atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems Norstar Nam and Voice Mail module

A while back we had a norstar nam start developing issues. After a while it would stop call processing and dump calls when they came in. This was an inherited system from an SysAdmin who had been let go.

So having no experience with Nortel or phone systems I dived right in. I determined that it was not a hardware issue by replacing components and testing the functionality. After a while I got it to a point that it would function, but not at the 100% uptime it had before. After considering our options, we decided to replace the NAM and get a new setup.

When the new setup arrived we were surprised to see 2 modules in the box and not one as we had attached to our wall. What followed was a storm of calls to Nortel and our supplier and we determined that the new system as it came to us was insufficient to our needs.

It appeared as the "old" system as upgraded with all the addins from nortel, and the new system was not. What were we to do? We needed the functionality of the old system and the reliability of the new system.

In my devious mind I concocted a plan to raid the old system for it's hasp and software and pop it into the new system, without replacing the direcroty structure of the new system. After a stormy night of lightning bolts, Frankenphone was born.
The system was flawless, and continued to work regardless of it's bastardized internals, until recently. Now we are running into the same dropped call processing that plagued us before, and we now have issues with our voicemail module as well.

My questions are thus:

Why were we able to have voicemail on one module before and now must have a 2nd module to run it now.

Why does norstar suddenly decide to stop processing calls?

Why are we able to use the feature code to log into voicemail and why would it suddenly try to transfer it to an extension that doesn't exist.

be more specific what type of key system what type of voice mail system software version is your new voice mail a nam or call pilot or startalk and oubliously if you put a new voice system and you still have the same problem sounds like your chasing at the wrong place give us more details and changing parts in the system ive almost never had to do that nam is very reliable might be good to check with a sertified vendor

Good questions. How would I identify the NAM and VM modules adequately to you?

Did you have ACD installed on the old NAM?

if its a nam it will be the same size as your mics with a floppy drive inside and what are the 2 modules did you get is your system fiber or copper

A good way to explain the modules would be to give the nortel part #'s - Then we can look up the nortel specs for each unit, and "put together the pieces" to see whats going on

It is a fiber system with 2 t1's routed for incoming and outgoing calls.

I will locate serial numbers for you shortly

-edit

The Voice Mail module has a serial of:
NT5B74ABBJ A0787385
The new module has a serial of:
NT5B79AAAD A0909205
18750483B41A2624
The old module has a serial of:
NT5B74AABJ A0787385
187504V3G41A7356

roldan-

Yes we have ACD on both

Update:

It looks like the login to the voicemail is working, but it drops the connection and transfers it to a 301 ext.

It does this at random intervals.

Please bear in mind that I am a noobilicious phone guy. I learned the hard way how to get this thing up and running and I am the only thing close to an expert these people have.

I'm a little confused, what do you have working right now, just one unit providing both ACD and Voicemail? If the answer is yes, that is more than likely where your problem lies, a co-resident NAM (meaning 1 unit with both ACD and voicemail)is not supported any longer and hasn't been for a while. There are known isues with this type of setup and that is why you would have been sent 2 different units when you got replacements. One for voicemail only and the other for ACD only.