Obi2162 with Plantronics CS540

COVID has made many of us rethinking our remote-work setup. With the whole family home it became clear that I needed a better phone and one with a headset, since I spend a lot of time on calls. I use Google Voice as my main home/work/cell number as it gives me the flexibility to be anywhere, without needing to worry about missing calls. 

I purchased the Obi2162 (part of Obihais' OBi2000 Series Gigabit IP Phone range). I separately purchased a Plantronics CS540 headset. While they worked together out of the box, the Plantronics phone lifter - which is used to mechanically lift the handset when the button on the headset is pressed - was finicky. It didn't appear to have the strength to lift and put down the phone, likely because of the angles allowed by the phone stand and the physical shape of the phone.

I realized the need for an electronic hook (a device which electronically connects a wireless headset and phone). For those looking, you'll need two cables - first an OBiEHS cable from Obi, and secondly an APS-11 cable from Plantronics. The OBiEHS was $40 which is exorbitant for a cable, especially considering the phone itself was only $90. The OBiEHS comes with straightforward instructions and connecting the two took about 30 seconds. Work calls may never be the same again.

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