No loop current on line 101

[DWLaurie]

I pulled the Error log on an ACS Rev. 4.76.7 and it has this entry:

Simple Name Count Last Occurrance Comment/Action
ME_LANOLOOP 12 12/03/2004, 03:31 PM No loop current on
Line 101. Check Line

I find this a bit disturbing because I remember seeing this entry last month and it only had a count of 11 and it last occurred on 10/29 and now there is a new ocurrance only 6 days ago. What does this error mean? Is it a line issue or is it a port issue? Let me re-phrase, is the error coming from the Central Office or could the port be going bad??? Does Line 101 refer to Line 1?

Some background, the last time I was in this system was 11/15/2004 and the last time that the system was physically altered was 11/24/2004. Nothing was happening on 12/03 that any one in the office can recall.

 

[ttech]

You can test it with a buttset that has polarity lights.

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi DWLaurie,
If the vm isn't dropping, you are not getting a disconnect signal. Ttech has a good idea, it will confirm this. You can also measure the loop current by breaking one side of the CO and putting a digital volt meter in series on the current scale. Go off hook and measure the current (might be low).
-Chris

 

[DWLaurie]

OK, so telco was out today and said the line current was 40 ma and spiked at 44 ma at one point. Would it be wise to put in the regulators?

AH! Just had a thought. Suppose a call came in. VM picked it up, the caller hung up but the ACS didn't release it because no CPC signal was sent. Would the CO eventually just drop the line as dead (cut current) because it knew there was only one party on it and then reset it (turn current back on) after a predetermined amount of time?

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi DWLaurie,
The ACS / voicemail would drop the line after it times out if no disconnect is sent. What the LEC does is another matter. A disconnect like you describe would not trigger a no loop current event on the ACS.
-Chris

 

[skip555]

OK, so telco was out today and said the line current was 40 ma and spiked at 44 ma at one point. Would it be wise to put in the regulators?

40 ma I would put the regulators on for sure just curios why you havent checked loop current yourelf ?

all you need is a buttset and a DVM that has a ma scale

( my new buttset actually gives me ma whan I go off hook and all kinds of other spiffy info _)

did you ask the telco to check CPC and did you ask what type of cpc signal they send ?

 

[DWLaurie]

I didn't check the loop current myself because the MIS director of that office called the telco and requested they come out and test it, then called me to tell me she requested it. Oh well, might as well let them do it :-D I'll verify it is I get a chance. While they were doing that, I called telco myself and spoke with repair, asked if they had CPC programmed on the lines, They had no idea what it was, I explained the voltage inversion, 200-500ms on average, once the calling party dropped from the line. QWest told me that was called COD (Cut-ff On Disconnect) and it was not programmed on the lines. So she programmed that on all 6 of our CO lines. Well, guess what, still no luck. I know the lines are still sitting on hold and idle AND I got 3 more occurrances of no loop current. I now have a count of 15 as of 12/15/2004.

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi DWLaurie,
Well, you needed "COD" anyhow. Just curious, do you have any extensions set to pick up an outside line first? An intermittent device / cable could grab a line in that case and could put that line on hold. I'm thinking intermittent short.
If you have a DSS that shows all extensions, that would help if you happen to see the rogue extension grab the line and put it on hold. Misbehaving modems or debit card machines might do a similar thing.
In any case, look at extensions that get a line without dialing a "9".
-Chris

 

[DWLaurie]

I just received a CA48 (a DSS) that I will be putting on either 10 or 11 to watch all ports on the ACS. I do have a device that is between the Demarc and the ACS, that's on line 6, a fax discriminator. To the best of my knowledge, all of the ALS's are set to Line1, Line2, Line3, Line4, Line5, Line6. In other words, no extension has to dial '9' before getting an outside line, all they have to do is pick up an extension and they have an outside line.

--Dan

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi Dan,
Your ALS should be set for line 6,5,4...1. This will reduce "glare" where you go to make an outbound call and get an inbound call. Normal telephony practice.
If you change this, it would be interesting to see what happens with your problem. Just change a couple phone types and use #399 to copy to other extensions. Line restrictions and ringing will be copied as well.
-Chris

 

[DWLaurie]

I am leary to change the ALS because of the way the lines come in. This is for a Community Service Organization, aside from everything else, they don't take well to change. :-D Besides that, I could goober with line 1-3, but 3 and 6 I wouldn't want to mess with. Although hunt at the CO is set to go from 1-6 in succession, line 6 is the fax line with the external discriminator, the fax machine is not on a voice port (as I normally would set it up) it is completely outside the ACS and line 4 is a hotline for the community, kind of like the Boystown Hotline (for runaway teens) or a Help Line for someone contimplating suicide, etc. So lines 4 and 6 need to be free as often as possible. In effect I could set ALS to 5,3,2,1 leaving out 6 and 4, but then that would comfuse the folks using the phones. They expect calls to come in 1,2,3,4,5,6 unless 4 rings for the hot line and they don't see 6 ring for the fax since it is intercepted before the ACS even sees it, plus when they pick up the phone they expect to see it pick up the lowest available line (1 of not activity, 2 if 1 is engaged, etc.). So, see my dilema? %-)

 

[itpphoneguy]

Hi Dan,
I hear you, but I would still set for 5,3,2,1. If they get confused by the lights, they have too much free time. You do have a solid technical reason for doing this. Basically, most people don't like change. This change will not affect them except in a positive way.
-Chris

 

[DWLaurie]

LOL I hear ya Chris, I'll definitely keep it in mind and discuss it with them. It does make perfect sense from a technical stance. If no one has thanked ya lately, thank you for all the good advice you give! ;-D