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Norstar MICS 7.0 D-channel not coming up with Comcast PRI 3

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Missy8s

Missy8s

Vendor
Apr 19, 2011
108
US
I am having trouble bringing up the D-channel on a Norstar MICS 7.0...

I went 'by the book' on configuration, the settings are pretty standard:

Protocol: Ni2
Framing: ESF
B-Channel Sequence: Descending
CO Fail TIA=547A
IF Levels: ISDN
Internal CSU: Off (Comcast provides an NIU rather than a smart jack)
Line Coding: B8ZS
Clock Source: Primary (the Comcast order says "recovered")
Received Digits: 4

My Combo Card is in slot 2, there was a standard 6-port expander in that slot before, I simply replaced it. (this could be a mistake)

My T-1 Card is in the card Slot on the right, there were two Analog line cards before...

I hope I've given you enough info...

I am scheduled to arrive on site at 11:00 AM (PST) to re-attempt turn up.

I am bringing a new Combo Card and T-1 card, should I need them when I arrive on site.

Thank you in advance!


 
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It looks right. I have done switches to Comcast on BCM PRI's and the only problem they had was the CLID outgoing.
Do you get a solid green light on the DTI card or a yellow alarm on it. If you press the loop back button on the front of the card it should turn green and grab a line. Or put a loop back plug into the card.
 
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The PRI Key is installed, the light stays green but I have a 'yellow' alarm in the top indicator. If I loop the card back to Comcast through their NIU they can seen the B-channels but the D-channel won't come up...

If I place the combo card in Slot 2 and the T-1 card in Slot 4, the system boots properly. If I place the combo card in Slot 1 and the T-1 card in Slot 3 after clearing the alarm on the operator set, I get a warning that says "configuration failure" with the option for a warm restart...

I've done hundreds of these over the years but I have never seen "configuration failure" come up even once.

I'm a little puzzled on this one.

The other thing I should mention is that I did not change the configuration from "square" to "PRI" because I do not have contiguous DID's.

I left the switch set as square with 3 digit DNs and received digits at 4, that 'should not' have to change as I recall.
 
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PRI card to the left trunk slot and combo/exp card to the right exp slot.

i.e. Trunk slots work left to right but expansion slots work right to left.

PRI | 4X0 | empty | 6 port combo

Make sure in hardware port 1 PRI is selected or change to loop 1 and back to PRI.



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curlycord

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Toronto Canada
 
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Make sure that you are using a proper patch cable for the PRI. I have done several of these installs with Comcast and they have all required me to make my own cat.5e cable. You use the normal T-1 pin out being 1,2,4,5 but all other pins must be empty/cut off, so a regular-standard patch cable will never work with this scenario.

Jeremy J. Carter
Charm City Communications
Norstar. BCM. CS1000 Programmer
 
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CURLYCORD:

Hey curly, thanks for the response,

The weird thing happening with this is if I place the T-1 card in slot 3 I get "Configuration Failure" "WARM Restart" at the alarm set after I clear the power down alarm. If I select warm, the condition recycles...

I'm leaning toward a backplane issue but I am not convinced yet because both LS/DS trunk cards work just fine in those slots.

NORSTARBOY125:

Yes, I did make my own patch cable to match Comcast's pin out, I made several yesterday.

Comcast actually had me try a 568-B cable to check themselves, very unusual for them to do that.

Thanks for your response.
 
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I should mention this is a medical facility and down time is critical, this is why I have avoided "starting from scratch" with a fresh startup. I read on another thread that this might be the cause of the PRI not being recognized in Slot 3 and the "Configuration Failure" message. If it must be, so be it. My next challenge will be getting Comcast to do a Saturday cut-over so they won't be out of service during peak traffic...

CURLYCORD:

If I do a system startup can I still use the 'square template' to avoid DID 'lead digit' conflicts? My custom DID range is 0204-0223 and then I have 12 migrated numbers as DID's, every one of them has a different lead digit. (Ugh!) I know it will be trouble if I use the 'DID template'.

Suggestions?
 
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NORSTARBOY125:

Unfortunately, I have already installed the PRI key in the existing cabinet so changing cabinets isn't an option at this point.

I am certain this thread, explains what "I did wrong" in my install:


The cabinet should be fine since LS/DS cards work correctly in slot 3 and 4.

It looks like old data from my original configuration is the reason the PRI isn't recognized in slot 3.

Thanks again for your response! [thumbsup2]
 
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I only use PBX templates myself.

I don't think you MUST but I think the book indicates slot order to use first for card placement.

!
An alarm and a prompt indicating warm or cold reset will
occur on the alarm telephone if an expansion cartridge
is installed in the wrong ICS slot or when the system
size has been decreased.

When system boots up without alarms etc then try this:
In Maintenance disable the cards, now put the cards in how we say it should be... DTI card in slot 2 (left) and one of your Loop cards in slot 1 (right).
Tell Hardware what is what (card 1 =DTI/PRI, card 2= Loop) then re-enable both.

Make sure your patch cable is working like Norstarboy said.

Maybe somebody can correct or add before you head back.

I would suggest that they turn the circuit on with a test DID, do your thing then book another time for the porting of lines.
Do they have a 12X0? you could migrate existing line programming from KSU to module until issue resolved, saves de-programming and reprogramming of those 2 slots etc all the time.







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curlycord

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Toronto Canada
 
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CURLYCORD:

The next visit has to be a 'one-shot' so a doing a system cold startup and reprogramming is fine by me, if that's what it takes to make it happen.

I did perform a complete system backup before this all started so I can recover pretty quickly with NRU, should I have to.

They do have a 12x0 module so migrating the line programming is an option.

As I understand "by the book" on page 328 in the 'warning' box it says:

"If you change your system template on an existing system, your programming will be reset to the defaults".

So, "in theory", so long as I do not change the system template during system startup I can keep the existing program.

I will use your recommendations when I visit the site again on Friday.

Thanks again Curly! [bigglasses]









 
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