Norstar trouble, all phones blinking even after restart

[DrB0b]

Hello all again, you have helped me out with some random things in the past but this is a big issue I just got called about. Any insight would be greatly appreciated as I will be heading to tackle the issue in an hour or so.

MICS 7.0
CP 150
Norstar T7316e phones

Got a call an hour ago saying that all the phones in the plant are blinking as they would when you plug a new phone in for the first time and it is trying to actualize. Told the supervisor to unplug the system and let it sit for a minute and plug the power back to it. He stated he did but it came back up with all the phones still blinking.
When I get there in a couple hours, my game plan would be to unplug the system and reseat the cards, analyze the backplane and make sure no one unplugged anything important. Any thoughts on the matter as what could be the issue and or what to try. Im forever in your guys debt.

Thanks again,
Rob

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[exsmogger]

Re-seating all the cards and connectors sounds like a good first step. I'd next try another software card. Then replace any 2-port or 6-port expansion cards. If that doesn't fix the problem it sounds like the MICS backplane has gone bad and the control unit will have to be replaced. Hopefully you have a backup of the current configuration. If there's a PRI involved you'll need a recovery keycode for the replacement system.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[DrB0b]

Well I tried reseating the two cards in it and cleaned everything off with a can of spray air. Still in the same boat. PSU on the chasis is solid green so I think it is ok. Assuming the system can run without the voice mail so I had it powered off an powered on the MICS. Still no dice. Now that Im here in the office, seems to blink 4-5 times then the headset light will light up right when it seems like it is ready then it loops through that sequence again.

How long does it take the MICS to fully boot up? Basically, after I power off how long should I wait to assume the phones still arent working because its broke, not because it isnt fully booted?

Could a renegade phone be causing the issue. Meaning, if a bad set was put in place, could it mess with the system?

Thanks.

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[exsmogger]

A bad set is possible, but not likely. It doesn't hurt to try unplugging phones or expansion station modules. Once a MICS is configured it shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to boot up.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[DrB0b]

If you have a second to explain this in a bit more detail if Im wrong but.....
There is basically 4 parts to the MICS 7.0 system, the backplane, the ROM card/software control card, power supply, line control card.

The ROM obviously holds the programming for the system, the power supply powering it up, backplane tying it all together and where I believe the "CMOS battery type" capacitor is located, and the line control card of which we have two.

If I remove those two cards and power the system up, it wouldnt affect the programming, correct? It would probably be doing something similar to what it is now as far as the phones are concerned. Can I remove just one of the cards and power up without issue? Would that just mean that a portion of the phones wouldnt work?

Is there a fuse somewhere that could be blown? Say on the backplane somewhere maybe nestled behind the PSU?

My thinking is this, the PSU and ROM/software card are both fine, possible issue with the backplane or line control cards. If the system works how I think it does anyway. Ive got the installer of the system coming out sometime today. Is it unreasonable to think he would be able to bring a new line control card and/or backplane with him to see if that is the issue? I know the system isnt cheap, but how else would you test this issue without a parts supply?

Thanks again ex for the help.

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[atdjr123]

if all the phones are blinking it sounds to me like there's an influx in power to the unit. it could be a failing power supply in the cabinet, the outlet itself might have to many peripherals pulling from it and the circuit is not dedicated. it could be overloaded.i had the same problem once and i connected the unit to a dedicated ups on the battery backup side with nothing else on it. i haven't had any problems since. hope this helps you

 

[DrB0b]

The outlet it was plugged into was on a power strip, but it was the only thing plugged into that power strip. I moved it to the UPS that was sitting right there which was connected to only our Hold music operator. As I'm writing this, everything's still blinking but it has only been about two minutes since I powered it back up. Going to give it a minute to see.

Good idea on the possibility of that type of power issue. Since the power LED on the PSU is solid green, I just assume that it is operating as it should. Going to power off and remove it to see if there is a fuse behind it and/or I can tell there is something amiss with the PSU itself.

Thanks again.

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[exsmogger]

If you pull the fiber expansion card and then power on, it will default the programming.

Programming is not stored in the ROM card or the NVRAM cartridge. Programming resides on the MICS motherboard. There is a battery (memory cap) on the motherboard that maintains programming during power outages.

The only fuses are in the power supply. If one of these were open the power supply wouldn't be lighting.

I would still start with the software card and/or NVRAM cartridge. Then try another fiber expansion card. You could then try another power supply. Failing all that it looks like the MICS backplane has failed.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[DrB0b]

So what is stored on the ROM Card/NVRAM cartridge? If I remove that and power on what would theoretically happen?

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[exsmogger]

ROM software is stored in the software card. NVRAM cartridge is the interface to the MICS motherboard. Without software the system will just blink forever, like it is now.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[DrB0b]

Understandable, so the implementation of a new ROM card in the NVRAM cartridge could solve the problem? Since system programming isnt stored there, that could be the fix?

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[exsmogger]

If the card is corrupt that should fix the problem. If not, move on to the other possible sources of the problem.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[DrB0b]

Since that ROM card is PCMCIA slot type card, can you not plug that into a PC/Laptop PCMCIA slot and check it? Is there a program out there that will allow me to either see what is on it and or allow me to add to the Feature set that is on it?

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[curlycord]

Sounds like a a bad PS (1 screw fix) or caps on the motherboard gone bad (KSU replacement).

=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord

http://www.curlycord.com

 

[exsmogger]

There are many programs available online to read/write PCMCIA cards.

Brian Cox
Oregon Phone

http://www.OregonPhone.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/briancox1952

 

[DrB0b]

Wasnt sure if the format it would be in would be proprietary but I understand the vagueness. Thanks for all above.

Just for an update to where I currently am, the issue is not an incoming/outbound line or internal extension line or phone. Disconnected the 3 ICS extensions and the issue persisted(one at a time). Removed the PSU and cleaned off/inspected, seemed fine. No bloated caps or roached resistors. Everything passes the smell, look, feel/heat test. PSU doesnt get overly warm, no burn component smell. Hooked up to a UPS now.

Got a phone tech coming out, he didnt seem to know off the top of his head what it was after relaying all Ive tried. Cross fingers and hope for the best.

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[DrB0b]

Was a bad backplane so after replacing the cabinet and putting back all the cards had to reprogram and we are back up. Ill give a run down tomorrow but Ive been here since 5 this morning so Im going home.

Thanks to all above who helped, your input was invaluable.


Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.

 

[DrB0b]

After getting a new backplan and PSU with it installed, the issue went away. I described it earlier like when you plug in a new phone but there is a twist. The LCD panel to the right, where the 16 programmable buttons are on a T7316e, would flash 4 times and then the MSG light on the flip LCD panel would flicker and it would do this over and over again. Not quite the endless LCD panel blinking of the righthand LCD as a new phone would do searching for programming. Hopefully if anyone has that issue and sees this thread, it will save them time and money.

Thanks all.

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it now.