pickup external calls

[mstauffer]

We have a BCM400 using Release 3.6 Build 2.2 software. I cannot pickup any external calls using directed pickup, group pickup or answer dn. Directed pickup and answer dn will work on internal calls, but not external. I am very new at phone system programming, so the answer is probably very simple, but I'm getting frustrated by it. I've read a lot of the documentation, but I'm just not getting anywhere that way. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[senk1s]

are the lines you are trying to pickup setup as private?

 

[mstauffer]

They are setup as private. Is that the problem? If I set the lines to public, are there any issues with security or anything else I should know?

 

[mstauffer]

OK, I set a line as Public and it allows me to do a Group Pickup. So I assume it will let me do Answer DN's or directed pickups also. Is there a good explanation in the documentation of the differences between Public and Private lines and the implications of using each? I haven't seen anything about it in the reading I've done but there appears to be a couple of thousand pages of documentation.

 

[senk1s]

you are right about the 2000+ pages ...

public and private mean just that (english definition if u will)

 

[mstauffer]

As far as I can see Public just means that other phones can answer your phone when it is ringing. If you set the line as private it seems that you lose most of the valuable features of the system, like pickup etc. So, I guess I am confused as to why the installer would set all the lines as private by default. I don't see any good reason to do that.

 

[bkrike]

Some techs just do it out of rote when setting up for target lines. It does avoid things like DRT and trunks ringing to prime. Setting it private can save on tracking down other problems later.

PS- no need to cross-post
thread799-1064334

 

[mstauffer]

Actually, I'm not convinced that I shouldn't "cross-post". I think there are people who read this forum that don't read the other one (Forums > Wiring Closet > Phone Systems > Nortel: Norstar systems Forum), and vice versa. Tell me if I'm wrong. I got some helpful info from both.

 

[acewarlock]

Your wrong, if everyone does cross posts then we don't need all the different forums, just 1 big one and then why not have info on cars as someone might read it here.

I think you meant to post this reply in the norstar forum.

 

[bkrike]

I agree with Ace, as you should never x-post, no matter the forum. No big deal since it is your first post. But to be totally correct, your question should have been posted here originally, and not posted in the Norstar forum at all...since you are working on a BCM.

Alls well that ends well.

 

[mstauffer]

I agree that this is the more appropriate forum for this topic, but I had already posted in the other one, which does seem to have a fair amount of BCM stuff if I remember correctly.

ACEWARLOCK:I think you meant to post this reply in the norstar forum.

I think this is the right place to post my reply since this is the place where I was chastised for x-posting (see above)

Anyway, we're really getting off-track now, and I do appreciate the help.

 

[acewarlock]

There are 2 BCM forums, 1 norstar and 1 PBX