Busy lamps (BLF) on desk phones
Multi-key SIP phones (Yealink, Grandstream, Fanvil, Snom …) and their expansion modules can show the state of colleagues on their keys: a receptionist typically watches 10–15 people, an operator console many more. AiPBX publishes these states; the keys are set on the phone (by hand today, by the provisioning page later — see the roadmap).
What a key shows
Set the key type to BLF and the value to what it should watch:
| Key value | Lamp | Pressing the key |
|---|---|---|
1001 (an extension) | off/green: free · red: on the phone · blinking: ringing | calls 1001; while it blinks, picks up the ringing call |
DND1001 | red while 1001 has do-not-disturb on | on 1001's own phone: switches do-not-disturb on/off |
CF1001 | red while 1001 forwards all calls | on 1001's own phone: cancels the forwarding (set it with *72 or in My Phone) |
QUEUE1001 | red while 1001 is logged in to a queue and not on a break | on 1001's own phone: logs in to / out of all its queues |
An extension's state covers all its devices (desk phone, web phone, app). The DND, CF and QUEUE keys of another user can be watched by anyone, but only that user's own devices can switch them; pressing someone else's gives two beeps.
Pickup from a blinking key: the phone dials the pickup code and the extension in one go (*21 + 1001 = *211001). Set the phone's directed pickup code to *21 (or the code set on PBX → Feature codes).
Voicemail lamp: phones of users with a voicemail box show new messages (message-waiting lamp and count); the voicemail key should dial *97.
Setting a key by hand
The SIP account on the phone must be the user's desk phone account (extension, password and the portal's address). Then:
- Yealink: DSS Key (or Ext Key for the expansion module) → Type BLF → Value
1001→ Line the account → Label the name. Pickup: Features → Call Pickup → Directed Call Pickup Code*21. - Grandstream: Programmable Keys (or Multi-Purpose Keys) → Key Mode Busy Lamp Field (BLF) → Account → Value
1001. Pickup: Accounts → Call Settings → BLF Call-pickup Prefix*21. - Fanvil: Function Key → Type Memory Key → Subtype BLF → Value
1001. Pickup: Line → Advanced → BLF Pickup Code*21.
Menu names differ slightly between firmware versions.
Checking it
On the server:
asterisk -rx "core show hints" # 1001, DND1001 … with their state and number of watchers
asterisk -rx "pjsip show subscriptions inbound"A key that stays dark: check that the phone is registered with its desk phone account (not the web phone account) and that the value is exactly the extension number. Watchers 0 on core show hints means the phone has not subscribed.