. Answering Position/Attendant Console Every telephone system has what is known as the answering position where a receptionist or switchboard operator has his- torically answered the incoming calls. With a key system, the answering position may look the same as each of the other tele- phones in the system. Most key systems have a separate module which is attached to the telephone at the answering position known as a DSS/BLF or direct station select and busy lamp field. It consists of buttons representing each of the telephones in the system. When a call comes in, the receptionist answers it. He then looks at the BLF. If the lamp is lit next to the button representing the telephone of the called person, the receptionist knows that person is on a call and asks the caller to wait or takes a message. If the lamp is not lit on the BLF, the receptionist depresses the button next to the "busy lamp," which automatically rings the telephone of the called person. This is where the name Direct Station Select comes from. It means that by pressing that button, the station (or telephone) represented by that button is "selected." Some PBXs use the same DSS/BLF concept, but most have what is called the Attendant Console or Switchboard Console as an answering position. There may be more than one attendant The Telecom Handbook $ 41 THE PBX console. Each system has a limit to how many consoles can work with the system. The console is typically much larger and differ- ent in appearance than the telephones. Every telephone system's console works differently, but in general, the calls ring in on ei- ther one or several buttons on the console (sometimes called loop keys), usually accompanied by an audible ring and flashing indi- cator. The attendant presses the button to answer the call. The caller is then "extended" to the appropriate extension number, which the attendant dials on a touch-tone pad on the console. It is typically necessary to hit another button to send the call to the extension after the extension number is dialed. Mos