sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Mitel Telephones & Systems ancient sx20

We have a new customer that has an SX20 - ugh.

From 1980- ugh again


AT&T is providing ground start trunks.... they are changing providers to Cbeyond and they don't offer ground start. Is there an "easy" way to change this in the programming?

Thanks!

Nope, switches on trunk cards. And programming. Sorry. Really ought to avoid working on it, They have a tendency to not turn back on, once turned off. After all, the last new parts were made 20 years ago! John C.

Seriously, have them sign a short doc. that you are not liable if/when it dies on your watch. Make sure they have a contingency plan (upgrade price) in their hands that you can get in quick when this dies.

Steve

I agree with Tampasteve. I have seen several of these not come back on after being turned off. Most times it will be one of the power supplies gone bad. Play it safe if you work on one of these oldies. C.Y.A.!

Wow...talk about doom and gloom. The SX-20 is not that bad. It is repairable and there are lots of parts available. There are three separate power supply boards in the cabinet and they are easily repaired.

The trunk modules sit on the misc card and need to be removed and the switches placed in the loop start position. Be very careful when placing the trunk module back on the misc card as the pins are easy to bend and miss the mating holes.

Once you do that, make sure the fan is working and clean the filter media. Power back on, set the time and date and program the individual trunks for loop start.

Rcaman

Just don't sneeze on it or breathe too hard when you are working on it.

Hmmm...Hot wet breath? I didn't write that it was the greatest achievement from Mitel, but they do work. At one time I hated them, but once I figured out what makes them happy, it isn't so bad.

I have to work on a lot worse. The SX-20 isn't my favorite but it isn't the worse I have to deal with, either.

Rcaman

Back in the early eighties, it was the greatest thing in the world. Come to think of it so was I!!!!!
BELIEVE ME, it was a long time ago!!!!

Rcaman, you need to com down to the Carolina's. There are a LOT of SX20's here that are begging for service. But the Mitel techs around here, including me, are afraid to turn them off. Maybe we aren't young enough to 'enjoy a challenge'! John C.

Hey, that's funny. I dissected a SX-20 years ago to figure out why the repair services were charging a fortune to repair them. What I found out was, aside from the Mitel integrated circuits, everything else was available off the shelf from electronics supply houses. I bought a supply of capacitors, resistors, fans and integrated circuits. I haven't sent any SX-20 systems out for repair in 10 years.

The SX-20, certainly, has seen it's day and should be replaced, when appropriate, with another Mitel system. However, there is nothing to fear. It's kind of like a 57 Chevy. They are really fun to work on, they will get you from point "A" to point "B," however, you probably want something a little more recent to do the day to day commuting.

Personally, if I had my way...I'd still be driving my 57 Chevy.

Rcaman