Partner ACS and Caller ID 2

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

I am using a Partner ACS that has expansion modules 400e r3.1 and I was able to get Caller ID before on the 18d display sets. I am getting ready to install this again and I was told that I must use a 400ec in order to get CID.

I used this very same system before and I did not have a problme getting CID. Am I misunderstanding something?

This system I have has the following in order from L to R:

1 308ec Module R3.0
1 Partner Mail VS R4.1
1 ACS Proc.
1 400e Module R3.1
1 400e Module R3.1

I am installing a total of 16 Stations and 14 lines.

does the fact that the 308ec module have the "ec" after it mean that I WILL have CID on all stations or must the expansion modules the 400e have to be 400ec otherwise lines plugged into these modules will NOT allow CID to be sent to teh sets?

I am confused?

Dave, The Phone Doctor
Las Vegas, NV

 

[Dexman]

That's Right.

Those (2) 400E modules will not support caller ID. You would need to go with 400ECs to get caller ID capability for all of the telephone lines connected to those modules.

E=Expansion.
C=Caller ID.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

I understand so once I install anything from line 7 on up with the 400e's any calls hunting onto lines 7 up will not display correct?

Can I get these 400e's upgraded with a software or hardware upgrade or can you suggest any place that will trade them in for an upgraded 400ec?

 

[Dexman]

Assuming that the Partner ACS's revision is between an R1 and R6, lines 7 and above would have no caller ID.

There are no upgrades for the modules. It's a simple case of removing the 400E's and installing 400EC's.

I was sorta taken aback by the arrangement of the modules in the carrier. I'm used to seeing the voicemail in the last working module position. Seeing the (2) 400E's to the right of the module was like .

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

That is the way I got it when it landed inmy hands. What would be the suggested installation of the modules. I agree that they are not in a logical orer. I believe that the ACS Proc. module will only fit in the 3rd slot.

Also, can you suggest an inexpensive source for the 400ec's?

 

[Dexman]

The Partner ACS processor is right where it should be in slot #3. The Partner Mail VS would be best put into the far right slot.

Keeping the 308EC in the far left slot will cut down on the amount of programming changes you will need to make. The 400ECs can go into the 2 remaining slots.

About the only change you will have to make is to delete the 2 or 4 existing ports assigned to the voicemail system and add the 2 or 4 new ports.

Keep in mind that when figuring out what the new voicemail ports are going to be, the Partner ACS processor treats each of the 400ECs as 4 extensions, even though there are no jacks to plug telephone extensions into.

http://www.metrolinedirect.com

is a good vendor.

Both the 400E and the 400EC have been out of production for a few years now, so anything you buy will be refurbished.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

Thanks. The Partner Mail VS R4.1 that came with the unit was having some problmes. The HDD light was staying on and I could hear the drive spin up then the all I got was a busy when dialing the VM port 30 and 31.

I called MetroLine and they said that I needed it repaired. I have used MetroLine and yes they do do good work.

Has the Partner line been discontinued all together or are they just onto another version of Partner.

 

[Dexman]

Hello Again

The Partner ACS R7 and Avaya Partner Messaging are recent releases so Avaya will be keeping the Partner line for a while. The telephones have also been redesigned (Euro 2).

If the current equipment is getting up in age, and the funds can be spent, the R7 processor and Partner Voice Messaging may be worth a look.

The same cannot be said for the Merlin Magix. In early to mid March, Avaya will stop taking orders for new Magix hardware. Then, in the very beginning of April, Avaya will pull the plug on the Merlin line, a victim of the VOIP revolution.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

WWell then that will mean that the Euro-1 and MLS will get cheaper on eBay since the introduction of a new line usually brnigs a flood of the old sets on the market. Then again I hae seen them be in high demand because the new line is so expensive.

 

[Dexman]

The biggest improvement with the new telephones is the inclusion of an LCD on the 6 button telephone.

The styling is kind of different, especially when compared to the MLS and Euro 1 designs. But once the supply of new Euro 1s is gone, people will migrate over to the Euro 2s.

I, myself, tend to be leery of refurbished equipment.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

The new install is a call center for out bound call leads so the agents do not need CID sets. I am going to get them the 6 button sets with the one touch headset amps. and Plantronic Supra's with noice canceling mics.. Is there an MSL 6 button with no display or only the EURO 6 button?

The only place I am putting in the display sets are in the admin and recp. offices and I already have 2 EURO 18d sets. I like the display on the EURO's easy to read and back lit. I do not like the MLS displays.

 

[Dexman]

Looks like the MLS-6 has no display. I've read that the Euro phones are better made than the MLS phones (keypad issues with the MLS phones).

So, if phones without displays are needed, you could go with the MLS-6 or the Euro 6 button.

The pictures at metrolinedirect.com are pretty good.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

Yes, I see that MetroLine has the new Euro-2 6 button with display for 99.00 but I seem to be able to get the mls-6 wioth no display for anywere from about 5.00 to 40.00 on eBay.

I usually go for the black ones cause they hid the wear better and for that price I can afford to get a lemon or two and replace them for the client.

The agents set are outgoing only so the display is really not a big issue for them.

I know what you mean about button issues. I have them that problme on some of the Spirit sets.

I will consider that on the MLS.

 

[Dexman]

Metroline has the MLS-6 for $55.00. I've found them willing to drop their asking prices if asked.

The only other suggestion I would have concerns the 5-slot carrier.

If the carrier is the old style, it might be worth purchasing a new style. The newer style spaces the modules out more to allow for better cooling. It can be a pain in the neck to get it back on though.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

I will ask MetroLine about that since I will be ordering 6 of them and just sent my Voice Mail moudle in for repair.

If I am using a combination of 2 18d's and 6 6d's with 14 lines in hunt what happens on the 6d LED displays.

With the 18d's they will show all the lines in use however the 6d's will only have of course 6 button lamps for what I would assume would be lines 1 thru 6.

I plan to have the 6 button set users using ALS automatic line selection when they lift their handsets.

 

[Dexman]

Actually, with the 6 button phones, you have only 4 programmable buttons. The other 2 buttons are for Intercom functions and cannot be changed.

People sitting at the 6 button stations would show status of the 1st 4 lines, if you have the system set up in a key system mode.

 

[DaveThePhoneDoctor]

I would assume that if the set user show all 4 lines in use and needs to get a line out that they could pick up and get a interoffice dial tone dial 9 and get lines 5 thru 14 in the pool or if i use ALS they would automatically get a line from the pool 5 thru 14?

 

[Dexman]

Unfortunately, operating in the PBX mode is still new to me so I'm going to have to take a pass on that question.

There are other techs on this board, (Touchtone Tommy, 1043, Skip, Aarenot, ttech and a few others), who may be able to answer that question.

 

[TouchToneTommy]

"I would assume that if the set user show all 4 lines in use and needs to get a line out that they could pick up and get a interoffice dial tone dial 9 and get lines 5 thru 14 in the pool or if i use ALS they would automatically get a line from the pool 5 thru 14?"

No, once the 4 line buttons are filled up, dialing 9 on the Intercm will NOT give you another line, even if you program the extension as if it had an 18 button set and all the lines assigned. It will grab the 1st 4 line buttons, and that's it.

You can, however, dial 8XX on the intercom, to get a specific line. But, you never know which line is available, so odds are you might get a busy signal.

Put the system in Pool mode. Assign the lines to pool 881. Put the 6 button phones in Pool Access mode, the other phones in Key Access mode.

Pool 881 will assign TWO pool buttons to each pool access phone, so they will be able to make two outgoing calls at a time. Transferred calls will come to them on the Intercom buttons. They can put calls on Hold if they want to pick them back up at their own extension. If they want someone else to take the call, they will transfer it, or Park it and have the other person pick it back up.

You can work with putting the lines in different pools, assigning multiple pools to extensions, so they can make more than 2 calls at a time, but that shouldn't really be necessary. The pools 882-88? use ONE button.

 

[Dexman]

::Slaps myself upside the head::

That's what I did with my church's Partner ACS. I guess they are correct when they say the mind is the first thing to go .