atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems ESI Telephones & Systems Hold button flashing slowly

The 48-key at x100 is flashing its Hold button slowly. If I pick up, it says "Calls holding: 1" ... even though no calls are actually holding on any other stations. If I press Hold, it says "E1" and nothing happens.

Our reseller replaced the phone and the problem persisted. Their tech came out and rebooted the system, and the problem went away while he was here, but it returned again shortly after he left. I'm not sure he actually knew what was happening. Before I give him another minimum 2-hours labor for unplugging and replugging a power cord, thought I might check with you guys.

Anyone else actually seen this behavior and might know what causes it?

The system is an IVX S-class II.

What happens if you press hold then the 1 on the keypad??

Ah, thanks for asking.

If I press Hold then 1, as if to retrieve a held call, nothing happens. The display doesn't change, there's silence on the handset, and the button keeps flashing.

Also, sorry, the system in question is an E-class Generation II. Had it confused with the other office.

In the display where it says "calls holding 1" that is telling you how many calls are on hold. The number beneath it indicates which LINE is being held. Next time this scenario occurs make sure you press the numeric button that corresponds to the number previously described. I'm guessing you will get nothing again but at least you will know your in the correct place to retrieve a call from HOLD.

The most common reason for this circumstance to occur is that within the previous minutes there actually was a real caller that was placed on HOLD. Then the caller got impatient and hung up. Due to improper balanced settings within your system combined with noise on the line from the service provider the system thinks there is a real caller still on hold and keeps the line intact. Enough about that.

If this requires attention from the service tech (and it will) give him a hint to adjust the line settings. It may have been done already and hopefully the problem goes away.

You may not be recieving a good disconnect from your dial tone provider

"E1" means that that extension put a call on "Exclusive Hold" on line 1.

This will happen if the extension user holds down the HOLD button for a few seconds.

To retrieve that exclusive hold call, that extension will have to hold down the HOLD button again, this should pick up that call and allow you to hang it up, making the light go away.

I have a question for thornrag. What happens if the line being held doesn't get responded to by the person who put it on HOLD? The reason I ask is there is a timer setting within the system that delivers a held call to a specified location after the timer expires. Usually it is the mailbox of the extension that placed it on HOLD. If I remember correctly the max time setting is 960 seconds or 15 minutes.

When this happens is it eventually clearing itself or does it always need assistance by personnel.

Did your reseller call in to ESI tech support. I have seen whacky things with various fixed buttons that tech support fixed.

94astro, you nailed it. I *held down* Hold, and a silent line came back. I hung up, and the phone's behaving normally again.

Turns out, we've had a new person at that station, who seems to like to lean on the Hold button. Now we know how it's happening.

grider, normally-held calls are recalled or dropped according to the set timers. Apparently, however, exclusively-held calls are not. The CO line eventually disconnects, but the exclusive hold is never recalled, transferred, or cleared. This most recent incident persisted for more than a day and was cleared only just now, thanks to astro's tip.

Thanks guys for the help!