BLF issues

[Mich2too]

We have a number of Nortel/Meridian M7310 phones throughout our office. Two of them currently have BLF units attached and fully functioning. We recently purchased 10 additional brand new units still in factory wrappings and boxes.

We hooked up BLF #1 to phone #1 and all of the fields (lower & uppers) flashed continually. We tried BLF #1 on phone #2 and it does not indicate any phone lines in use when there are. We went as far as reprogamming the memory keys with the extension 'just to be sure' they were correct. Then we took BLF# 1 and hooked it up to phone #3 which had a previously functioning BLF unit on it and BLF #1 continually flashes.

We have tried BLF # 2, #3 & #4 on various phones with similiar but not exact results.

Any suggestions? Insight? Etc??

 

[deadringer22004]

If you look at the Norstar Matrix of compatability it tells you that from MICS / CICS 6.1 you need rel 16 or higher.

 

[deadringer22004]

I just reread my answer and see that I failed to mention that it is the M7310 that has to be at release 16 or above.

 

[Mich2too]

Okay....I am not a technical user for Nortel/Meridian. What exactly do you mean by your reply? We do not understand why two existing BLF units would function and the new ones do not. There should be no difference.

 

[deadringer22004]

I know that I had ad 8x24 DR5 that went bad and I had to change the system out for a MICS 7.0. They had several blf's and after I changed the system to 7.0 none of the blf's would work. I looked at my compatability list and it tells me that with this version of software, anything 6.1 and above, you need to have M7310 rls 16 or above. I don't know what rels M7310 you are using. You said that you got brand new M7310 phones. Nortel has not been selling new M7310 phones. They are using the T series phones now. Look on the bottom of the phone and see what rls they are. From you discription, The blf's are acting just like the ones that I had.

 

[bwtc]

There are many revisions on the 7310 phones. The revision number is usually on a sticker on the underside of the phone.

The BLF will only work with revision 16 & higher of the 7310 on a MICS 6.1(?) or higher.

If there is no sticker on the bottom of the phone, do a feature *7 on the phone, and adjust the contrast. If there are only 4 contrast levels, the BLF will not work.

 

[Mich2too]

THANK YOU both. We actually purchased new BLFS not phones. They were outdated stock from a whole saler.

Am keeping my fingers crossed that the majority of our phones will work with these units. We are a non-profit agency and can not afford to update our phones or system.

THANK YOU AGAIN!! Off to look for sticker or use Feature *7 to check things out.

 

[Mich2too]

Have an FYI to share with everyone.

I was getting PRETTY discouraged as I ventured through the office and was finding that the majority of our phones had only 4 levels of contrast. But at the same time....the majority of them had the stickers indicating versions HIGHER than 16. When I got to the receptionist's desk....which is phone #2 (which happens to be a version 10C) that had a fully functioning BLF on it prior to our new aquisition. This is the phone that we tested the new BLF units on. It was noted that since having changed BLF units...that the ORGINAL no longer worked. So...just for grins & giggles....I unplugged the phone line and reconnected it. PRESTO...the BLF unit functioned again. So....I went to one of the phones and connected a NEW BLF unit to it. Unplugged the phone line and reconnected it. PRESTO...the NEW UNIT is working JUST FINE!!!

What a 'BUT DUH' finding!!!

Thank you for your help!!

 

[bwtc]

Out of curiosity... do the BLF's have a revision number on them? Perhaps this incompatability only affects certain BLF / 7310 combinations?

If you go into System Programming -> Maintenance -> Port/DN status & put in the port (or press DN & put in the extension), you should get the 7310 listed. If you then press the lower right triangle, you should have a BLF. Does the left softkey say "VERSN" ? If so, check the versions of the "old" and the "new" BLF's.

 

[deadringer22004]

What system and software are you using?

 

[Mich2too]

Sorry it took me a bit to reply. Had to catch up on a few things first.

Version of the BLFs....manufactured in 10/2000 V4.

System and software.....you tell me we'll both know. That is not something that I am familiar with sorry. I would have to call our phone guy to find out that type of stuff and he probably would not tell me anyways. Won't get into all of the issues behind that one either. Now you know why I run here for assistance!!