T1 channels in lockout

[coniglio]

i have three T1s in one route (incoming and outgoing). One of the three loops had three channels in lockout. I found this out because my CEO called to tell me he couldn't dial out. I tried calling and nothing happened (no fast busy, no connection, nothing). I reset the counters and the channels came out of lockout (I think that was a coincidence). ANyway, what causes channels to go into lockout? and if three out of 24 channels are in lockout plus there are two additional T1s in that route, how come the outgoing call doesn't just go to the next available channel? thank you.

 

[enrightdj]

What kind of errors are you taking? Is the clock controller locked to your primary source? Are you in free run?

 

[coniglio]

i don't have the first idea. I saw three channels in LCKO and called AT&T right away. I am new to the T1 world as far as how they work, etc. I had been told that channels in lockout indicate a problem with AT&T, not me. Is this true? was there anything I could have done? AT&T looked at the circuit and they told me it was running errors (don't know what that means). And how come the PBX doesn't see that the next channel is in LCKO and automatically try the next IDLE channel? it seems if the next available channel is in LCKO all outgoing calls just sort of sit there.

 

[enrightdj]

Look in your error tables, LD 60 REQ LCNT. You could have a timing issue. If AT@T is seeing the errors they should be able to tell from which direction they are coming. In LD 60 do a SSCK 0 The clock shold be locked to either PREF or SREF. You do not want to be in free run. If your T's are in free run, do the follwing command TRCK PCK.

 

[coniglio]

believe it or not, the loop with the LCKO channels looks fine now. But now another T1 IS running errors (I am familiar with LD 60 as far as statting T1s and resetting counters. I just don't actually know what "counters" are!) please see below:
.ssck 0
ENBL
STANDBY
CLOCK CONTROLLER - TRACK ON LOOP 29
PREF - 29
SREF - 12
AUTO SWREF CLK - ENBL
NO ERROR
___________________________________
DTI LOOP 29
TRSH CNT:
BPV -000
SLIPD -001
SLIPR -000
LOSFA -023
OS_BPV -000
OS_LOSFA-000
OS_YEL -000

 

[enrightdj]

Those are framing errors, 23 errors is not to bad. However, you need to have AT&T take a look at this circuit and see where they are coming from. If this continues you will have more issues. Take a look at your CEQU and verify what type of framing you are setup for. Make sure AT&T is configured the same. I have had this before when the LEC changed out some equipment and option one of their cards incorrectly.

AT&T can tell where the errors are coming from without taking the circuit down.

 

[coniglio]

I've had the same problem with them too. Unfortunately, I am not a tech so I don't always know what they are talking about. Where do i check CEQU? what load? I am pretty sure it's B8ZS/ESF. Is that what you're talking about?

 

[pbxphoneman]

I had an ongoing problem with my T1 TIE line and some trunk lines that would lockout from time to time ,it would always be the higher channels (outgoing) I'd look at the T1 and everything would be fine but I'd find locked out channels.It was just on the TMDI cards I think,maybe..but anyway..there was a patch from Nortel (imagine that)I had to DL it onto a PCMCIA card and plug it in and let them move it around.It caused allot of wierd stuff too.hangups,crosses with other channels & locked out channels...but the T1 always looked ok.

good luck

 

[pbxphoneman]

an update to my last post..The channels will still get locked out,but not for long now since the patch from Nortel was installed.It clears them and restores them to idle after a short time.Kind of a funny fix though if that's what it's doing..thus the word "patch"