Partner Mail VS 5 Voice mail issues 1

[GAMilon]

I don't know the exact terminology so please stay with me as I butcher my way through this question.

We have an older Partner Mail V5 system. About once a year we get some sort of lightning storm and knocks out a module for 800.00 a whack. The most recent problem came about two months ago. The phones would not work and things seemed kind of locked up. I went to the box that houses the modules as the problem always originates from there. The second module in from the left was very hot to the touch on the top. I pulled it out of it's slot and the phones went back to normal. Oh so I thought.

I never did replace the second module. I moved the lines on it to open lines found on another module. I thought everything was alright.

A woman told me at the beginning of this week that she cannot access her voice mail. Moreover, other people in the office could not access their voice mail either. One person in particular can access his voice mail, but cannot get the voicemail to pick up. My extension has all of my voicemail working. I have old voicemail on there and am able to accept new voicemail.

The voice mail boxes that don't work will not accept a voice mail if someone tries to leave one at an extension (the phone just beeps indefinitely). And when you try to access some of the voicemail it says the password is incorrect. But I am starting to suspect that there is no mailbox there to check in the first place.

I wish I could describe the problem better. I browsed this forum looking for answers, but couldn't come up with anything.

The problem seems odd as there are some mail boxes working, but most are not. Some mail boxes can be accessed with the password, but will not pick up a voice mail. While others still won't pick up a voicemail nor let you in.

Thanks in advance. I'm stumped and a bit tired of fixing this system. Looks like it was built in the 80's out of my old star wars toys.

 

[Dexman]

With Partner telephone systems; there cannot be any empty slots between modules. If the voicemail is located to the right of the processor, and the module directly to the left is unseated, the voicemail won't work. You would need to reseat the module again in order for the voicemail to work again, but you will first need to power down the system to avoid damage.

If the processor is an Avaya Partner ACS (R1->R6), be sure to back-up the programming and make sure that the memory batteries are in good shape before powering down.

If the module in question is defective, replace it.

I would suggest getting telephone lines & power source protection in place to help prevent damage from storms.

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[GAMilon]

Thank you very much for the reply. I have one more question then. Can I simply move everything over a slot and leave the 5th and last slot empty? And if so, does this change all the extension numbers?

The current config is:

Slot 1: 206E R4.1

Slot 2: Empty

Slot 3: ACS PROC R3.0

Slot 4: 206E R4.1

Slot 5: PARTNER MAIL VS R5.0

If I remember right, we used to have the fifth slot empty to begin with as a possible expansion slot.

Is it odd that at least two of the lines still have functioning mail boxes? Thete may be more functioning mail boxes on other non voice (fax) lines, but I don't know.

Again, thank you so very much for the help. It's greatly appreciated.

 

[Dexman]

Expansion modules can be shifted to the left, but doing so will change the ports that need to be assigned to Hunt Group #7 (voicemail access).

My thought would be to simply replace the defective module with a "like" one and keep everything "as-is".

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[GAMilon]

Ah, okay. Is it possible for me to simply move the 5th module to the empty 2nd spot? I believe they were the same. I honestly don't remember what module came out of the 2nd slot as I threw it out before Christmas.

 

[Dexman]

The 5th module on the list is the voicemail. If it moves or a different module is inserted into slot #2, programming changes will need to be done. Also, remember that there cannot be any open slots between modules.

The last port on the 206E in slot #1 is 23. If the first port on the 206E in slot #4 is 30, then the defective module was probably a 206E.

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[GAMilon]

You are correct. The last port on slot 1 is 23 and the first port on slot 4 is indeed 30. If I remember right I only had to move a few lines from the defective 2nd slot to the 4th slot (30 and up).

When the 2nd slot module was plugged in the phones would lock up and do nothing and the 2nd slot module would get very, very hot. If I removed the 2nd module it seemed to free up the phones. They worked, and still do, with the exception of all the voice mail issues.

So to sum it up, there's no cheap way out of this for me is there? I have to suck it up and buy another 206E module to put into slot 2? Will have to be programmed or can I just stick it in the slot, plug nothing into it, and expect the voice mail to work again?

Lastly, provided I do need to buy another module, do you have any recommendations as to where to get a reasonably priced on? The company I deal with, that set up our system many years ago, is a one-man outfit who treats this phone thing as a second business and recommended I try ebay for parts. I can do that, but that sounds a bit dodgy.

Again, many thanks for helping me through this. I know it must be frustrating trying to explain things to someone that knows so little about the system.

 

[Dexman]

Given that the system is being supported by someone, I would strongly caution against making any sort of changes as it could void any sort of warranty/TOS that the outfit is providing or has been agreed upon in any possible contracts.

Outside of that, 206E modules are not very expensive as they have been off the market for quite a while now.

Here is the listing for 1 dealer than sells them:

http://www.metrolinedirect.com/par206erel41.html

I should also note that Avaya has discontinued the entire Partner platform. Hardware is generally available on the secondary market, but some processors (R7 & R8) are in short supply and wildly expensive.

Upgrading to newer hardware (R6 processor, 308EC, 012E & Avaya Partner Messaging R7 or Partner Voice Messaging) might be worth considering. Also worth considering is the replacement for the Partner ACS.....the IP Office Partner Edition.

Either way, if your current vendor is not providing you with good service, look for a local Authorized Avaya Business Partner who will be able to provide you with good service and knows these systems inside & out.

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[GAMilon]

Thanks for all your help. I'll look into things. I know the owner here wants to keep things as inexpensive as possible. So upgrading anything is not likely.

As far as any warranty or TOS, I don't believe either one exists in my case. I'll have to see if I can find someone local to me that can work with these systems. I swear it's easier to decrypt Egyptian hieroglyphics than figure this phone system out. Has a full size 100 page book on how to use it and the only method for controlling it is a phone with a tiny LCD screen.

if I had my way we would upgrade to something more modern, maybe controllable by a PC or something. But alas, it is what it is.

Thanks for all your advice and help. What a wonderful resource this website is.

 

[Dexman]

The Partner ACS doesn't have too steep of a learning curve (at least compared to the Legend, Magix & IP Office systems).

If you don't already have a copy on hand, go to Avaya's website and download the Installation Guide for the R3 processor.

Glad I could be of assistance!

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[Dexman]

The system can be programmed from a computer. It requires a specific program and an adapter.

Personally, I don't find programming from a system telephone conencted to EXTs 10 or 11 to be too cumbersome. Inside my hard copy of the Partner ACS Installtion guide, I tab the specific options I'll need to worth with and go with the flow.

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[GAMilon]

Wow, just clicked on the link you provided. I think I paid around 750.00 for the last one about a year ago. I'll get it and put it in there. I do have a hard copy of the manual. "Partner Mail VS Voice Messenging System Release 5 Installation and Programming." I guess I'll dig that out and try to figure my way through installing it.

We have the master phone that is connected to Ex 10, I still have the programming overlays for the buttons, I'll give it a whirl.

 

[Dexman]

That would be the documentation for the voicemail module. Here are links to the processor docs:

http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100013046

http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100009544

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[GAMilon]

A new question to this thread. I have the replacement module coming. Is this something I just need to plug into the empty slot and go or will programming be required to get it up and running? And if programming is needed, is there a place I should begin at?

 

[Dexman]

No programming would be required when a replacement module is the same type as the original. If you were to replace a 206E with a 012E, then, yes, there would be some programming changes to make.

The usual advice applies here.....

Make sure the batteries in the processor are good
Back-up programming to the PCMCIA card
Power down the system
Insert the replacement module
Plug in any lines & stations to be supported by the module
Power up
Do any required testing to make sure everything is fine.

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[GAMilon]

That's great news! As far as what extensions will be on the new module? Are the simply in numeric order? This would be the second slot. I almost remember what extensions were lost when I removed the module, but "almost" isn't going to cut it. I suppose it's a matter of trial and error to figure it out. At worst, since the system is running without using any of the extensions from the second slot I suppose I can just install the module and leave everything else as-is.

Once again and as usual, thank you Dexman for all your advice and wisdom on this problem. I literally could not have done this on my own without the forum and specifically without your help. You're a lifesaver...and a money saver too!

 

[Dexman]

The extensions are, indeed, in numerical order. Figuring out which ones are supported by that module is simple:

The processor has extenisons 10->17
The 206E in slot #1 has extensions 18->23
The replacement 206 has extensions 24->29



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[TouchToneTommy]

You can always plug a display phone into each port, press Feature 00, and look at the display to determine the extension number

 

[GAMilon]

Well I replaced the missing module. No problems whatsoever, but my problems with the voice mail still persist. Could this have nothing to do with the module?

Extension 20 (wich is not on this module, the replaced module was 24-29) has it's mail box available, yet voice mail will not pick up when the call goes to the extension. It just rings indefinitely. Is this simply a setting that got jumbled up somewhere that is telling the voice mailbox not to pick up?

So it's almost as though replacing the missing module has changed nothing at all with regards to how the system operates. Not that I can tell anyway. Am I fixing the wrong problem? Aye carumba!

 

[Dexman]

Just wondering, if you try to retrieve messages from that mailbox locally, what happens?

Double check to make sure that the mailbox for the extension in question is active. For some reason, Avaya has removed the documentation for the Partner Mail VS R5 module, but the R4 is there.

http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100008784

Go at page 275/277 and check out "V16, 17 & 18". Make sure that the mailbox is enabled. If it is, try to initialize the box and see if that makes any difference.

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