sundance-communications.com/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Avaya - Lucent Telephones & Systems Newbie Question on Merlin.....

Hello All,

I am new to this and I am taking baby steps to learn about this.

I've been in computers for most of my career but never touched any type of communications system until now. :rolleyes:

I have a client that is moving to a new facility.
The owner of the new facility left him a Merlin System,
but unfortunately unplugged all of the extensions and left the rack in a mess with things unplugged and some plug-in terminals broken.

The Merlin Controller looks as if it is working condition but we don't have a telco source to test it yet.

Now, in my clients old location we are using CableVision to supply the telco with their Wes tell VoIP Cable modems.
We currently have 2 phone lines and 1 fax line.
We will probably expand that to what the Merlin will support.

We would like to transfer the VoIP Cable Modems to the new facility and use the CableVision service as our source and plug them into the Merlin System and utilize it since it is already there and the facility is wired for it.

I don't have the Model numbers handy for what we have but I can get them in a couple hours.

One PLUS is that the previous owner left us the complete MANUAL for the Merlin System !!!!!

Look up HBiss on here ... he is in Westchester and is an Avaya dealer and will take good care of you.

He will be able to do it within a couple of hours which is way less time than you will spend reading the manual.

We would like to transfer the VoIP Cable Modems to the new facility and use the CableVision service as our source and plug them into the Merlin System and utilize it since it is already there and the facility is wired for it.

We don't like Cablevision but unfortunately we have to do that all the time. And by the way, it's NOT VoIP, just digital phone service. Same with FiOS if you should ever come across that.

As for the Merlin system, good luck. It's a steep learning curve even for someone in the telecom trade with the documentation.

We can offer you assistance here but if you need much beyond end user information be aware that you will need to work with one of our members probably for a fee.

-Hal

When you say Merlin I'm assuming Merlin Legend, if not which Merlin? I've worked on and installed Avaya Partner systems, as well as other systems. I do have a couple Merlin Legend systems I support. If it's anything other than minor programming changes I get remote assistance from one of the techs on the board that knows this system. Like Hal said it's not the easiest of systems to learn.

As has been stated, we need to know just what type of Merlin system you have. A simple way to help us get started on that part is to give a description of the modules and the telephones left on site.

There are better, more thorough ways to do this, but let's start with that info.

Also, here's a concept, rather than fitting the number of lines to the capacity of the Merlin, what about making the number of lines fit the clients needs. That's usually the best way especially if the Telephone system has a lot of capacity.

As far as:

"One PLUS is that the previous owner left us the complete MANUAL for the Merlin System !!!!!"

Learning it that way will be like watching grass grow while sucking on soap, especially if it is one of the "newer" systems, but it can be done.

Good luck, but don't be shy about getting the kind of help you need from the members here.

The later model Legend Merlin systems are pretty much bullet proof and can provide years of service still.

Which manual? The installation manual (330 pages) or the Feature Reference (300 pages)???

Okay,

Spent a lot of time there today and got all of the second floor
telephone lines and ethernet cables traced, verified and labeled.
Tomorrow I am going to start plugging in handsets and get the system connected,
at least as far as I can get it right now.

The system they inherited is the Merlin 820D (Merlin Plus).
I looked over the controller, and it is pretty clean.
No burn marks or signs of overheating.
This system is probably a lot more than they will ever need.
Right now they have 3 lines. The first two hunt from #2 to #1,
and the third is the fax line.
They may want to add a third line to the hunt group.

I have some rewiring to do tomorrow because I don't like
how things were spliced together for this sytem.
It looks like the first few phones were installed on a punch down board
and when the Merlin was installed, Cat5 Terminal strips were used.

I am looking into a wall mount rack cabinet to hold
all of the electronics safely, cleanly and securely.
I'm also going to add a UPS for this, the modems and the networking hardware.

I will add up the different types of handsets they have tomorrow.
I'll find out which manual tomorrow too.
I didn't want to start browsing through it tonight.

I don't have any issues with CableVision and their Optimum services.
I experienced first hand the entire xDSL debacle from the
several phone companies which became our ill received Verizon today.
I don't have anything pleasant to say about them or Verizon and I will just leave it at that.

What I will say is that MY HOME is finally Verizon FREE !!!

BTW... I love learning new things especially when they challenge my capabilities. :thumb:

Ahh. A Merlin 820D. That shouldn't be too much of a challenge. We thought you were talking about a Legend or Magix.

As for Cable Company Telephone, I have no use for them or their know-nothing techs or their crap equipment and installations. I suggest your love for them and your bad experiences with Verizon is because you are young, have no telecom experience and have an IT background. Verizon certainly has their problems but compared to Cablevision I would rather deal with them anyday.

-Hal

You should try working for the Post Office...

My full time gig is as an Electronics Technician
working at the Automated Plant in White Plains.

...and how young can someone be that has over 25 years experience with computers ???

25

-Hal