sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Nortel Telephones & Systems Norstar Plus - Modular ICS

I'm trying to integrated a ShoreTel system to a Norstar VIA loopstart trunks. Not familer with the Norstar and was wonder if it was possible on the Norstar? I have the cards that are currently installed in the system . Software version MICS 6.0 / model # of the system: NT7B53FA-93/

Installed cards:
NT7B74GA-93 - digital trunk cartridge
NT7B75AAAC - caller ID card, 4 line

Well the only way the I can think to do this would be to assign an individual line per extension coming in. Then build and analog extension for each of the norstar extensions on the shoretel.

I really don't see another way to do it with a norstar unless you put in a second T1 card in the system for trunking between them. Then you could setup Dial 9 for outside dial 8 for shoretel.

How far apart this 2 systems? Are you trying to connect Analog extensions from ShorTel into trunks on Norstar? If this is the case then you would have no problems unless ShorTel provides less then 48V on Analog ports. If system next to each other then I would create Hunt group with 4 Analog extensions in ShorTel and connect each one to Trunk port on MICS. Assign Routing for Trunk group in MICS and use it to connect 2 systems together.

Yes both will be at the same site, but what I was going to try was connect trunk to trunk and then use off-system extensions.
So the Norstar will except extensions connected to their trunks?

Yes it will if Extension supplies 48V to make a Trunk to have a dial tone. You can't connect trunk to trunk cause you have to supply dial tone to it to operate. So if I am from Norstar dial any digit access code that I dedicated for Trunk group that connected to Shortel I will grab dial tone from Analog extension on ShorTel and would be able to dial any internal extension inside the ShorTel or rich outside connection if allowed. The same thing from ShorTel: I will dial Hunt Group of those 4 extensions and my Trunks at Nortel will be ringing at receptionist or any other phones in the system depends on Programming. from that point you can be transfered to any inside users you wish o talk too. Sure P2P T1 would be much better but that is a different set up.

I am assuming you want analog/loop-start because you have them available, don't have a budget for digital. if you do have a budget, I would recommend a T1 or PRI between the two systems. but, see if this works for you...

it can be set up to work pretty much automatically -- but you will need either a combo or services card, or an e&m card on the Norstar to decipher the DTMF coming from the ShoreTel (or use manual answer and a receptionist on the Norstar). I did not try using the Norstar voice mail as a means of transferring calls from ShoreTel users.

I just experimented with a MICS 6.0 system:
Connected an analog extension port (x5378) on an Sg-120 to a loop-start trunk port on the Norstar (L025, in this case). if you have spare ports on the Caller ID card of the Norstar, you will see incoming Caller ID from the ShoreTel;
Norstar L025 programmed with supervision, Pool B (in this case), auto-answer, do not answer with DISA;
Norstar Target Line 157 (in this case) programmed to receive 4 digits -- I used "1700' in this experiment;
Norstar digital telephone, x1700, programmed for Pool B access, L157 ring-only;
in Norstar Routing Service: '9A' routes to defined Route 0 (Pool A), any other digits dialed (other than Norstar extension or park codes) route automatically to defined Route 2, Pool B. in Norstar System Programming/Access Codes, I remove all access codes. this allows me greater flexibility in routing dialed digits.

in this case, callers from the Norstar system can simply dial any ShoreTel extension, no Norstar access code required. the enterprise Coordinated Dial Plan needs to not have any conflicts, else an access code will be required to overcome the conflict. the Norstar is a semi-smart system, conflicts not so unusual. a 3-digit extension plan on the Norstar will be more troublesome than a 4-digit system.

callers from the ShoreTel system will first need to dial the ShoreTel-Norstar extension number (5378). the Norstar system 'answers' the call, and returns Norstar system dial tone to the caller on the ShoreTel system. ShoreTel caller then inputs the Norstar extension number.

one call at a time with this setup. the more spare ports you have, the more simultaneous calls you can have. if you start having trouble with too many simultaneous calls inbound to the Norstar system not routing, it might be due to a lack of DTMF receivers on the e&m or combo/services card of the Norstar. (take a pretty busy system to have that happen).

also with this scenario, you could pre-define your Norstar Routing Services to create a poor-mans Least Cost Routing, whereby the typical Dial-9 call from Norstar dials through the ShoreTel system as a means of making an otherwise long distance call a local call. might not be feasible, however, as this could make those tie lines too busy for site-to-site calls.

good luck, it was a fun experiment

Go with the E & M, if your only connecting a few. The darn things are all over the place and nobody is using them anymore! PM me if you can't find a cheap source! Place I retired from has 10 or 20, just gathering dust! John C.