sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems Fraud and SMDR

Every so often I see a post (mostly about Toll Fraud) and the answer is something like: "See what the SMDR says". I thought SMDR was an optional unit that connects to Norstar to give Call Reporting. Does everyone carry around an SMDR to every job? Does the system keep all the call reporting in the past just waiting for a tech to connect an SMDR so it can empty its forever buffer? Do you leave one on site and return every day to get the info? Do you install one for every one of your customers? Fill me in? How is everyone getting call info when they go to a site one day??

I keep one in the shop for troubleshooting problems. Norstar does not buffer. We leave it on site as long as needed.

I assume you just connect it to a port. How do you gather the info? Print out, Laptop?? Does it buffer once connected or send a line (print or record) everytime something happens? Is there a lot of configuring for it, or just plug and play....it works?

Hooks to a station port. Serial port port on it hooks to a serial port on a PC and run a hyperterminal session. It dumps as each call ends.

So - Not only do you have to leave a SMDR unit on site, but maybe a laptop also.....or connect to customer computer if he lets you. Thanks for the info.

I think you can hook up a DotMatrix line printer to it also, through serial conversion?

No buffer, wish it did.

I have an old OKIdata tractor feed printer that has a serial port input on it. I hook it up and leave it for a few days. I also use it for access control and security system logs.

Let me ask this question: Does the Norstar dump this record whether or not there is a SMDR device? i.e. Once the SMDR device is connected, there is no programming to do, it just starts working?? And if no serial device is connected to the SMDR, does it care - i.e. lock up the Norstar? Or if you connect the printer it starts printing and unplug it, the Norstar could care less??

There is very minimal programming. You hook it up to a station port and enter feature 9*2. This will take you through a few parameters such as baud rate, parity, etc. If you have a version 4 SMDR or higher it will also have some CLID setup as well.

There are 6 different models for different software levels of equipment. SMDR5 & 6 have a loop through jack so you may still use a station set on that same port.

It doesn't care if anything is wired up to the serial port or not. It gives you basic info such as called number, extension, dialing code, duration, date and time. If you want anything more you will have to use call accounting software with it.

Thanks for all the info. Never did anything with SMDR. Have to try it sometime.