call recording as per the configured beep settings.
6. In the Frequency field, set the frequency (in secs) using up and down arrows so that ‘3CX Recording Beep’ will start to beep periodically (after the ‘Initial Delay’ beep) as per the configured frequency.
7. In the Initial Delay field, set the time (in secs) using up and down arrows so that ‘3CX Recording Beep’ will initiate the first beep as per the configured timing (in secs). The initial delay is the time lapsed since the call recording has started.
8. Click Save to save the beep settings that you have just configured.
NOTE:
Once you edit any of the beep settings in the Settings screen, you should restart the ‘3CX Recording Beep Service’ in order to apply the changes.
Start/Stop ‘3CX Recording Beep Service’ #
1. To start or stop a service, at the footer of the 3CX Recording Beep configuration screen, click Start/ Stop buttons respectively.
2. Click Refresh link to update the status if changes to the service status were made directly in the Windows Service Snap-in.
NOTE:
If the service status is “Unknown”, this is typically caused by the ‘3CX Recording Beep’ IIS Application Pool user may have insufficient rights.
Support #
Visit our website to access our on-line manuals and receive quick answers to most of your questions. Otherwise, you can contact us by phone, email, live chat and on the VoIPTools forums.
• Support Hours (USA and India)
Our team is ready to assist you with answers to your technical questions and we now offer 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Windows Event Log (Applications and Services ? VoIPTools)
The Windows Event Log lists various errors, information messages and warnings related to all our VoIPTools applications and services. The data here can be used for troubleshooting various application errors.
• Forums
Our forum is intended for VoIPTools customers to collaborate on real-life challenges, solutions and best practices. You can participate on our forum at: https://www.voiptools.com/community/
• Submit a Bug
If you suspect a bug in any of our VoIPTools products, you can bring it to our notice by reporting your issue at: https://www.voiptools.com/report-a-bug/
• Live Chat
Our chat support team is ready to acknowledge your queries in real-time. You can start a live chat with us by simply clicking on the Live Chat button at the lower right corner of our web page.
You can email us at: support@voiptools.com. Be sure to describe your issue in detail. We’ll get back to you within one business day of receiving your request.
• Phone
You can call us at +1 801-642-4655 to reach a representative. VoIPTools will accept calls at this number from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Central Standard Time).
• Support Services
Free Support:
If you purchased our products through a VoIPTools Partner, your Partner will provide first level support. Partners have access to 100% free technical support, provided they participate actively in the troubleshooting process.
VoIPTools customers have access to our on-line manuals and we will respond to emails (next business day) and live chat, but we will not login to your servers remotely.
Paid Support:
If you purchase “Installation Support’ our support team can login to your servers and install and configure all our tools for you. This includes installing SQL Server Express and Internet Information Server if required. Our team will work with you to configure our applications to best meet your needs.
