Do I have to program a phone into the system before using it?

[ECDerek]

I'm having a time trying to add a new phone to our system. (Preface: I don't know phone systems; this is beyond my expertise by a long shot. I muddle through as I can.)

I've added a new 700476013 to the system and it works correctly. I've got a jack that has never been used before, but has been wired up the entire time. I understood that I could just add a phone to that jack at any time by just plugging one in and assigning an extension, etc. But the phone doesn't even light up when I plug it in.

I've tested the cables I'm using and confirmed that everything works on other phones--just not to this single jack. So I gave up and put in a service call. The rep asked if the phone had been programmed in the system--is this a thing? Is this why I can't get the phone to even light up? I'm fairly certain I've just added phones to other jacks before--I've definitely never programmed anything before a phone would come to life. Help?

 

[vtphoneguy]

Does the phone startup if you plug it directly into the IP Office?

 

[ECDerek]

Yes it does.

 

[vtphoneguy]

Have you verified that the wiring is correct as was suggested on the Cabling forum?

 

[ECDerek]

Yes (sorry for not replying to that thread yet), the blue pair is on 4/5. The only thing I haven't done is to switch the blue pair to a different pair and test that.

At this point, I've sunk too much time into cable troubleshooting--I'm fine with going ahead with a service call. But if the tech is going to come in and somehow "program" IP Office to see the jack, then I can do that myself and I'll cancel the call. But I can't see that there is such a thing as programming a new jack into the system. Is there?

 

[vtphoneguy]

If the phone works when plugged directly into the IP Office but does not work at the jack, the problem is in the cable/termination of said cable.

 

[ECDerek]

Good, thank you for confirming that.

 

[vtphoneguy]

Perhaps I should also ask, what happens when you plug the phone in at the jack? Does it power on or sit there like a brick?

 

[ECDerek]

Nothing at all. Definitely a better brick than a phone.

 

[vtphoneguy]

I have to say it is a cabling/termination problem IMHO. Could even be something silly like a bent pin inside the jack.

 

[intrigrant]

This is a Combo Card, ports 1-6 are for digital Avaya phones ( 14xx, 24xx, 54xx, 95xx series ), ports 7 & 8 are for analog stations ( POTS ), port 9 & 10 are for ISDN BRI trunks and ports 11 & 12 are there because there was room for it but they have no function.
Said that, a simple question : on which port did you attach the phone?

 

[ECDerek]

1 through 6, actually (I did that to confirm the card worked after install). All those ports light up other extensions just fine.

 

[intrigrant]

If it is port 6 then use the cable which came with the phone and connect the phone on one of the working ports ( 1 to 5 ).
If it works there and not on port 6 then the port is defective, if it doesn't work then the phone is defective.
If the port nor the phone is defective then wire up to the workplace outlet and attach the phone, if nothing happens check cabling.

 

[EmuDan]

For digital phones, don't always trust the cables that come with them. Swap it out with a standard Cat-5 patch cable and see if it works.

Dan

I blame Avaya.

 

[intrigrant]

I have placed hundreds of them and I have never had a faulty cable.

 

[ECDerek]

(Cross-posting from the cabling forum

The jack was terminated incorrectly. The pairs were all correct, but it was a newer jack with a compression cap that is maybe supposed to eliminate the need for punching down the wires, but didn't work in this case. Why it wasn't tested at install I can't say. Anyway, that was the issue. Thanks for all your help!

Here's the jack in question:

http://www.cableorganizer.com/black-box/gigatrue-cat6-jacks.htm

 

[vtphoneguy]

More of a "dust cap", wires still require termination

 

[lanreMBO]

Have you looked into Access List if you have that on the router or switch?