No Communication message on Merlin II Switchboard

[jrath02]

I hope some of you can help me as my background is in IT support and I am being fielded to solve an issue with an AT&T Merlin II which has the approximate age of being from the 80's.
I fear that someone has screwed up the cables and that this is most of the problem, which is huge since nothing is labeled and the current owner of the business is not the original owner.
The problem we have is that there is a no communication message on the switchboard, no phone line lights and no dial tone.
As I understand it, there was nothing wrong with the phone system but that the Charter internet had been acting up and the clerk attacked the phone system instead of the Charter modem! ARRRG
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!
John

 

[cvrbob]

is the power supply for the console plugged in ?

 

[jrath02]

Yes it is. In fact I forgot to mention that an electrician has been out and verified that the system had the correct voltages. But he could not get it to work either. He was muttering the whole time that nothing made sense!

 

[cvrbob]

ok are any other phones working ?

how many power units in the Merlin 11 ?

if more than 2 , shut & turn on in this order, far most right first, than next and last the main wait a few sec on each when turning on

 

[jrath02]

Just the main on the on the control box and the console

 

[cvrbob]

next is to temporary bring the console & power unit back to the phone closet and plug it into the first station jack counting from the bottom up, it maybe label 10 on the 1st 408 module

 

[Telecomboy]

Make sure you are using a line cord that has all 4-pair (8 wires) in it going to the console phone. A CAT5/CAT5E cord will work, but a regular 4-pin/2-pin line cord will not. That Merlin II Console required all 4-pair (8 wires) to work. RJ45 ends not RJ11 ends.

 

[exsmogger]

If the display of the Merlin II console is blank then either the console is dead or the power supply is dead. At the least you would see "No communication" on the display if it is functional and getting power.

Brian Cox
Georgia Telephone

http://Georgia-Telephone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[jrath02]

Tried the Console directly in the 408. I tried it in both port 9 and 10.
The console still says No communication.
Any ideas? I have powered down and back up the control system and it does not seem to make a difference.
Thanks for any other ideas...?

Thanks John

 

[exsmogger]

It's getting power, but it isn't talking to the control unit. I'm pretty sure it will work on any 408 port, but attendants can only be assigned to every 4th port. 1, 5, 9, 13, etc. Sounds like it's given up the ghost, but try another Merlin 8-conductor cord if you haven't already.

Brian Cox
Georgia Telephone

http://Georgia-Telephone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[merlinman]

Try any other MLX set in the bottom port of the 1st 408 and see if that works.

You've got to prove the PORT is working. If it is, (proven by a different phone plugged directly into it) then try putting the CONSOLE into any other MLX Port.

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

-merlinmansblog.blogspot.com

 

[jrath02]

I don't mean to sound dumb, but what is an MLX? I only have the one console/switchboard. I do have other multi line AT&T phones if that is what an MLX is.
Also, I do not have another Merlin 8 conductor cord. Would an ethernet cable work?

I do appreciate the advice and thank you in advance.

John

 

[exsmogger]

MLX is only for the Legend system and doesn't apply to your problem. A straight-through ethernet cable will work.

Brian Cox
Georgia Telephone

http://Georgia-Telephone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[merlinman]

My Bad, your phones are of the ATL Variety. I overlooked your first sentence. as exsmog suggested you can use an Ethernet cable. It must be that someone substitute the original cord with a able that doesn't have all 8 conductors.

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

-merlinmansblog.blogspot.com

 

[TouchToneTommy]

And yes, a regular "Ethernet" Cat-5 patch cord can substitute for a Legend 8 conductor line cord.

 

[jrath02]

I will give the cat 5 a try. My concern is that someone moved all the connections around and because nothing is wired it will be a mess to get it all back together.

Thanks again.