2 MICS, 1 PRI 2

[PTerrell]

Scenario: A branch office is relocating to the same building as the main office. The branch office "wants to keep our phone system--we have another year on the lease". But I've got enough capacity on the main branch PRI to handle both.

Newbie question: How do I connect the 2 MICS so that they share the same PRI? What additional hardware do I need? How do I route the DID numbers? (I'm reading about E&M tie lines, but the Installer Guide makes it sound like I have to lease these lines from the telco.)

Both systems are MICS 6.0 with the cards and codes to connect to PRI. The DIDs are in two seperate blocks, but they share the same prefix.

Thanx in advance!!

 

[executone]

Connect Two Systems Back-to Back using T1/PRI:
Be sure to set CSU to NO. You'll program it like you would an E&M connection with each extension getting a target line with their extension number as the received digits etc.
DTI cards back to back wiring:
KSU A to KSU B
1 Rx Ring 4 Tx Ring
2 Rx Tip 5 Tx Tip
3 3
4 Tx Ring 1 Rx Ring
5 Tx Tip 2 Rx Tip

Line programming:
Lines – Show
Show Line:
Line049:Line049 – Show
Trunk / Line Data – Show
Trunk Type: E&M
Line Type: Pool C or any other unused pool
Dial mode: Tone
PrimeSet: 221
AutoPrivacy: N
Ans Mode: Auto
Aux Ringer: N
Signal: Wink
Ani number: N
DNIS number:N
Gain: Normal


Assigning Line Pool Access:
Terminals & Sets
Show set: (enter ext#) – Show
Line Access – Show
Line Assignment – Next
LinePool Access – Show
LinePoolA: Y – NEXT
LinePoolC: N – Change to Yes

Note: This must be done for each extension you want to be able to dial from the other site.
When callers from one side pick up their handset and dial the access code for the line pool containing the E&M trunks they will hear intercom tone of the other side. They can then dial an extension. In order for the call to ring at the dialed extension you must assign a Target Line to each extension of both sides. The Received digits will be the extension number itself.
Target Lines Programming:
From Lines – Show
Show LN: 145 – Show (target line range from 145-275 non-XC SW, 145-336 XC SW)
Target LN – Next
Private to: (extension number) – Next
Rec’d #: (enter extension #) – Next
If Busy: to prime – Next
PrimeSet: 221 (change to the extension #) - Next
CLID Set: None – Next
Aux. Ringer: N – Next
End of list

Then just assign the Target line to the phone. If it is E&M then in order for one side to dial the other side, each extension will need a target line set up for the extension. IE, Target lines 145... received digits 221... assigned to appear and ring at extension 221. When the other side picks up, accesses the E&M trunks, dials the desired extension 221 the target line 145 will pick up on the digits 221 and ring the extension.


Good Luck!!

 

[PTerrell]

Wow!! I'll need to digest all that programming...But then I learn from doing.

How about hardware? I only see one jack on my DTI card. Am I looking in the wrong place? What is the approriate cable to connect the two?

 

[Norstarguru]

Well, If you want to connect both the sites you would need a T-1 Card at each location, You won't need PRI to connect both of the systems, unless you are doing centralized Voicemail. If you have MICS 6.0 on both why not just add to the existing system with XC6.0 Software and throw the hardware from the remote on to the main location and trade in your other system. Unless your systems are just that big, One MICS 0X32 will support about 200 Sets.

The NOrstarguru
john1@refurbphones.com

 

[PTerrell]

NOrstarguru,

Sorry, but the goal is to keep both systems "independent", other than the shared PRI. About 20 users in one office and 15 in the other, so I'm within capacity of the PRI.

As I mentioned, I'm playing "office politics".

 

[executone]

PTerrell,

You will need another DTI card to connect the systems back-to-back. The original DTI card will be used for your connection to Telco.

DTI cards back to back wiring:
KSU A to KSU B
1 Rx Ring 4 Tx Ring
2 Rx Tip 5 Tx Tip
3 3
4 Tx Ring 1 Rx Ring
5 Tx Tip 2 Rx Tip

Good Luck!!

 

[mikewgordon]

I love when bean counters get involved and do the "you can't stop using it, its still on lease!!" bit, even though it would cost you more (2 T1 cards) to use it.

If you have the capacity on the main system for the branches stations, I suggest a little deceit:

Just put all the phones on that main Norstar. Hang the "branch office" Norstar next to the first, and make sure to turn it on and cable it to a 66 block. (preferably in the same "column" as the main Norstar).

Tell them that you've "networked" the branch with the main office, and if anyone asks, you can point them to the branch office Norstar. Unless they're too clueful (which they've already proven they aren't) they'll see it installed and powered up, and leave you alone.

It would be even more impressive if only the Norstar had blinking lights on it. I once had a customer go with an inferior machine (semi-custom industrial machine, not a PBX) solely based on the fact that the power light blinked and was labeled "status". Someone from the other company told me that the customer was know to love "blinky lights", so they just added a blinker circuit to the power light.

 

[commsguy]

Deceit is a dangerous game. Better to tell the bean counter, you want to use this order another PRI at $XXX per month or eat your lease.

commsguy

http://www.convetech.com

 

[PTerrell]

Commsguy has a good point about the deception.

Plus I was looking forward to the techical challenges of hooking up the two systems--that's what keeps me interested in being the IT guy besides clearing paper jams on the printers. ;-)

Now that I know that it can be done and the additional hardware required, I'll let the manager decide what she wants to do. (It's not the bean counter in this case--the bean counter agrees on the money savings. It's a manger that doesn't want to "lose her turf".)

Thanks again to all.