sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems MOH volume?

Hey all...

Back again! 1A2 system has remained rock solid, except for the MOH going out some time back, and I've a question on MOH.

Sam - I used the tracker to try to troubleshoot the K403.... mixed results, but overall, very impressive. I need more practice with it though, at the end of it, I couldn't be sure if there were bad transistors in it or not. They showed bad in circuit, but OK out.

I'm getting a bit of time to get back to my old phone hobbies, and am putting a payphone out on my deck, full blown install with a pedestal and lit enclosure. I picked up a "Charlies Angels" speakerphone on Ebay.... man..... the voice quality of this thing is unbelievable.

Also got a WE cuckoo clock on Ebay, supposedly like new, in black, for ..... $15. Since they normally go upwards of $150, dunno if I'll ever see it or not. If I do, then it will be time to hone my skills in wire fishing.

Anyway, on to my question. My MOH has never had a great deal of volume. If I adjust it higher, it distorts badly. Was this normal for these systems? I'm sure I have it punched down properly, and have replaced the K403 as well as the valcom tuner with a SAN/BAR 4201A card. No change in volume. I don't have a butt set, but hooking a regular house phone across pins 3 & 18... the volume is considerably higher. The K400's are all strapped according to specs.

I'm thinking back in the day people didn't want loud MOH or something.... I called the IRS the other day and it was so loud I could have picked up another deskset, put the recievers on either side of me, and it would have given my home stereo a run for it's money.

Anyway, although it's a bit too late to make a long story short - is low volume normal for 1A2 MOH? I've an ITT 601A KSU, but use WE desksets. One other possible clue - if I call one line from another and put it on hold, I can hear the MOH in louder volume for as long as I hold the hold key fully depressed.

Sorry for the long absence, details on that over in the booth.

TIA for any comments/suggestions!

- Matt

Matt -

Good to see you back on the board. Hope all is well.

As I recall the MOH volume was throttled down on the cards to prevent just such a situation as you described.

WE/ITT/SC/AE/NT/Whatever sets should have no bearing on the volume. They were all compatible, and with the exception of the Northern Logic 10/20 sets, they were pin for pin compatible. I remember routinely installing systems that were a mix of some or all of the above manufacturers and never having a problem.

Sam

Thanks Sam!

...and, good to be back! Glad to see you are all still here!

- Matt

Sam is correct. Remember, when MOH came out there were several things true that aren't any more. First the majority of the folks under 50 hadn't blown out their hearing with 120 db music. Two, it was only to reassure the customer that they hadn't been dropped. It wasn't at all designed for providing information. Three, you didn't get left on purgatory hold, telephone courtesy used to be an "in" thing. And welcome "home". John C. (Not Garand)

Thanks Lightning!

I'm glad to hear this verified from 2 sources; if I think something may be wrong I'll mess with it for hours.

Thanks again -

Matt