VICIdial Dead Trigger: Complete Optimization Guide

Quick Reference

Setting Name

dead_trigger

Default Value

NONE

Recommended

DEAD or valid extension for dead call handling

Impact Level

Medium

Location in VICIdial

Admin > Campaigns > [Campaign] > Dial Settings

What Dead Trigger Does

Specifies the action to take when a call is detected as 'dead' — meaning the far end has hung up but the channel is still technically active. Properly handling dead calls prevents agents from being left on empty channels and reduces wasted agent time.

Center Size Recommended Value Notes
10–25 Agents DEAD or valid extension for dead call handling Start conservative, monitor for 48 hours before adjusting
25–100 Agents DEAD or valid extension for dead call handling Scale gradually — larger operations amplify effects of misconfiguration
100–500 Agents DEAD or valid extension for dead call handling Consult ViciStack optimization team for enterprise-scale tuning

How to Change This Setting

  1. 1 Go to Admin > Campaigns
  2. 2 Select campaign
  3. 3 Find Dead Trigger setting
  4. 4 Set to DEAD to use the built-in dead call handler
  5. 5 Or enter a dialplan extension to handle dead calls with custom logic
  6. 6 Reload dialplan if using custom extension
  7. 7 Submit

Common Problems

Leaving as NONE causes agents to sit on dead calls until they manually hang up

Dead call detection sensitivity varies by carrier

Conflicts with wait_for_silence setting

call_timeout Call Timeout Campaign drop_action Drop Action Campaign wait_for_silence Wait for Silence Campaign amd_type AMD Type Campaign

ViciStack Module

How ViciStack Optimizes Dead Trigger

ViciStack's Dialer Tuning & Auto-Configuration module automatically monitors and optimizes dead_trigger based on real-time performance data from your operation. Instead of manual tuning, ViciStack continuously analyzes call outcomes, agent performance, and contact rates to recommend and implement optimal values — often catching configuration drift before it affects your numbers.

Learn About Dialer Tuning & Auto-Configuration →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does dead_trigger do in VICIdial? +
Specifies the action to take when a call is detected as 'dead' — meaning the far end has hung up but the channel is still technically active. Properly handling dead calls prevents agents from being left on empty channels and reduces wasted agent time.
What is the recommended value for dead_trigger? +
The recommended range for dead_trigger is DEAD or valid extension for dead call handling. The out-of-box default is NONE. Note that optimal values vary by operation size, campaign type, and carrier — use ViciStack's automated tuning to find your exact optimal configuration.
Can ViciStack automatically optimize dead_trigger for me? +
Yes. ViciStack's Dialer Tuning & Auto-Configuration module monitors dead_trigger continuously and alerts you when the value drifts outside optimal range. On qualifying plans, ViciStack can automatically adjust this setting based on real-time performance data — no manual intervention required.

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