AT&T Answering Machine is not recorded

[WCTek]

We have 2 - 3300 with 8 Per nodes attached. We have 1000+ analog lines thru out the falicity. About 30+ AT&T answering machine won't record message. The answering machine will play the announcement and you can hear that someone is leaving the message. But it won't record. Mostly it only happens to AT&T brand, not Panasonic or Uniden.

Is this compatible issue? I contacted our sister company and they have the same issue. Strange ???

 

[TheMitelGuy]

Nothing to do with the 3300 at all.

 

[WCTek]

Right, it is not related to 3300. Is it know issue with Mitel Per nodes? Mitel outputs 24V on Idle. My old Avaya outputs 48V on Idle. Any thoughts that voltage is the issue?

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

TheMitelGuy is correct. This is not a Mitel issue.

If Panasonic & Uniden answering machines work and AT&T doesn't, then use the brand(s) that work. Ordinarily I would ask why you're using answering machines instead of the built-in voice mail on the 3300, but I think I know the answer. Did you obtain this equipment from the secondary market by chance?

 

[WCTek]

No. We are retirement communities and tenants have the choice to purchase our voicemail service. These tenants want to keep their answering machines. That's why I have to purchase different brand and replace it for them.

Like I said, it's working with Avaya before we install Mitel.

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

Do the tenants have the option of subscribing to legacy landline telephone service?

In re to your problem, are you using MC320/ONS line cards or MC321 OPS line cards? I would think it would work with the MC321. Are you also delivering CLID? The MC321 cards cannot pass CLID, but I'd wager a bet that they'll work with the answering machines.

In any event it sounds like loop current may be the problem, in which case you can get a loop current booster from

http://www.sandman.com

that will probably solve it.

 

[WCTek]

In old part of the building, we have Verizon POTS but not enough to cover our new buildings. The POTS option is unlikely.

We have MC320/ONS line cards and providing CLID to tenants. We don't have MC321, but it would work like you mentioned. The Mitel rep mentioned about ONS card with "positive disconnect" that it would solve the problem. ANyway, I don't trust it.

After reading from Sandman, it could be the loop current issue. I have not thinking about it, but will try.

 

[TheInstaller]

Hi Ya, If you change the card to an OPS Card it will provide enough voltage to run the Answering machine.

You can pick these up dirt cheap second user.

Regards

 

[MitelInMyBlood]

The OPS card (MC321) is what I originally suggested. Unfortunately it would be at the expense of losing callerID display. (MC321 OPS card doesn't support callerID) Likely the subscriber would much rather swap out his answering machine before giving up callerID.

 

[TheInstaller]

Do they really need CallerID on an Answering Machine?

 

[TheMitelGuy]

ORIGINAL ISSUE: "The answering machine will play the announcement and you can hear that someone is leaving the message. But it won't record."

QUESTION: When the caller is leaving the message, you said you can hear the caller leaving the message - is this audio faint? Are any of the residents having an issue hearing callers when they call?

 

[WCTek]

The audio is not faint. They have phone set 2500, and it does not ring as loud as before. I put the buttset on the line and have 25mA. When it's idle, it has 23V.

 

[kwbMitel]

Hate to say it but I think you need to go back to square 1 and prove these Answering machines work in a different environment. Is it possible they are wired differently?

The voltage differences between the Mitel and a standard POTs line would only affect ringing (not the case as it is answering) or Line Detection (only used for outgoing)

The voltage and current on a live call would be virtually identical as you have already proven.

Another thought occurs to me as I write this but the above is still valid so I won't erase it. Some answering machines have privacy ccts built into them to automatically disconnect if they notice a bump in voltage as would occur if the phone is picked up. this is to prevent the conversation from being recorded. I don't know if these machines are set up this way but it is something else to check.

*******************************************************
Occam's Razor - All things being equal, the simplest solution is the right one.

 

[jon83]

is the wiring only using 1 pair. i had something like this with a fax the fax would answer but nothing happened, but when i made sure the lead it was using was only using 1 pair( i snipped the other wires). Then the fax worked! its a long shot and it may be related.

 

[kwbMitel]

Another thought, could it be polarity?

*******************************************************
Occam's Razor - All things being equal, the simplest solution is the right one.

 

[TheMitelGuy]

Polarity shouldn't matter as it's analog (it's a "loop").

 

[kwbMitel]

As to Polarity, I agree with TheMitelGuy, but nothing else makes sense so what can it hurt to check.

if anyone would make a polarity sensitive answering machine AT&T would do it.

*******************************************************
Occam's Razor - All things being equal, the simplest solution is the right one.