Fanvil's SIP Hotspot allows the user to share a single VoIP line across multiple handsets. This, in turn, eliminates the need for the additional cost of a PBX system.
Why use the Fanvil hotspot feature
There are several compelling reasons to utilise the Fanvil SIP Hotspot feature. The most significant benefit lies in the cost savings associated with installation, deployment, and upkeep. No additional hardware, such as PBX devices, subscriptions to cloud PBX services, or even multiple SIP accounts for each phone, are required.
A single SIP/VoIP account loaded onto the main phone is then shared among the hotspot client phones, enabling them all to leverage this single registration for making and receiving calls.
Transfers between phones within the hotspot group are effortless. Simply utilise the call transfer button on the Fanvil phone. Internal calls are just as convenient. Dial the extension number displayed after the name (e.g., "SIP Hotspot 1," where "1" is the extension number) to connect with another hotspot phone.
When a call arrives via the SIP account, all phones within the hotspot group will ring simultaneously. Once a phone is answered, the ringing on the remaining phones will cease.
Where would the Fanvil Hotspot feature most likely be used?
The SIP Hotspot feature can be quite useful in many situations, such as small offices, home offices, cafes, restaurants, dentist practices, and doctor's practices that don't require many phones. It's ideal for any phone system with two or more IP phones and a need for basic call functionality.
Step-by-Step Setup of Fanvil's SIP Hotspot Feature
Step 1
Configure the main VoIP trunk on one of the SIP lines of your Fanvil series X or H phone. This will be used for incoming calls. 
Step 2
Enable the Hotspot feature. We recommend using "Monitor Type: Multicast" which will ensure that unnecessary traffic on your network is reduced. The multicast address, port numbers, and naming must be the same on both the hotspot and the client phones. 
Step 3
Configure your secondary phone as the client. Simply select the "Enable to Client" setting on the phone. Once done it just takes a few seconds and the hotspot phone’s IP will appear in the Device Table, indicating that the client is connected. 
Step 4
Confirm that the client is receiving the correct settings from the hotspot phone. When navigating to Line > SIP, you should see that the client has automatically retrieved the SIP account details from the hotspot phone.
The client phone will add an underscore with a number next to the display name. This is the “extension” number that the client phone will use. This number will increase incrementally depending on the number of hotspot clients that are connected. 
Step 5
Under Basic Settings, you need to enable "Dial without Registration". This allows the client phones to make outgoing calls without actually being registered with a SIP account. 
Now that both phones have been configured, you can call your extensions by pressing the number that you find next to the underscore in the Display Name, then pressing the # key. Dial 0 from the client to call the Main Hotspot phone. While Fanvil's SIP Hotspot has a simpler feature set when compared to a traditional PBX system (like call recording and using IVRs etc.), it more than makes up for it with being a cost-effective and extremely simple to configure solution.
We recommend using FAN-X5U or FAN-X7C as the hotspot phone, while any other Fanvil IP phone can be used for the client device.
Which Fanvil phones support the SIP Hotspot feature?
At the time of publication, all Fanvil phones stocked by Scoop support the SIP Hotspot feature.
Limitations:
FAN-X4U models and above boast the capability of managing up to 100 hotspot clients, while X3 models can handle up to 10 devices. While the X3 model's capacity may seem limited compared to the X4U series, 10 phones still represent a substantial number for SOHO environments that don't utilise a PBX system.
While Fanvil's SIP Hotspot offers a simpler feature set compared to traditional PBX systems (lacking functionalities like call recording and interactive voice response systems), it compensates through its exceptional cost-effectiveness and remarkable ease of configuration. This makes it a compelling choice for businesses prioritising a streamlined and budget-friendly communication solution.
