Ground Start, or Loop Start?

[JennyVenus]

One Communications is talking to us about upgrading our bandwidth, I mentioned my only concern is our Merlin Legend has 4 channels of our T1 going into a 400E&M board, is this new system compatible with it?

They said I need to know if it's a loops line going into the PBX. I see the 400E&M can be loops or ground. How do I tell if it's configured for loops vs ground? I'm a neophite, if possible tell me what menu choices I'd have to go in. I also see DIP switches on the 400E&M, can I tell by the DIP switches?

Thanks

 

[dagwoodsystems]

The 400E&M board is for analog tie lines and uses neither loop nor ground-start, but rather E&M signalling. The dip switches are used to select either a two or four-wire E&M circuit.

I'm wondering if you're using those four tie lines as a link to a remote site's PBX. Better check that part out before you make any drastic changes.

You'll need a 100D DS1 module to interface a T1 or PRI directly.

Tim Alberstein

http://www.dagwoodsystems.com

 

[merlinman]

As I try to point out as often as I can, be wary of VOIP Telephone service being the ONLY way calls can come into your Legend.

The Remote Maintenance device (MODEM) will loose it's function-ability if VOIP are the only type of lines you have.

Without it, no remote maintenance can be done.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[CarGoSki]

Remote maintenance has morphed into a having a maintenance computer on site with an internet connection that runs LogMeIn or some other remote desktop and a direct connection to the admin port via 355AF and a long patch cable.



It's people like you who generalize.

 

[SYQUEST]

But, not every business wants to dedicate a PC for that kind of use.

....JIM....

 

[CarGoSki]

True but since Magix 3.0+ hoses the modem making it unreliable and voip providers screwing the rest then the options narrow. You can visit the site, hook up a computer or get someone else to visit the site.

Not much remote about being on site...

It's people like you who generalize.

 

[JennyVenus]

Thank you, I thought since we had 4 channels of our T1 as voice and the 400E&M had 4 lines, the 400EM was the board.

We do have a 100D DS1 board, thanks dagwoodsystems. Now that I'm on the right board, does anyone know how I can go about finding the answer to OneCommunications question "how does it interface with the PSTN"? (I have a side note I overheard him mention , "loops dot line going into the PBX" but I don't know it that applies here).

They mentioned their new equipment can handle almost all but one format that's extremely old, they want to make sure we don't use that format.

As for the remote maintenance, everytime we've needed remote maintenance I plug in a phone line to the Intuity system. Or, am I just proving I don't know what I'm talking about?

 

[CarGoSki]

The Intuity would be the "computer" on site. Mainly it is your voicemail system however Intuitys can be configured to run dos spm via a direct serial connection to the Merlin.

We were simply chatting about remote maintenance in a broader sense than your site. There are many things out there that can sink a dialup connection.

It's people like you who generalize.

 

[SYQUEST]

JennyVenus,

How is the Legend currently configured? From your description, you have several modules that can connect to your provider via the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), depending what equipment they are using on premise. You would need to print the system configuration using SPM, which runs on a PC workstation, or if you have a printer attached to the Legend for SDMR, you could print the config to it via the Console. From the print out you can see what is in the system, and what may be assigned to the 100D DS1 module or the 400EM module.

Do you currently know what services you are receiving from One Communications?

....JIM....

 

[JennyVenus]

That's the problem, it was installed by someone else and all I know how to do is switch users around, set the time, and relabel.

I have a printer attached to the Legend, what menu choices would I need to go to print out the configuration? Thank you

 

[JennyVenus]

We currently have 19 pots lines (10 in the hunt group), a T1 of which 4 channels are for telephone calls out of state only. For in state, the system uses one of our hunt group POTS lines (as it was cheaper when it was setup). I don't know if that helps.

If you could tell me the menu choices to print out the configuration from the Legend I would be very appreciative.

 

[merlinman]

Cargo... Exactly how does the Magix 3.0 "HOSE" the modem?

From what Bell Labs told me, it's the same modem in all of the processors from Legend all the way through Magix R4.0.

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[CarGoSki]

Its the phenomenon that has been reported here before merlinman. You can use a analog extension connected to a computers modem and set winspm to dial *10 to connect locally. If you do this then you will have issues dialing in connecting via PRI to the same internal modem. You can power cycle the unit to restore order. Once order is restored as long as you don't connect via *10 internally the remote connection works fine.

That appears to have started in Magix 3.0. I know that the problem started for me exactly when I upgraded a site to 3.0. Subsequent processor changes produce the same condition.

It's people like you who generalize.

 

[merlinman]

This issue sounds to me like a known issue involving the T&R Ports.

We always knew (well, probably around release 2 of Legend) that their DATA Thru-Put was not very good at all, especially for modems & cc machines.

However, why were you "LOOPING AROUND" to get to the SPM MODEM?

What am I missing with your use of an extra Modem/Laptop?

http://home.comcast.net/~merlinman

 

[memphisribs]

Cargo; I have identified the same issue, when the customer or I access the modem locally (*10), because of a PC not having a Serial port (that works) or the administrator being a long way from the switch, making a direct connection difficult.
Power cycling the switch is the only way to restore the modem for remote access.
I solved the issue with one customer by installing a Digi-one serial to IP adapter, so the customer could access the admin port over his LAN. Works great.


45 years in the business and counting.

 

[CarGoSki]

Not my idea. She wanted to program the system from her computer. It is a hardware flaw with Merlin. One that made itself known to me after upgrading to 3.0.

This site has a third party vm computer so my solution worked well. She can still program using *10 if she wants or she can rdp to the vm computer. We rdp to the vm computer.

Of course the vm computer is serial connected to the admin port via 355af.

It's people like you who generalize.

 

[dagwoodsystems]

Your connection to the PSTN may very well be both via the E&M board as well as the DS1 (or T1) board. It sounds like you're at the analysis stage of the game. Feel free to reach out to me personally if you need help with this.

A couple years ago, I identified a problem that occurred when locally connecting to the internal modem via *10, which turns out to be specific to a flavor of processor. I don't see how that plays out in your post, but it may vindicate those who have experienced that same thing.

Tim Alberstein

http://www.dagwoodsystems.com