The MLX Set must be an MLX20L or an MLX28D programmed as a CONSOLE

Don

Thanks TTech. I will look into the "console" status.
RD

Also make sure the DSS is programmed for the proper extensions. They have to be set up 50 ext per page.

You talked about a aux. power unit. you need to cross connect the white/brown pair from the legend to the phone for power to the DSS.

hey how did you make out with the dss????????

So far progress has been slow due to other things with more priority.
The phone is a MLX28D and I found that the white/brown pair had not been brought through the patch panel.
I also found out the apparent restriction that you have to use either port 1 or 5 of the mlx host card in the Merlin.
So now I have a working phone and a blank DSS box (but the green light is on). It looks like I have to set this station as an "operator" station next as it will not take any extension/line copy commands from the SPM.
Thanks for the help so far and any further help is graciously appreciated.
Note: never have I encountered such obtuse manuals as the ones for this system.....   
Rob Dusel

Rdusel,
  You, need to know that you cant program just any extension to this dss console. you can only program extensions x00 to x99 in a 3 digit dial plan or xx00 to xx99 but only 50 @ a time unless you have 2 dss consoles. The 2nd set of buttons @ the bottom of the the console, top row from left to right button 1 is your 1st shift button 2 is your 2nd shift and button 3 is your 3rd shift. there are no more shifts, most of the other buttons down there never get used and are not even operational.
    The next thing you will have to do is get into system programming on the 2nd page of the main menu, under labling go to the 2nd page of labling and hit DSS, then hit button 1 2 or 3 for which one you want to put the leading extension, for example the uppermost left hand button would be ext 100 if I entered under button 1: 100 that would mean when you are on "Shift 1" you would have extensions 100 through 149 then do button 2: 150 so you would have extensions 150 through 199 same with button 3...etc... you will only be able to monitor 150 stations unless you tie two DSS fields together, I think that would give you 300, but I've never done that before, I've only seen them tied together.    Hoped I helped and not confused you to bad....

Charles

Thanks to all who helped me with this. I was able to set the MLX28D as an operators position (DLC) and then I was able to copy the DSS programming (as well as the rest of the functions) from an existing phone set.
Thanks to Definity1 for the hints on DSS programming, as we are a small shop (<30 stations) one page on the DSS does just fine. And I was able to cheat and copy the other phoneset.
Again, thanks for all the help.