*Newbie* Phone System problem - strage rings

[printersexpress]

I know very little about phone systems, so please bear with me.

We have an AT&T Partner 206 Module 2.0, a Lucent Partner 206E Module R4.1 & Partner Plus Processor Module 2.0. Recently, the phones have started ringing for a split second on and off (rarely a full ring). When picking up the phone, it sounds dead, but after a few seconds, the call will generally come through. We are definitely missing some calls as well. Outgoing calls are not a problem.

We also have a modem line, but are not experiencing any disconnects. Recently, however, we've been connecting at relatively low KBPS rates and it takes a number of tries to connect @ 50.6 KBPS.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[jeepguy267]

I would suspect a ring generator failing. Have you called the phone company to have them check the lines? They will not be able to check this without dispatching a tech. It is important that the tech realizes to check for INCOMMING issues with the ring generator. (this is not a dial tone issue).

 

[printersexpress]

Thanks jeepguy267 -- does this mean that the problem may lie on the phone company's (line backer, etc.) side of things or on our hardware?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jeepguy267]

I suspect it would be the phone company. And if you have line backer they are responsible right up to the phone system. There is a possibility that this resides in your hardware, but first suspision says the it's phone company.

To further diagnose.... does it happen on all lines, only particular lines, all phones, certain phones? Do intercom calls ring without issue? If it is intermitent without any noticable paterns or predictability it will be harder to troubleshoot.

Would you be comfortable unplugging lines from you phone system and testing with a single line set (aka princess phone or home phone)?

Since you have line backer first sugestion is to call the phone company. If you do not want to touch the phone system there are also plenty of Avaya Business Partner's who are in the business of doing this for you. Of course, they (we) charge (but still less than Avaya).

 

[printersexpress]

Problem may be limited to first line -- but all phones. Intercom calls ring through just fine. If someone is on the first one line, an incoming call rings through just fine -- it's when no one is on either line (and by default rings line 1) that it acts up.

Talked to the boss and we don't have line backer service (lines are only 5 years old). We do have someone who works on our system and he's been notified.

Is a ring generator something further up the line, as in, would businesses next door be affected by one going bad or would it be local to our building?

What should I look/listen for if I plug in a regular phone into our system?

Thank you for your continued help. I really do appreciate it.

 

[twofeathers]

Reverse lines 1 and 3 at the Partner 206 cards. Call line 3 several times and see if you have a problem with it ringing in. (will ring in on Line 1's position) Then call line 1 several times and see what happens. You will be looking to see if the problem follows the individual line or if it's a 206 card problem.