• Richmond
• Charlottesville
• Roanoke
• Virginia Beach

Richmond

The initial Richmond office location was scratched because it was too far for DSL and was not served by the cable company.  Two weeks later the office finally opened in an old house that had been converted to hearing aid clinic. The building had 25 pair run to each room which we were able to reuse. Using the 25 pair we were able to run 6 lines into the main phone bank area, while distributing the other four lines to the three permanent staff members' desks. Using only the pre-existing equipment and new phone jacks, we were able to distribute multiple lines to multiple locations while distributing the six phone-bank lines into the center of the conference room. 

Charlottesville

Because of its unique location on the Charlottesville Downtown Mall, this office presented unique benefits, but also unique challenges. Space on the open-air mall is coveted.  With decades-old internal wiring and construction designed for smaller operations, creative solutions were necessary to support the four networked PC workstations, a shared printer and fax machine, and twleve voice stations sharing ten lines. 

Utilizing a secure wireless router protected by WPA and connected to a DSL line, we provided high-speed internet connectivity, shared PC and printing resources quickly while running fewer cables through ceilings, walls, or across the floor. We were also able to stream video content, including online ads, videos, and flash websites, to a television and speaker system located in the front of the location. The video was active during open office hours and passersby could stop and watch the content which generated a large amount of foot traffic.

The layout of the space, with a distinct "front" office and "back" office, forced creative solutions in the voice network cabling. To help the office run more smoothly, we distributed lines one through four to three places allowing receptionist stations in the front and back, while still making these lines available to phone-banking in the evening. Using a 66-block and CAT5 cabling, we would run four lines to a location with only cable. By distributing the incoming lines across multiple pairs on the 66-block, we easily distributed individual lines to multiple locations. 

Roanoke

Roanoke proved to be the easiest office to connect. Located in a building that had undergone numerous renovations, the offices were pre-wired for telephones and drop ceilings allowed us to run cable along the walls. This location used 7 digit call-forwarding to mimic full-scale PBX functionality. A wireless router protected by WEP allowed volunteers to bring thier own computers and VoIP calling stations into this location. 

Virginia Beach

Located in a modern bank building, the Beach office initially presented itself as the easiest install. It would end up being far from it. The building had seen numerous installations and de-installations over the years turning the phone closet into a disaster. Rather than relying on the phone company or calling in expensive specialists, Political Synapse quickly isolated Webb for Senate's eleven incoming lines and routed them directly to their third floor office. Again, our deep knowledge of phone system wiring allowed us to ring lines in multiple locations (including turning a single two-line jack into two. two-line jacks for call time use) while utilizing existing wiring in the building. We were able to get the office operating within twenty-four hours of the CLEC confirming dial tone.