Static and Dropped calls

[Jakemembers]

Hello,

MICS 5.0 T-1 PRI and Lucent 5ESS switch in CO.

We've been going back and forth on this setup for almost a year.

We solved our not being able to place calls due to B-channels showing far end out of service. This was due to the B-channel services (or BCAS) on the 5ESS switch being set to "on".

We still have some problems with dropped calls and static. The static is for incoming callers only and is not heard on our side. The problems are intermittent and annoying.

The CO says it's our equipment, but we see no alarms, we generally only see "Normal Clearing" when a call drops. And, our key system vendor says there must be a problem with the CO equip.

Our service comes to the building via microwave from accross the street as opposed to fiber or copper. And, we've already made the decision to dump this provider and try a different LEC that does have physical wire/fiber in the building.

In the mean-time it appears that the current provider has come in and installed a CSU/DSU of some sort in-line. And, has told us something to the effect that they're seeing line coding violations from the KSU and that the voltage of our signal exiting the Norstar system is not strong enough to reach their equipment (We're on 7th floor, their equip. is in basement.)

I don't know much about CSU/DSU's, so I'm not sure what that's doing.

Anyone have any ideas on the line coding violations and/or low voltage?

By the way, our T-1 card's been replaced once already in the past year.

Thanks,

E!

 

[Jakemembers]

Correction. Not a CSU/DSU, simply a loopback device.

 

[senk1s]

you need to make sure your wireless link is perfect ... if there are problems there, that will get passed on to your wired circuit.

there is an internal CSU in the norstar ...depending on hte distance between the norstar and hte next active device (like an NIU) you need to adjust the line build in the CSU settings

 

[Jakemembers]

Thanks.

The microwave link is the Telco's and they keep telling me that it's fine.

As I said in my last post they did not actually put an external CSU in-line, it's just a loopback device. I assume the internal CSU is on or the whole shebang wouldn't be working right?

So the T1-PRI comes directly from the Telco to the Norstar MICS 5 with no additional systems attached. How do I check the current line build settings, and how do I determine what it should be?

 

[Jakemembers]

I asked too soon. The CSU is on and the line build setting is 15. So, how do I determine if thats the correct setting?

 

[Jakemembers]

The available "CSU Line bld" settings are, 0, 7.5 or 15 dB. Has anyone had any experience with these? I'm not able to find much information, but our LEC is telling us that they believe the signal strength to be low to their equipment. We're on the 7th floor, their equipment is in the basement. I get some brief intermittent drop-outs (Alarm 75) on the PRI throughout the day. Our current "CSU Line bld" setting is 15. Any light shed would be appreciated.

 

[bkrike]

The fact that your termination equipment is in the basement and you are on the 7th floor is a problem that CLEC’s often point to. Your signal may be traveling over a multi-pair cat3 cable to reach your suite, which could be causing some of the problems with loss. You could try a couple of procedures to fix the problem.
First: If it is indeed traveling over standard cat3 you could run a dedicated cable designed for
T-1’s (2 pair shielded and separated)
Second: You could ask that the CLEC extend their equipment (sometimes called the smart jack) into your suite instead of leaving it in the basement.