Nortel Mics

[Sparky]

I went to see a new customer today who has an Mics and a Nortel voice mail.  None of their documentation showed which version of phone system or voice mail.  In the phone room, there were so many boxes and junk in front of the phone system I could not even get to it to see the versions or release.  But, it looked like an Mics.
Anyway, most of their phone stations/voice mail work just fine.  Except for:

Extension 235, if you call it and there is no answer, it goes to the general mailbox, instead of the personal mailbox, she has re-recorded her name and greeting, calls still go to "general mailbox"
Extension 243, if you call it and there is no answer, it goes to "Brett's" mailbox, who no longer works there, even though the user at extension 243 has re-recorded her name and greeting.

I noticed that in programming the extensions are "fwd no answer to 253".  So, I tried that with these mailboxes and it didn't help.

Lines 7 and 8, seem to be disconnecting callers before the receptionist even gets a chance to transfer the caller.  She says the line arrow begins to flash just after she says hello, than the system disconnects the caller.  The local phone company has checked out their lines and say there is nothing wrong with them.  What would cause this?

The customer recently relocated some phones.  Thats when these troubles started.

Any ideas?
Thanks in advance!

 

[NTlayoff]

When the customer did the relocate, did they use the  "RELOCATE=YES "  ?
That can happen.
Need to reboot the Voice Mail and let the mail boxes re-sync.

Are your phone lines POTS lines?    Try switching them to a good line and see what happens.
Example:  switch 7 with 4  - try that before switching too many things.

[Sparky]

I think the relocate yes is enabled.  I'm not sure where to check for that.

The phone lines are POTS lines.  I'll try switching them as you suggest.  Thats a good idea.

To reboot the voice mail is that simply a power on and power off?
Or, is there a feature code that is used to reboot?

Thanks again!

[NTlayoff]

You didn't say which voice mail system - although that does not matter.
Yes just pull the plug - wait 15 sec - plug it back in.
Give it time to reboot and hope you don't have any bad caps if it is a Flash.

Relocate is in  Sys Prog..... Feature Settings

I always leave it off and never tell the customer about it, except for rare exceptions.
Just don't like using it.

[Sparky]

I have left it off in the past as well.  Whoever installed this one 12 years ago put it on. 

Anyway, whats a "bad cap"?  If they get a "bad cap" or two does that mean they need a new voice mail? 

Thanks again.

[NTlayoff]

Cap - as in Capacitor - or as some people call them,  Battery. - They keep programming while powered off.
Older units the caps can go bad and when powered off, they loose programming.
Don't want to scare you - but it could happen.

The old 8x24 's are good for this too.
All norstars have caps.

[Sparky]

Oh, ok, whew!  Yes, I call them batteries too.  I've already told the customer they may have a bad battery that is dumping programming.  With winter coming and power outages it can only get worse.

Time for a whole new system!!!  (jk)

Thanks for your help.  I'll definitely try all your suggestions.

[NTlayoff]

You can always replace the  "batteries"   (Caps)

[Sparky]

You can?  I told them you can't.  I'm just going by the times I've had to replace the whole thing on the 8 x 24's.  I guess on the MICS and Flashtalk, the batteries are replaceable?  Aren't they inside?  Aren't they soldered into a circuit board?  I guess not if they are easily replaceable?

Thanks again.

[NTlayoff]

8x24 - Caps inside AND in Cartridge
CICS & MICS - inside
Flash - Inside.

Yes, they are soldered - Do you have a good soldering iron?

I have done this on site, but I prefer to take it back to my office
of course that is if I have a temp replacement to put in place.

And it wipes out all programming.
But then - that is why you are replacing them.

[Sparky]

Dang....you're good!

[hifibourbon]

Well, this looks exactly like what I was looking for.  Have a MICS not holding programming, discovered this when the APC Smartups died.  Looking to replace the internal battery, but the person who normally takes care of the phone system won't do it.  Just looking for a source, and for the part number for the battery - the RIGHT battery, so when the unit does get opened up to have the battery replaced, we have the right one there and don't have to order something else.  Wouldn't be afraid to try to avoid another 3-4 hour reprogramming session by replacing the battery with power applied to the unit, if I thought I could get to the board and get it angled right.  NTlayoff, you've obviously been down this road, would value your input, and anybody else's who's been into one of these.  My background is power supply and audio systems - parts are parts, it's just the industry application and enclosure differences that keep things interesting.  Thanks.

[NTlayoff]

No - you probably should not try replacing the "battery"  ( it is really a Capacitor )  while power is applied.
You have to take it off the wall.  That means taking cables off.
And you have to tear it apart.  that means all cables (power)
Then you have to unsolder that cap and then solder in the new cap.

NOPE - can't do it with power applied.

All you have to do is do a backup using a RAD and then restore it after you are done.

[hifibourbon]

Any part number or spec on the cap? radial/axial, F/V, through hole/snap-in?  If it's a generic large value/low voltage I'll throw in a Nichicon HE series and be done with it.
On nortel equipment of this vintage, I've been into several 16 port modules, assuming this is the similar as far as dissasembly.

Please expand on RAD option, was told there was no way to back up the programming.  Thanks.

[NTlayoff]

For RAD backup - the system needs a RAD connected.
Then use the Special Nortel software - NRU  ( Norstar Remote Utilities )

Contact a qualified Norstar Technician to get a backup done.