Hunt Groups

A hunt group is a set of extension numbers that are embedded inside a single virtual extension. Incoming calls are rotated through the pool of extensions until someone answers and the caller is connected. (Cell phones can also be configured to be included in calls made to a hunt group.)

Creating a Hunt Group

Go to your selected domain in the TruePBX web interface.

Go to hunt groups by clicking on Hunt Groups under Accounts as shown above.
On top, click the tab Create to create a new hunt group.
In the Account Name field, enter an extension number and/or alias, i.e., a DID number. When entering an alias in addition to an extension number, use the following syntax: 667/9781234567.
Note: If you use a space instead of a slash (667 9781234567), you will create two separate accounts that will be unrelated to each other.
To create multiple accounts at the same time, use a space between the numbers: 667 668 669
Press Create.
The hunt group(s) will be created which you can see in the “hunt group list” or in “all accounts list”, where you can enter each hunt group just by clicking it, in order to modify it if you want, as explained below.

Configuring a Hunt Group

Once you’ve created a hunt group account, use the following information to configure it.

Go to your selected domain in the TruePBX web interface.
Go to Hunt Groups.
Click on any hunt group from the list that you want to change.
Here you can configure the settings. You can also go back to the list of Hunt Groups, if you want, by clicking on the List tab above.

Explanation and Use of Some of the Settings

Identity

Account Number(s): This field takes extension number(s) and/or DID number(s). The number of DIDs that can be entered into this field is unlimited.

Name: This field allows you to create an alias so that you can quickly identify the Account among other Accounts.

Stages

The extension numbers that are part of a hunt group can be arranged into groups known as stages. Each stage is configured to ring for a specified period before the system begins ringing the next stage. To continue ringing the same extension throughout all stages, include that extension in each ring stage. A last-resort or final stage number (often an auto attendant or a cell phone) can also be used when none of the extensions pick up the call. A common use case for the hunt group is to use the hunt group as the main number for incoming calls, then put the receptionist, secretaries, and assistants on the different stages.

The hunt group supports three stages and a final stage. Each stage can be configured to ring for a different number of seconds, and the final stage can be either an internal or external phone number.

For each stage:

List the extensions that should be part of that stage. When entering multiple extensions, use a space as a separator (only one number is permitted for the final stage).
For duration, specify the length of time that the system should ring each stage before ringing the next. The duration of the stages must be specified in seconds.
For unwanted stages, leave the fields empty.

If all extensions of a stage are unavailable, the system will immediately move to the next stage.

Note: The number of extensions permitted for the first three stages is limited by hardware only. The system must send INVITEs to all extensions in each stage, which requires more CPU.

Hunt Group Features

Feature	Functionality	Benefit
Custom ringing	Each hunt group can be configured with different ring tones.	Employees can determine which hunt group is calling.
BLF indicator	The system can be configured so that the busy lamp field indicator lights up when the hunt group is in use.	Hunt group activity is visible through the BLF indicator.
Group name caller-ID	Hunt groups can have a unique name and can be configured to display the name of the group, the caller’s caller-ID, or both when a caller enters a hunt group.	Helps management decide who belongs in each named group. Employees know the nature of the call before answering it.
Three-stage extension ringing	Hunt groups can be configured to ring 1–3 different groups of extensions. The system will ring each group in succession until the call is answered.	Managers can direct calls to selected groups of extensions in a specified order.
Final stage to cell phone	After calling the extensions listed in stages 1 through 3, the system calls the “final stage” number, which can be an auto attendant, an extension, or an external number.	Callers are sent to a manager as a final means of assistance. This feature can also be used to gauge whether the group of extensions is too small or whether the employees are working properly.
Ring stage duration	Hunt group stages can be configured to ring for different durations before the system rings the next group of extensions.	Call flow control can be established. Intervals that keep customers waiting a minimum amount of time can be used.
Recordable calls	Calls made to hunt groups can be recorded and saved on the system.	Recorded calls can be reviewed by management to finetune employee performance. Disputes can be easily resolved by emailing the recorded conversation.

Behavior

Behavior settings allow you to control numerous account behaviors. You can choose a ring melody, a display header, and music on hold source. You can also enter a safety net phone number that will be used if no one picks up a call. Other settings are here as well.

Ring Melody: This setting allows you to set the ring melody so that hunt group members will be able to distinguish regular calls from hunt group calls.

Custom 1 through 4: Custom ringtones allow users in a hunt group to distinguish hunt group calls from other calls. Before customized ringtones can be used, you will need to provide your own ringtones, modify the ringtones.xml file, then place it into the html directory. When the phones receives the alert-info header from the system, it will respond with a different ring tone based on the ringtone that was selected from the web interface.
External Call: The ring tone will be long.
Internal Call: This ring tone will be short.

From Header: This setting allows you to set the display name that hunt group members will see when someone is calling. More information on this subject is available on a separate page From Header in Groups.

Dial plan for outbound calls: This setting allows you to configure dial plan behavior that is different from what has been set on the extension. For example, if the dial plan on the extension does not allow for outbound calling, but you want to allow the extension to receive hunt group calls on their cell phones (see When calling the extension in a hunt group), you can select a dial plan here that would allow for that. There are many other uses for this setting as well.

ANI: The hunt group uses an ANI (automatic number identification) when sending a caller to an external number. This setting is necessary when the user input handling destinations take callers to external numbers rather than extension numbers within the domain.

Send daily CDR report to: The call data record (CDR) lists all calls that come into the hunt group. The report is sent at midnight each night to the email address listed in this field (e.g., voicemail@snom.com). Only one email address is allowed in this field.

Permissions to monitor this account: Enter the extensions that are permitted to monitor this hunt group account.

Music on hold source: From the dropdown list, choose the music that callers will hear while waiting.

Record incoming calls to hunt groups: When this setting is enabled, the system will record all calls that come into the hunt group. The recordings can later be retrieved and reviewed.

Night Service

Night service allows you to redirect calls to other extensions during off-hours, meetings, etc. Before you can use night service, you need to create a Service Flag account.

Service Flag Account: Once you have created the account, enter the number of the account.

Night Service Number: With a service flag in place, the hunt group can redirect the calls directly to the night service number(s) shown in this field. Internal extensions and external numbers are acceptable.

Note: You may specify more than one night service flag (separated by a space). The first service flag account will correspond to the first night service number, and the second service flag account will correspond to the second night service number, etc.

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