Dial tone with T1, short dialing window

[cmcfarling]

We recently moved locations. We kept the same service provider but changed our service during the move. The old service was a dedicated T1 for voice and a dedicated T1 for internet. The new service is a bonded T1 setup providing both voice and data. Everything on the MICS is exactly the same. A T1 card (not a PRI) is being used in the MICS.

2 problems have cropped up with the new service. When accessing an outside line there is no dial tone. The system is setup to press 9 for an outside line. Users can press 9, hear silence and then still dial a number successfully. However, problem #2 is that if the user doesn't dial fast enough, they get an error message stating that the number can't be dialed as entered or something to that effect.

I believe the telco was supplying secondary dialtone with the old service, something they say they can't do with the new service. Is there a way to make the MICS itself supply dialtone for T1 trunks? Is the dialing issue related to the lack of dialtone? Is that something that the telco can control?

 

[RikRodgers]

Secondary dialtone can be supplied by the MICS depending on the sw you're running. Completely unnecessary, but people are used to hearing it.

I should know the answer to your second problem. I've had to fix it in the past. I'll have to look it up, though I know it was in the manual.

What sw level are you running?

 

[cmcfarling]

Software version 30CQE06, which is 6.1 I believe.

 

[clidpri]

dial out time default's 4

 

[RikRodgers]

Thanks, clidpri. You saved me some digging. As I recall, bumping it up to 8 was good for my customers.

 

[cmcfarling]

The only thing I can find in the manual is a Host Delay setting.

"Host delay allows you to assign the delay between the moment an outgoing line is selected to make an external call, for example, by lifting the receiver off the telephone, and the moment that Norstar sends dialed digits or codes on the line. Press CHANGE to select the setting: 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, or 2000 milliseconds.

Tips - Host delay is provided to ensure that a dial tone is
present before the dialing sequence is sent. Minimizing this delay provides faster access to the requested features."

This doesn't appear to be what you are referring to though. From what I gather, Host Delay is used for programming a dialing sequence that automatically selects a line and begins dialing. It gives the system a second or two to allow an outgoing line to come up. My system is set to 1000 but the max is 2000 (2 seconds), which doesn't jive with the 4 or 8 settings you referred to.

Note that nothing has changed on my MICS, just the service has changed. This was never a problem in the past so that leads me to believe that it's something service related or the MICS is behaving differently due to the lack of dial tone.

I'll try changing the Host Delay to 2000 since this could be related. This seems like it would be a workaround rather than a fix though, if it has any effect.

Any tips on getting the MICS to supply dial tone for this config?