atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Panasonic Telephones & Systems PanaVoice - Not answering

Have a DBS 72 with OAI integrated PanaVoice 2.1 voicemail (8 port) that's been working for years. All of a sudden, the VM quits doesn't answer calls. Watching port status, I can see ports go to "Ringing" but the never clear back to "Ans" (idle). Even if I disconnect the port lines, each port still shows ringing. The VM never answers any call or plays the greeting. I know this thing is an old 386SX box, so it is likely something hardware on the motherboard or power supply. The HD was replaced about a year ago, and I swapped the ISA VM cards around to different slots. Any ideas?

Check VM port set type. If it's not that, the unit may be ready for the scrap pile.

It was ready for the scrap pile some time ago, but when it runs, it runs just fine. I'd like to try to repair it. The platform is so simple, it seems that it should be able to be ressurected for now. I was wrong about one thing... it is only a Version 1.1 Panavoice.

Well, here's what I've done thus far.... I know this DBS stuff is antiquated, and I know you guys hate Panavoice, but maybe someone here will have some distant bell rung and will be able to offer just a bit of help (other than throw out the system).

I've rebuilt the VM on a more modern platform (not much more modern) - a P5 200MHz. It does run nicely now. The problem still exists: On the banner screen of the Panavoice, the ports will show ringing when dialed - but they stick there - nothing ever answers, and when I hang up they never go back to "ANS". This happens when the VM box is completely disconnected from the DBS (or connected). It seems unlikely that both Dialogic cards went bad at the same time, and they both test out just fine with the limited diag software.

Did you check the VM port set type as suggested in my first reply? Rebuilding the VM will do no good if the set type has defaulted. That would be the first step that an onsite technician should do to troubleshoot.

Sure. That was indeed the first thing I did. I guess I should have replied that I had done that already.

At this point, I getting more and more convinced it is the communication between the API card and the Panavoice box. I just didn't know if the behaviour I am experiencing is a result of no communication or if something was wacked out in the Panavoice box.

Thanks for both your replies, Richard.

If the DBS is functioning normally with no issues, I would assume it's the VM. It is probably the card in the PC as you have suggested. I would say it may be a short in the card when hit with the ring voltage. Did you replace that on the rebuild?

The problem I have with the card theory is that there are 2 of them. I've run it with both, and each one indivdually. It isn't impossible that they both broke at once, but it is pretty unlikely. I did, however, buy 3 off of an eBay auction for about $30 or so, and I'll try them when they arrive.

Here's even more info... I make a backup copy of the hard disk, then changed the phone system integration type to a non-integrated setting. Rebooted, and now I can ring one of the analog ports (from another PBX) and key in DTMF and things seem to work. To me, this more and more points to the integration serial connection. It sure is an odd behavior for a broken OAI link, but I guess that's why most people don't like this setup.

How does that sound to you?

Sounds like you might be on the right track. Keep us posted on how it turns out with the replacement cards.