PRI or T1 on Merlin Legend 7.0 1

[jayg9999]

I am getting ready to add more lines to my system. Currently I have 9 inbound trunks using 408MLX cards. I want Caller ID and I have been told I need to get a PRI rather than a T1. The cost is the same, so it makes no difference to me

1) Is it correct that I need a PRI
2) Can I get Caller ID with the PRI on my Legend
3) What cards and other stuff do I need to interface a PRI or T1
4) Is there anything else I need to know
5) Am I crazy for doing this

Thanks,
Jay

 

[Naperguy1]

Jayg -

A couple of issues with a PRI. PRI on legend/magix support only Caller ID number. Name is not available. Is this important? IF so, you will need to add caller ID to LOOP START POTS (analog) lines. IF not, PRI is a great way for routing calls, direct numbers, etc. LOOP START trunks need to be connected to 408 GS/LS-ID, 800 GS/LS-ID port cards. IT must contain the "ID" in the identifier for the board. configuration of the pri : NEEDS TO BE SET TO B8ZS/ESF/CUSTOM. Equipment: 100 DS1 card, CSU/DSU. IF you have the a recent release, you can get a 100 DCD board which incorporates an internal CSU in the Ds1 card. As far as cost, sometimes (a lot of times) you get much better rates on a PRI circuit!

Naperguy1

 

[jayg9999]

Thankx. Is there any advantage to going with a T1 if I don't want Caller ID?

For the CSU/DSU, is there anything specific I need or will any one work that supports the inbound trunk I use?

 

[Naperguy1]

T1 is fairly cumbersome and restrictive. For inbound calls, it would need to be configured for Tie/E&M/Wink-Wink. Then, you would have to change your dial plan to match the digits being sent for inbound calls. You cannot change anything. PRI, though limited, you can manipulate 16 patterns to go where you want to go making it easy to change a path. As far as cost, I believe they are fairly equivalent give or take a few. For the csu, PARADYNE 3150 works great. I am familiar with the PARADYNE CSUs. I have also seen ADTRAN brand, but I would not be able to give you any insight into how they are. Overall, any csu would be compatible. Hope this helps.

 

[Ghostin]

You don't have to set your T-1 to TIE line. You can do loop start lines or ground start as well. If the cost is the same, going with a PRI gives you the caller ID as well as DID. As far as CSU, Paradyne, Kentrox, Adtran are some. I use alot of Adtran CSU's. In some cases, if the T-1 is being brought in via a IA router, I don't even use a CSU.

 

[Naperguy1]

I concur with you, Ghostin, but with a loop start T1, how would you route inbound calls? That would be the only flag I see with going loop start.

 

[jayg9999]

Thanks to you all, that really helps.

It looks like I wil go for a PRI from MCI. They quoted me $571/ mo for 23 voice channel and unlimited local (zones 1-4)

 

[merlinman]

Before I would say "PRI IS THE WAY TO GO", I would have to ask how you are getting you incoming calls and if you are going to use D-I-D.

I have seen instances where PRI is THE WAY TO GO, and where LOOP START T1 is THE WAY TO GO.

One thing I see happen a LOT is when folks try to port ALL TELEPHONE NUMBERS they presently have over, and don't realize that they have an ABUNDANCE of FAX LINES that don't go into the switch at all. AND, on top of that, they do not have any T&R cards to accomodate the FAXES once they are ported over.

YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL about such issues.

 

[merlinman]

I forgot to say, $571 for 23 Channels is DIRT CHEAP, especially if they give you any LD at all.

 

[jayg9999]

Currenty we have POTS lines in a hunt group. The fax line is a seperate POTS line that I also get my DSL on. We don't really plan to use DID, but it might be usefull to have that as an option. Will I need additional cards for my system if I want to use DID? I do ubnderstand that I need to get a 100D card and CSU in any case. I do have in my system a 012 and a 408 ATL(?)(it is in addition to 3 x 408 MLX cards) I have a 4 port external Merlin Mail connected to the 012. I got the 408 ATL to interface4 to a couple of Transtalk cordless phones. I will also have to get an expansion chassis and I will need to add 008 cards for more extentions

I was planning to keep my fax line seperate and probubly pluge it into a 408 MLX card and program fax routing so if we getr a fax call on another line, it will go to the Fax machine

The service from MCI has low cost LD , .032 / min and there is no instalation charge. All local zone 1-4 calls are included. I can get a full T1 from them with the same terms instead of the PRI if I want

 

[merlinman]

D-I-D over your T1 (PRI) would not require any additional modules.

PRI is the best way to go.

 

[jrosslexiconact]

Commonly I would suggest PRI to customers for the following reason... Flexibility and scalability...

With a PRI you have 23 channels constantly ready for incoming/outgoing calls. In any combination. Whereas with a TI you must specify by channel.

Furthermore, There is greater scalability with future numbers (800 ect) the Service Provider simply needs to throw the digits down the existing pipeline.

One stupid question I have is if there is a way to use a PRI for incoming outgoing and tying to magix together

 

[merlinman]

If you mean TYING TWO MAGIX TOGETHER, YES, it is documented, and QUITE EASY TO DO!

I am currently working on a network of 4 MAGIX's all tied together with PRI, including PRI INCOMMING at location "A" feeding D-I-D's (PRI) at location "D".

S L I C K !

 

[GroundWire]

Merlinman:

Please do tell how you're doing this. I've always though it would be difficult, since the Legend/Magix systems can only have 3 T1 boards in the system.

Thanks!

- Joel

 

[merlinman]

Well, one of the 4 has 3 T1 Cards, the others only have 1 or 2 T1 Cards.

"A" Is the Main one where ALL INCOMING LINES come in over their 1st T1 Circuit. It Feeds "B" and "C"

"B" Feeds "D", even though the MAIN D-I-D Numbers for "D" are delivered to "A".

The CRAZY part is where "A" has the Voice mail for "B" & "C".

"D" has it's own Voice Mail, BUT, that will soon be the Voice Mail for ALL SITES, A, B, C and D.

All we will have to do is change some routing in AB&C and then create mailboxes in D's Messaging System.

The "NETWORKING GUIDE" gives a comprehensive explanation of how this is done.

You DO NOT NEED A PRI T1 Circuit between the MAGIX's to do this. (Just a "regular" T1) You simply tell the MAGIX that they are on a MERLIN NETWORK.

 

[GroundWire]

That's cool! So some amount of daisy-chaining is actually allowable. I would have thought that wouldn't work..

One of my customers (a tele-marketing company) has two full voice T1's, and when they open a branch office, I'd like to see if I can just network the two locations, rather than have them get another full circuit.

Now I know that if I did that, we wouldn't be in trouble should they decide to open ANOTHER location..

Thanks!

- Joel