Nortel Networks P0992639 01 User Manual

Modular ICS

Return
to Menu

Companion
Installer Guide

(to be used with MICS-XC software)

Norstar, Meridian and Companion are trademarks of
Nortel Networks

© Nortel Networks 2002

1-800-4 NORTEL

www.nortelnetworks.com/

norstar

P0992639 01

Printed in Canada

Table of Contents

Regulations 1

Federal Communications Commission (U.S. only) 1
Companion Base Stations 1
Activation (U.S. only) 1
Safety 2

Norstar Companion basics 3

What’s new with Norstar 5

Planning the installation 7

Planning checklist 7
Required equipment and supplies 7
Configuring Station Modules 7
Configuring expansion modules 8

On a mini system 9
On a midi system 9
On a maxi system 10
On a mega system 11

ICS numbering 14

Installation 17

Installation checklist 17
Connecting expansion modules 18
Installing Remote Power Interconnect (RPI) units 18

Mounting the RPI unit 20
Wiring the RPI 22
RPI Connector Overview 23

Installing base stations 30

Positioning a base station 30

Mounting a base station 31
Installing portable telephones 34
Installing external antennas and lightning surge arrestors 35

Installing external antenna and lightning surge arrestor

procedures for the United States of America 37
Planning for an outdoor external antenna (USA) 38
Installing a lightning surge arrestor (USA) 39

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

iv /

Installing external antenna and lightning surge arrestor

procedures for Canada 41

Powering up the system 49
Programming 51

Installation programming 51
Programming tools 52

The Norstar Programming Record 52
Exiting programming 52

Viewing your programming updates 53
Template defaults 53
Startup programming 55

Performing Startup 55

Changing the default template 56
Entering programming 56

Entering programming for system coordinators 57

Entering programming using other passwords 58
Norstar features 58

Portable features 58
Registration password 58

Changing the Registration password 59
Companion programming 60

Registration 60

Radio data 62

System logical identifier (LID) 66
Software keys (U.S. only) 67

Registering individual portables 73

Registering the C3060 73

C3060 Icons 73

To register the C3060 74

To confirm that the C3060 is registered 75
Deregistering the C3060 76
Measuring RSSI for a C3060 77

Measuring undirected RSSI 77

Measuring directed RSSI 78
Registering the C3050 80

C3050 Icons 80

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

To register the C3050 80
To confirm that the C3050 is registered 82

Deregistering the C3050 83

To deregister the C3050 83

Measuring RSSI for a C3050 84

To measure undirected RSSI 84
Measuring directed RSSI 85

Registering the C3020 (Canada only) 86

To register the C3020 86

Deregistering the C3020 (Canada only) 88

To deregister the C3020 88

Measuring RSSI for a C3020 (Canada only) 89

Measuring undirected RSSI 90
Measuring directed RSSI 90
Measuring directed RSSI using your portable 91

After registering the portables 92

Testing 93

Testing the Companion portable telephones 93
Testing the base stations 93
Testing the system coverage 94

/ v

Troubleshooting 95

Problems with a portable telephone 95
Problems with a base station 95

Replacing a base station 97

Verifying Radio Credits (U.S. only) 98
Problems with an RPI 99
Problems with wireless communication 100

Obtaining a Recovery Key 100

Obtaining a Regression Key (U.S. only) 100

Alarm codes 102

Event messages 106

Specifications 113

Norstar Companion system components 113

Remote Power Interconnect 113

Base station 114

Upgrading your system 119

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

vi /

Adding Companion to a mini, midi, maxi, or mega system 119

Upgrading an RPI-8 to an RPI-16 119

Glossary 121
Index 129

Backup programming overlays 137

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Regulations

Federal Communications Commission (U.S. only)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
designated UTAM Inc. to manage the installation and
relocation of Unlicensed Personal Communication Services
(UPCS). This includes Norstar Companion Base Stations and
Portable Telephones.

Companion Base Stations

The radiated and conducted emissions of the Companion Base
Station radios must not exceed the requirements for digital
cordless telephones as outlined in FCC Part 15-subpart D
(DOC RSS-130 documents in Canada). Do not install the Base
Station in ducts, plenums, or hollow spaces used to transport
environmental air.

Note: In Canada, Base Stations may be installed where the

duct, plenum or hollow space is created by a suspended
ceiling having lay-in panels or tiles, in accordance with
CE Handbook Rule 60-402.

Activation (U.S. only)

Wireless communication on a Companion system cannot be
activated until installation at its authorized location is verified
and approved by UTAM Inc. This system is equipped with an
automatic mechanism for disabling wireless operation in the
event it is moved outside the area where its operation has been
approved by UTAM Inc. This mechanism complies with FCC
requirements.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

2 / Regulations

Safety

Do not connect the administration set or Base
Stations directly to a CO line.

Doing so may result in equipment damage.

The Norstar administration set and base stations
must not be used as off-premises equipment.

Installers must check the lightning surge arrestors at
the cable entry point to the building with special
attention to the grounding. Report any problems to
your telephone company in writing.

Do not install Norstar administration sets and base
stations outside of the building because they are not
lightning protected.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Norstar Companion basics

Norstar Companion provides mobility in the workplace. With
Companion, your telephone can go with you, allowing you to
make and receive calls while on the move. Calls that used to
ring just at your desk can also appear and ring at your portable.
This is called twinning. Twinning works provided that the
portable is assigned the desk telephone DN as an Answer DN.
Wireless twinning is improved by assigning the same answer
key to your Norstar desk telephone and to your wireless
portable telephone.

The portable telephones can access most Norstar business
features such as call forward, call transfer, conferencing, and
voice mail. Companion on Norstar consists of four main
components:

ICS and Norstar XC software - Norstar MICS-XC software
manages the telephone traffic between Companion base
stations and portable telephones. Base stations are connected
to the ICS in the same way as Norstar sets. Companion
portable telephones are registered on the system and do not
take up any ports on the system. Up to 60 portable telephones
and up to 32 base stations (32 cells) can be connected to the
system.

Companion base stations — Base stations are positioned
throughout the coverage area to send and receive calls between
the portable telephones and the ICS. The base stations use
advanced digital radio technology and support handoff and
roaming within the coverage area which can be up to 160,000
square meters (three million square feet) when using the
maximum number of base stations.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

4 / Norstar Companion basics

Before the base stations can be used in the United States,
UTAM codes must be obtained and entered using an
administration terminal or Norstar Remote Utilities (NRU).
Please see Software keys (U.S. only) on page 67 for more
detailed information.

Companion Portable Telephones — The portable
telephones used with your Norstar system are small,
lightweight units with fully digital performance to provide
clear voice quality. Companion portable telephones feature a
two line, 16-character, alphanumeric display. For more
information on the portable used with your MICS-XC system,
refer to the Companion Portable Telephone User Guide that is
supplied with it.

Before the portables can be used in the United States, portable
credits must be obtained. Please refer to Software keys (U.S.
only) on page 67.

Administration and Maintenance Tools — Programming
the Companion system is easily and quickly done through a
T7316 Business Series Terminal or an M7310 or M7324
Norstar set. You can assign portable telephones to the system,
check base station parameters, and enable and disable
registration using set programming.

System programming can also be performed using Norstar
Remote Utilities (NRU) software on a personal computer.

Companion Diagnostic Software allows diagnostics to be run
on the wireless system. Diagnostics can be run either locally or
remotely via a personal computer.

CallPilot 100/150 or Norstar Voice Mail — CallPilot 100/
150 replaces Norstar Voice Mail on new Modular ICS
systems.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Norstar Companion basics / 5

If you are using Norstar Voice Mail with your Companion
system, Version 3.0 is recommended as a minimum Voice
Mail software version.

For information on how to access Norstar Voice Mail using
your Norstar Companion portable, refer to the Portable
Telephone Feature Card that is supplied with it.

What’s new with Norstar

This release reflects new features in the Modular ICS-XC
software. For a list of these changes, refer to the Modular ICS
Installer Guide.

For a complete list of features supported on Companion
portables refer to the Modular ICS Companion System

Coordinator Guide.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

6 / Norstar Companion basics

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Planning the installation

Planning checklist

å

Verify that you have approval from UTAM Inc.
(U.S. only)

å

Verify that a site planner determined base station locations
and recorded them in the Provisioning Record.

Required equipment and supplies

å

Companion portable telephones

å

Companion base stations

å

Companion Remote Power Interconnect device or plug top
Power Supplies

å

Companion ID Labels (See Step 1: Obtain the Companion
ID on page 68.)

Configuring Station Modules

When installing wireless capabilities, use only the last two. or
highest numbered. ports for connecting the Companion base
stations.

Each Station Module allows you to connect up to 16 additional
Norstar telephones to the system.

Maximum number of Norstar telephones on a system

mini midi maxi mega

ICS SM3 SM4 SM5 SM6 SM7 SM8 SM9 SM10 SM11 SM12

32 48 64 80 96 112 128 144 160 176 192

Each Station Module that is used for Norstar Companion
allows you to connect up to 16 base stations to the system.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

8 / Planning the installation

Maximum number of Norstar Companion base stations on a system

mini midi maxi mega

ICS SM3 SM4 SM7 SM8 SM13 SM14

16 16 32 16 32 16 32

Configuring expansion modules

With the addition of an Expansion Cartridge or a Combo
Cartridge in the ICS, you can add Trunk Modules and/or
Station Modules to increase your system capacity.

Previous users of the Norstar 0X32 system should note that the
Key Service Unit (KSU) has been renamed the Integrated
Communication System (ICS).

Installed in ICS Additional modules allowed

Trunk Station Maximum

XC system

Combo cartridge (6-port +
Services) (maxi)

Combo and 6-port cartridges
(mega)

Two Combo cartridges (mega) 6 12* 12

Two 6-port cartridges (mega) 6 12* 12

*The last two ports are reserved for Companion use only.

6 6 6

6 12* 12

Note: For each type of expanded system above, Norstar

Companion capability is supported. Ensure you have
the correct Modular ICS software to support wireless
capability.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Planning the installation / 9

On a mini system

Note: Port 1 and 2 are on the ICS.

On a mini or non-expanded system, port 1 on the ICS (station
ports 101 to 132) is used for both base stations and Norstar
sets. No fiber ports are used since no Station Module is
required. Directly connect your base stations or Norstar sets to
port 1 on the ICS via a wiring distribution panel.

On a midi system

On midi and maxi systems, the highest numbered ports can be
used for both base stations and Norstar sets. Therefore, sets
and base stations can share the two highest numbered fiber
ports.

A system expanded to four ports (midi size) includes one
2-port expansion cartridge with fiber ports numbered 3 and 4,
and 1 and 2 on the ICS. The base stations must be physically
connected (via a Station Module) to fiber ports 3 and 4 only. If
only one Station Module supporting base stations is required,
connect it to the highest-numbered port (port 4).

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

10 / Planning the installation

Two-port Expansion Cartridge

ICS (modules 1 and 2) TM4 SM3

On a maxi system

A system expanded to eight ports (maxi size) includes one
6-port expansion cartridge with fiber ports numbered 3 to 8,
and 1 and 2 on the ICS. The base stations must be physically
connected, via a Station Module, to fiber ports 7 and 8
only.There is a maximum number of two Station Modules per
base station. Refer to Six-port Expansion Cartridge with
Companion on page 11

If only one Station Module supporting base stations is
required, connect it to the highest-numbered port (port 8).

If Both ports 7 and 8 are used for connecting

Tip -

Station Modules supporting base stations, connect
Trunk Modules starting at port 6 and working down.
Connect Station Modules for the desk sets beginning at
port 3 and working up.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Planning the installation / 11

Six-port Expansion Cartridge with Companion

TM8

SM3 SM4 SM5 SM6ICS (modules 1 and 2)

SM7

On a mega system

Keep in mind that 10 station modules is the limit for regular
Norstar sets, and two station modules for Companion base
stations is the limit on an XC configuration.

For example, a system expanded to 14 ports (mega size)
includes two 6-port expansion cartridges with fiber ports
numbered 3 to 14 on the expansion cartridges, and 1 and 2 on
the ICS. The base stations must be physically connected to
fiber ports 13 and 14 only. 12-port Expansion Cartridge with
Companion on page 12

In the fully expanded mega configuration, Station

Tip -

Modules 13 and 14 are reserved for base stations only.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

12 / Planning the installation

12-port Expan sion Cartridge with Com panion

Fiber Cable Guide

ICS (modules 1 and 2)

SM6 SM5

SM4 SM3

TM8 TM7

(max. 7 modules per power bar)

To Ac
outlet

To Ac
outlet

Note 1: Station modules 13 and 14
are used for Companion
capability only. See your Norstar
Companion Installer Guide for
more detail.

Note 2: Using a 2 or 3 row layout is
acceptable. The layout depends
on the available wall space.

(max. 7 modules per power bar)

SM14 SM13 SM12 SM11 SM10 SM9

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Routing fiber cables

6-port Expansion Cartridge

Planning the installation / 13

Upward routed fiber cable

Downward routed fiber cable

Fiber
cable
guide

loose cables

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

14 / Planning the installation

ICS numbering

Non-expanded system (ICS alone) numbering

Module # Lines Line

ICS (#2) 001-

ports

201-248 — — — — — — — — 637-696

048

B1
DN

B2
DN

DN
ports

Base station
ports

Portable
DN

ICS (#1) — — — — 21-52 53-84 101-

132

Two-port Expansion Cartridge and ICS numbering

Expansion
module #

#4 049-

#3 073-

ICS (#2) 001-

ICS (#1) — — — — 221-

Lines Line

072

096

048

ports

401­412

301­312

201­248

B1
DN

269­284

253­268

— — — — — — — — — —

252

B2
DN

333­348

317­332

285­316

DN
ports

401­416

301­316

101­132

Six-port Expansion Cartridge and ICS numbering

Expansion
module #

#8 049-

#7 073-

#6 097-

#5 109-

#4 121-

#3 133-

ICS (#2) 001-

ICS (#1) — — — — 221-

Lines Line

072

096

108

120

132

144

048

ports

801­812

701­712

601­612

501­512

401­412

301­312

201­248

B1
DN

333­348

317­332

301­316

285­300

269­284

253­268

— — — — — — — — — —

252

B2
DN

461­476

445­460

429­444

413­428

397­412

381­396

349­380

DN
ports

801­816

701­716

601­616

501­516

401­416

301­316

101­132

101-132 637-696

Base station
ports

401-416 637-696

301-316 637-696

— — — —

Base station
ports

801-816 637-696

701-716 637-696

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

Portable
DN

Portable
DN

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Planning the installation / 15

Twelve-port expanded system and ICS numbering

Expansion
module #

#14 — — — — — — — — — — 1401-1416 637-696

#13 — — — — — — — — — — 1301-1316 637-696

#12 — — — — 397-

#11 — — — — 381-

#10 — — — — 365-

#9 — — — — 349-

#8 049-

#7 073-

#6 097-

#5 109-

#4 121-

#3 133-

ICS (#2) 001-

ICS (#1) — — — — 221-

Lines Line

072

096

108

120

132

144

048

ports

801­812

701­712

601­612

501­512

401­412

301­312

201­248

B1
DN

412

396

380

364

333­348

317­332

301­316

285­300

269­284

253­268

— — — — — — — — — —

252

B2
DN

589­604

573­588

557­572

541­556

525­540

509­524

493­508

447­492

461­476

455­460

413­444

DN
ports

1201­1216

1101­1116

1001­1016

901­916

801­816

701­716

601­616

501­516

401­416

301­316

101­132

Base station
ports

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

— — — —

Portable
DN

Port 3 is the bottom fiber cable port on the

Tip -

two-port and the six-port Expansion Cartridge in
slot 2. Port 9 is located on the leftmost Expansion
Cartridge in slot 1.

Refer to the

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

Modular ICS Installer Guide for details.

16 / Planning the installation

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation

Installation checklist

When installing a Norstar system with Companion
components, follow this installation checklist:

å

complete the wiring

å

install the Remote Power Interconnect units*

å

install the base stations*

å

install the external antennas and lightning surge arrestors*

å

mount the Integrated Communication System (ICS) and
expansion modules (as required)

å

install the NVRAM Cartridge (if required)

å

install the ROM Software Cartridge

å

install the Expansion Cartridge and Trunk Cartridges (as
required)

å

connect the expansion modules*

å

install the emergency telephone(s)

å

install the Norstar telephones

å

install the single-line telephones

å

install the optional equipment

å

power up the system

å

program the system and register the portables

* Procedures that are specific to Companion are included in
this document. For all other procedures, see the Modular ICS
Installer Guide.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

18 / Installation

Connecting expansion modules

Installation planning is required for base
stations.

Before connecting any Station Modules required
for base stations, please see

expansion modules

information on the installation rules involved.

on page 8 for more

Configuring

In order to keep the default port and extension numbering,
connect Trunk Modules to the Expansion Cartridge beginning
at the top and working down; connect Station Modules to the
Expansion Cartridge beginning at the bottom and working up.

Installing Remote Power Interconnect (RPI) units

The RPI unit should have the DC backup power
supplied by a UL listed UPS.

The UPS should have an output voltage rating of 44 to
50 V DC, with a maximum fault current limit of 6 A to
protect the RPI output wiring. Otherwise, it may be
necessary to use class 1 wiring.

The RPI units must always be installed inside a
building.

The AC outlet powering the RPI should be installed near
the equipment and should be easily accessible.

The length of the RPI cord, from the outside surface of
the unit to the plug, should be a minimum of 1.3 m (4 1/
2 ft.) and a maximum of 4.6 m (15 ft.).

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

RPI unit

19

There are two versions of the RPI unit: the RPI-8 BIX UL,
which supports up to eight base stations; and the RPI-16 BIX
UL, which supports up to 16 base stations. Each RPI has a
connection board and either one (RPI-8 BIX UL) or two (RPI­16 BIX UL) power supply units (PSUs). The maximum input
power consumption of an RPI is 240 W. If a UPS 48 V DC
backup source is used, the maximum input power requirement
of the RPI is 140 W.

You can upgrade an RPI-8 BIX UL to an RPI-16 BIX UL by
installing a second PSU to the RPI-8 BIX UL. Refer to
Upgrading an RPI-8 to an RPI-16 on page 119.

If RPIs are distributed throughout the site, the number and type
of RPIs depend on the placement and powering plan of the
base stations.

To determine how many base stations and how many PSUs
you need for the number of base stations, use the following
table:

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

/ Installation

20

RPI Requirements

Base stations RPI-16 and RPI-8 required PSUs required

1–8

9–16

17–24

25–32

RPI-8

1

RPI-16

1

RPI-16 and 1 RPI-8

1

RPI-16

2

PSU

1

PSUs

2

PSUs

3

PSUs

4

Mounting the RPI unit

1. Position the screw holes for the RPI using the dimensions
shown in the following figure.

RPI mounting holes

25 mm

(1 in.)

325 mm
(13 in.)

50 mm

(2 in.)

Keyholes

300 mm

(12 in.)

To provide adequate ventilation and to prevent
overheating, leave a clearance of at least 125 mm (5 in.)
around the RPI.

If you are mounting two RPIs, one above the other, leave
a clearance of at least 300mm (12 in.) between them to
provide adequate ventilation and to prevent overheating.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

Mount RPIs at least 300 mm (12 in.) from the ceiling.

2. Insert wall plugs in the holes.

3. Partially screw in two #10 50-mm (2-in.) screws for the
keyholes.

4. Open the hinged cover with a screwdriver by pushing in
and then down to release the catch on the right side. You
can remove the cover by lifting it off its hinges.

Opening the RPI cover

21

5. Hang the RPI on the two keyhole screws and tighten them.

6. Install the remaining two screws.

7. Feed the power cord through the bottom of the RPI and
route it through the clip and around the strain relief support
as shown in the following figure.

8. Route the power cord to the input power socket just to the
left of PSU 1. Connect the plug to the socket.

Note: Distinctive labeling of RPIs may help to diagnose any

future problems.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

/ Installation

22

RPI components

Jumper lead to PSU2

Jumper lead to PSU 2

Grounding plates

Grounding plates

PSU1 PSU2

PSU 1 PSU 2

Up to 16 outputs

Up to 16 outputs

(TCM + power)

(TCM + power)

Strain relief system

Strain relief support

(if equipped)

(if equipped)

Power cord

Power cord

Unplug the RPI power cord.

Up to

Up to

16

16

Inputs

inputs

(TCM)

(TCM)

Grounding strap

Grounding strap

Ferrite rings

Ferrite rings

Power supply cabling

Power supply cabling

Connection board

Connection board

Clip

Clip

Do not apply power to the RPI until its installation and
wiring are complete.

The RPI-8, which has only one power supply unit, has
grounding straps and plates fitted so it can be upgraded to an
RPI-16 (see illustration RPI components).

Wiring the RPI

Do not run unprotected power cables outdoors.

The maximum two-way DC loop resistance for power pairs,
including interconnections for each base station, is 75 ohms.
You need one or two power pairs between the RPI and the base
station, depending on the wire size of the power pairs and the
distance between the base station and the RPI.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

Maximum power cabling distance (approximate)

Depending on the size of cable you are using, you should
remember the maximum cabling distances allowed between
the RPI and the base station.

Wire size Single-pair Double-pair

0.6 mm (22 AWG) 800 m (2,500 ft.) 1200 m (4,000 ft.)

0.5 mm (24 AWG) 500 m (1,500 ft.) 1000 m (3,000 ft.)

When using two power pairs, ensure they are
connected with the same polarity.

RPI Connector Overview

The following illustration shows where the input and output
connectors are located on the RPI connector board.

23

RPI connector board

OBIX1 OBIX2 OBIX3 OBIX4 OBIX9 OBIX10OBIX11OBIX12

OBIX1 OBIX2 OBIX3 OBIX4 OBIX9 OBIX10 OBIX11 OBIX12

IBIX1IBIX3IBIX2IBIX4

OBIX5 OBIX6 OBIX7 OBIX8 OBIX13 OBIX14 OBIX15 OBIX16

OBIX5 OBIX6 OBIX7 OBIX8 OBIX13 OBIX14OBIX15OBIX16

IBIX4 IBIX3 IBIX2 IBIX1

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

/ Installation

24

Output connections

Feed the output pairs in through the bottom of the RPI and
route the pairs to the output connectors as shown in the
following illustration. If only one pair is used for powering a
base station, connect the power pair to -PWR(1) and
+PWR(1). If two pairs are used to power a base station,
connect one pair to -PWR(1) and +PWR(1), and the second
pair to -PWR(2) and +PWR(2).

Ensure both pairs have the same polarity.

Connecting two power pairs with opposing polarities
may damage the base station and RPI.

Output connector pinout

OBIXn

-PWR(1)

-PWR(2)

TCM

TCM

+PWR(2)

+PWR(1)

Input connections

Feed the TCM input pairs from the ICS distribution frame
through the top of the RPI and route the pairs to the input
connectors (IBIX1 to IBIX4) as shown in the following
illustration. There may be fewer than 16 input pairs in any
given RPI installation.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Input connector pinout

Pin 3 Pin 1

Pin 5Pin 7

IBIXn

Pin 2Pin 4Pin 6Pin 8

Input wiring

Connector Pin Signal Output

IBIX1 1, 2 TCM 1 OBIX1

3, 4 TCM 2 OBIX2

5, 6 TCM 3 OBIX3

7, 8 TCM 4 OBIX4

IBIX2 1, 2 TCM 5 OBIX5

Installation /

connector

25

3, 4 TCM 6 OBIX6

5, 6 TCM 7 OBIX7

7, 8 TCM 8 OBIX8

IBIX3 1, 2 TCM 9 OBIX9

3, 4 TCM 10 OBIX10

5, 6 TCM 11 OBIX11

7, 8 TCM 12 OBIX12

IBIX4 1, 2 TCM 13 OBIX13

3, 4 TCM 14 OBIX14

5, 6 TCM 15 OBIX15

7, 8 TCM 16 OBIX16

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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26

RPI-8 BIX wiring chart

Pin RPI Connector Board Label Wire color

26

1 Blue-White

27 TCM White-Orange

2 Orange-White

28 +PWR White-Green

3 Green-White

29

4 Brown-White

30 TCM White-Slate

5 Slate-White

31 +PWR Red-Blue

6 Blue-Red

32

7 Orange-Red

33 TCM Red-Green

8 Green-Red

34 +PWR Red-Brown

9 Brown-Red

35

10 Slate-Red

36 TCM Black-Blue

11 Blue-Black

37 +PWR Black-Orange

12 Orange-Black

38

13 Green-Black

39 TCM Bl ack-Brown

14 Brown-Black

40 +PWR Black-Slate

15 Slate-Black

OBIX1

BS1

OBIX2

BS2

OBIX3

BS3

OBIX4

BS4

OBIX5

BS5

-PWR White-Blue

-PWR White-Brown

-PWR Red-Orange

-PWR Red-Slate

-PWR Black-Green

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

Pin RPI Connector Board Label Wire color

41

16 Blue-Yellow

42 TCM Yellow-Orange

17 Orange-Yellow

43 +PWR Yellow-Green

18 Green-Yellow

44

19 Brown-Yellow

45 TCM Yellow-Slate

20 Slate-Yellow

46 +PWR Violet-Blue

21 Blue-Violet

47

22 Orange-Violet

48 TCM Violet-Green

23 Green-Violet

49 +PWR Violet-Brown

24 Brown-Violet

OBIX6
BS6

OBIX7
BS7

OBIX8
BS8

-PWR Yellow-Blue

-PWR Yellow-Brown

-PWR Violet-Orange

27

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28

RPI-16 BIX wiring chart

Pin RPI Connector Board Label Wire color

26

1 Blue-White

27 TCM White-Orange

2 Orange-White

28 +PWR White-G reen

3 Green-White

29

4 Brown-White

30 TCM White-Slate

5 Slate-White

31 +PWR Red-Blue

6 Blue-Red

32

7 Orange-Red

33 TCM Red-Green

8 Green-Red

34 +PWR Red-Brown

9 Brown-Red

35

10 Slate-Red

36 TCM Black-Blue

11 Blue-Black

37 +PWR Black-Orange

12 Orange-Black

38

13 Green-Black

39 TCM Black-Brown

14 Brown-Black

40 +PWR Black-Slate

15 Slate-Black

OBIX9
BS9

OBIX10
BS10

OBIX11
BS11

OBIX12
BS12

OBIX13
BS13

-PWR White-Blue

-PWR White-Brown

-PWR Red-Orange

-PWR Red-Slate

-PWR Black-Green

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

Pin RPI Connector Board Label Wire color

41

16 Blue-Yellow

42 TCM Yellow-Orange

17 Orange-Yellow

43 +PWR Yellow-Green

18 Green-Yellow

44

19 Brown-Yellow

45 TCM Yellow-Slate

20 Slate-Yellow

46 +PWR Violet-Blue

21 Blue-Violet

47

22 Orange-Violet

48 TCM Violet-Green

23 Green-Violet

49 +PWR Violet-Brown

24 Brown-Violet

50

25

OBIX14
BS14

OBIX15
BS15

OBIX16
BS16

-PWR Yellow-Blue

-PWR Yellow-Brown

-PWR Violet-Orange

29

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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30

Installing base stations

Before installing wireless equipment, ensure that a site planner
has determined base station locations and recorded them.

Before installing or relocating wireless equipment in the
United States, verify that you have approval from UTAM Inc.
by calling the Nortel Customer Response Center at 1-800-321-

2649. You will be given codes and credits that are necessary to
activate the system. Please see Software keys (U.S. only) on
page 67 before calling.

Positioning a base station

Avoid installing base stations on large concrete or marble
columns. This affects radio coverage. If possible, place the
base station at least 1m (40 in.) from such columns. Do not
mount a base station where metalwork is near the antenna
housings. Be careful not to damage existing wiring or panels.

Do not position base stations in ducts, plenums, or hollow
spaces used to transport environmental air except where the
duct, plenum or hollow space is created by a suspended ceiling
having lay-in panels or tiles. If more than one Companion base
station is required in one cell to meet traffic demands, position
all the base stations at the same cell center, as follows:

• USA: a minimum of 54 in. and a maximim of 9 ft. 9 in.
apart from the center of one base station to the center of the
next

• Canada: a minimum of 9 cm and a maximim of 1.5 m apart
from edge to edge

Never mount base stations in rows.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

31

Position base stations away from an office area or where a
portable is used by at least the amounts shown in the following
table. Installing the base station on the ceiling or high on walls
helps to maintain these minimum distances.

Minimum distance between office areas and base stations

Number of base stations

in the cell

11 m (40 in.)

2 1.4 m (56 in.)

3 1.8 m (72 in.)

42 m (80 in.)

Minimum distance between office

areas and base stations

Mounting a base station

Base stations can be mounted on a wall or on a ceiling. When
mounting on a wall, install them with their covers at the
bottom, as shown in the following illustrations. Allow for
clearances around the base station as indicated in the following
illustration.

Clearance for the base stations

Clearance conditions Canada USA

Clearance from all other objects 9 cm 3.5 in.

Vertical clearance from base station center to
base station center

27 cm 54 in.

Horizontal clearance from base station center
to base station center

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

41 cm 54 in.

/ Installation

32

To mount a base station:

1. Fasten the bracket into position using two #8 38-mm
(1½-in.) screws.

2. Route the cable from the ICS through the top (or bottom)
opening.

3. Wind any excess cable around the posts to secure it, then
fasten it under the strain relief.

4. Connect the wires to the BIX connector on the bracket
termination board as shown in the following illustration.

The polarity of the TCM connections is not important. If
two power pairs are brought in, they must be connected
with the same polarity to the base station bracket
termination board.

Ensure that the RPI is off before connecting power
pairs to the base station.

Bracket termination board

TCM

TCM

-Power 1

-PWR(1)

-Power 2

-PWR(2)

RJ11 jack

RJ11 jack

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

TCM

TCM

+PWR(1)

+Power 1

+Power 2

+PWR(2)

Installation /

33

5. Mount the base station onto the bracket, snapping it into
position.

6. Connect the power RJ11 jumper lead to the RJ11 jacks on
the termination board and the base station.

7. For plug-top power supplies only, connect the power
supply connector to the base station power connector.
Make sure the base station is powered by a class 2 plug-top
power source only.

Inserting the power supply connector in the wrong
direction may damage the plug-top power supply
and the base stations.

Position the power supply connector in the proper
direction and push it into place securely.

8. Record the associated ICS port number in the space
provided on the printed label affixed on the lower right
corner of the mounting bracket.

Include the labeling information for each Companion base
station on the completed installation floor plans.

9. Slide the cover onto the bracket, using the guide to position
it properly. Snap it into place.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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34

Sliding cover onto bracket

Installing portable telephones

To use Norstar Companion portables, you must first install
radio base stations to transceive radio signals to and from the
portable telephones, then bring the system on-line. Installing
base stations on page 30

Companion Portable Telephones are installed differently than
traditional desk sets. There are no direct connections between
the portables and the Norstar system.

Do the following:

• Install the batteries and battery charging units for each
portable, using the instructions that come with the
portable.

• Register each Companion portable for use with the Norstar
system. For complete instructions, see the Registration
information beginning on page 73.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

Note: Up to 60 portables can be installed on a Norstar wireless

system. Each portable telephone must be registered to a
DN before it can be used. By default, no Companion
portables are assigned to the DNs.

The range of portable extensions available for wireless
registration is 637 to 696. This means that the digit 6 is
not available as a destination code.

Installing external antennas and lightning surge arrestors

When installing external antennas and lightning surge
arrestors:

• The antenna should always be mounted vertically. Refer to
the figure Installed antenna and lightning surge arrestor
(USA) on page 37.

• Use #8, 12 mm to 50 mm (1/2-in. to 2 in.) screws to mount
the antenna bracket and lightning surge arrestor bracket to
the wall.

35

• Always ensure that the antenna is clear of any adjacent
obstruction, particularly metal. If more than one external
antenna is used at a cell center, space them at least
1 m (40 in.) apart to avoid radio interference problems.

• When running the coaxial cable inside or outside, do not
kink, stretch, or crush the cable. This will seriously affect
its performance. The minimum recommended bending
radius is 200 mm (8 in.).

• The coaxial cable length must not exceed 10 m.

• Use RG-58AU coaxial cables to connect the antennas to

the base stations.

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36

• Depending on site requirements, a proprietary extension
cable can be attached between the lightning surge arrestor
and the antenna or between the lightning surge arrestor and
the base station. The total cable length should always be
kept as short as possible and the recommended extension
cable used only if absolutely necessary.

• You must install a lightning surge arrestor for each outdoor
external antenna.

FCC requirements.

In the United States, the FCC requires that only
certified antennas be connected to Companion
base stations.

Do not install the external antenna or the lightning
surge arrestor during an electrical storm.

Always turn off the base station power before
connecting the coaxial cable of an outdoor external
antenna.

Always install the lightning surge arrestor at the cable
entry point into the building.

Connect the lightning surge arrestor to ground before
connecting the coaxial cable.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

Installing external antenna and lightning surge arrestor procedures for the United States of America

Installed antenna and lightning surge arrestor (USA)

37

Back to back

proprietary

BNC connectors

Lightning surge arrestor

with mounting bracket

to Base Station or proprietary extension cable

Wall

Antenna

Mounting bracket

To ensure only recommended antennas are used:

• the external antenna connectors on the base station are
special proprietary BNC connectors

• antennas are supplied with cables already attached and
terminated with special proprietary BNC plugs to join with
the connector on the base station

• cables are not supplied with exterior antennas

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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38

Planning for an outdoor external antenna (USA)

When planning to install an outdoor external antenna:

• Locate the antenna on the external wall of the building.

• Keep the outdoor external antenna as close as possible to

the base station serving it. The base station itself must be
indoors. The recommended mounting height is 13 ft to
16 ft above ground.

• Always install a lightning surge arrestor between an
outdoor antenna and a base station.

Installing an outdoor external antenna (USA)

To install an outdoor external antenna, follow these steps:

1. Drill a hole for the coaxial cable.

2. Install conduit for the antenna cable according to local
building and wiring codes.

3. Screw the antenna bracket to the wall so that the antenna is
positioned vertically on the exterior wall of the building.

4. Loosen the nut on the antenna.

5. Slide the antenna into the slot of the bracket and tighten the
nut.

6. Feed the coaxial cable through the wall to the lightning
surge arrestor on the interior wall.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Antenna with antenna bracket (USA)

Installation /

39

Installing a lightning surge arrestor (USA)

Install the lightning surge arrestor to protect the Companion
components from electrical surges.

To install a lightning surge arrestor, follow these steps:

1. Mount the lightning surge arrestor on the interior wall as
close as possible to the entry point of the coaxial cable
from the outdoor external antenna.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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40

Lightning surge arrestor and bracket (USA)

Before you connect the ground lead to the lightning surge
arrestor, attach it to an approved ground.

The recommended wire gauge is 6 AWG. Connect

Tip -

the ground lead to the building ground. Do not connect to
a ground rod or series of ground rods. If you cannot
connect the ground lead to the building ground, connect
it to the steel frame of the building. The connection
should be no more than 6 to 1 0ft.

You can also connect the ground lead to the 120 V ac
conduit (which is connected to the building ground), but
this is not a preferred installation.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

The connector between the antenna and the

Tip -

lightning surge arrestor and between the lightning surge
arrestor and the base station is a proprietary BNC
connector and requires alignment before a connection
can be made.

2. Route and connect the coaxial cable from the outdoor
external antenna to the lightning surge arrestor.

3. Route and connect the coaxial cable from the lightning
surge arrestor to the appropriate base station connector.

Installing external antenna and lightning surge arrestor procedures for Canada

There are three types of external antennas:

• indoor directional

• indoor omni-directional

• outdoor omni-directional

41

There are separate installation procedures for each type. You
must also install a lightning surge protector for each outdoor
external antenna installed.

The following are requirements for installing external
antennas:

• If you are installing an external antenna on a metal surface
greater than 1 8cm in diameter, position the antenna
perpendicular to the surface.

• When running the co-axial cable inside or outside, do not
to kink, stretch, or crush the cable. This will seriously
affect its performance. The minimum recommended
bending radius is 20 mm.

• Always ensure that the antenna is clear of any adjacent
obstruction, particularly metal. If more than one external

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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42

antenna is used at a cell center, they should be spaced at
least 0.5 m from each other to avoid radio interference
problems.

• Use RG-58/U co-axial cables to connect the antennas to
the base stations.

Only passive antennas are allowed to be connected
to the Companion base stations.

The co-axial cable connecting the external antenna to a
Companion base station must have an impedance of 50
ohms.

Installing an indoor directional external antenna (Canada)

The indoor directional external antenna comes with its own
back plate for mounting. The recommended mounting height
on a wall is halfway between the floor and the ceiling.

For some applications you can mount the antenna on the
ceiling, for example, in a stairwell.

Indoor directional external antenna (Canada)

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

43

1. Mount the antenna using four screws.

2. To prevent undue stress on the co-axial cable, secure it to
the mounting surface.

3. Connect the antenna to the appropriate base station radio.

Note: The co-axial cable length must not exceed 10 m.

Installing an indoor omni-directional external antenna
(Canada)

When installing an indoor omni-directional external antenna:

• Use the bracket supplied to mount the antenna on a wall or
ceiling.

Note: Use of a bracket other than the one supplied may not

provide the necessary clearance between the floor or
wall and the antenna.

• Install the bracket so that the external antenna is vertical.
The recommended mounting height on a wall is half way
between the floor and the ceiling.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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44

Installing an indoor omni-directional external antenna (Canada)

30 mm

30 mm

Cable

C0-axial

Co-axial
cable

cable

Ceiling mount

Ceiling mount

installation

installation

Cable

clamp

clamp

Wall mount

Wall mount

installation

installation

C0-axial

Co-axial

cable

cable

Cable

Cable

clamp

clamp

30 mm

30 mm

1. Insert the antenna in the bracket so that the antenna is
vertical.

2. Mount the bracket to the wall or ceiling using two screws.

3. To prevent undue cable stress on the co-axial cable, secure
it to the mounting surface with a clamp.

4. Connect the external antenna to the appropriate base
station radio.

Note: The length of the co-axial cable must not exceed 10 m.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

45

Installing an outdoor omni-directional external antenna
(Canada)

When installing an outdoor omni-directional external antenna:

• Locate the antenna on the external wall of the building.

Note: The antenna must be mounted on a vertical surface.

• Keep the outdoor omni-directional external antenna as
close as possible to the base station serving it. The base
station itself must be indoors. The recommended mounting
height is 4 m to 5 m above ground level.

• Always install a surge protector between an outdoor
omnidirectional antenna and a base station.

Note: The connector on the outdoor omni-directional antenna

is a TNC female connector, so you need an adapter to
connect it to the standard BNC co-axial cables needed
for the surge protector and the base station. You can
also use a co-axial cable with a TNC male connector on
one end and BNC male connector on the other end.

Fit lightning protection to the antenna if
appropriate. Refer to Installing a lightning surge

arrestor (USA) on page 39.

Important points to remember:

• Do not install the external antenna or the lightning
surge protector during an electrical storm.

• Always turn off the base station power before
connecting the co-axial cable of an outdoor external
antenna.

• Always install the antenna at the cable entry point into
the building.

• Connect the lightning surge protector to ground
before connecting the co-axial cable.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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46

Installing the outdoor omni-directional external antenna (Canada)

Mast

Mast

Set screw

Set screw

Exterior

Connector at

Connector

the base of

at the base of

the mast

the mast

Shroud

Shroud

Plastic plug

Plastic plug

Cable ties

Cable ties

Exterior wall

wall mounting

mounting plate

plate

Appropriate

Lag bolts or other

mounting

appropriate mounting

hardware

hardware

Co-axial cable

Co-axial cable to

to surge protector

surge protector on

on interior wall

interior wall

To install an outdoor omni-directional external antenna,
follow these steps:

1. Screw the antenna mounting plate vertically to the exterior
wall of the building with lag bolts or other appropriate
hardware as shown in the illustration, Installing the
outdoor omni-directional external antenna (Canada).

2. Feed one end of the co-axial cable up through the bottom
of the antenna shroud and attach the BNC connector to the
base of the mast.

3. Slide the mast down into the shroud until it fits.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Installation /

47

4. Rotate the mast until the threaded hole in the base of the
mast is aligned with the set screw hole in the shroud, and
then tighten the set screw.

5. Route the co-axial cable along the bottom edge of the plate
between the shroud and the wall plate and tie the cable up.

Note: The total length of the co-axial cables from the outdoor

external antenna to the base station must not exceed
10 m.

6. Insert the plastic plug into the base of the shroud to keep
the weather out.

7. Feed the co-axial cable through the wall to the surge
protector on the interior wall.

Installing a lightning surge protector (Canada)

Install the lightning surge protector for the outdoor omni­directional antenna to protect it from electrical surges. The
recommended lightning surge protector is part number
A0382082. Refer to the installation instructions that come
with the antenna for more details on its installation.

To install a lightning surge protector, follow these steps:

1. Mount the surge protector on the interior wall, shown in
the following illustration, as close as possible to the entry
point of the co-axial cable from the outdoor external
antenna. Follow the installation instructions that come
with the surge protector.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

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48

Installing the lightning surge protector (Canada)

Interior wall

Exterior

Exterior

wall

Wall

Co-axial cable

Co-axial cable

to outdoor

to outdoor

external antenna

external antenna

Cable clamps

Cable clamps

Interior
Wall

Copper plates

Copper plates

Surge protector

Surge protector

Co-axial cable

Co-axial cable to

to base station

Base Station

Low impedance

Low impedance

ground lead

ground lead

2. Before you connect the ground lead to the surge protector,
attach it to an approved ground. The recommended wire
gauge is 6 AWG (4 mm). Connect the ground lead to the
building ground. Do not connect to a ground rod or
series of ground rods. If you cannot connect the ground
lead to the building ground, connect it to the steel of the
building. The connection should be no more than two to
three meters. You can also connect the ground lead to the
120 V ac conduit connected to the building ground, but this
is not a preferred solution.

3. Route and connect the co-axial cable from the outdoor
external antenna to the surge protector.

4. Route and connect the co-axial cable from the surge
protector to the appropriate base station BNC connector.

Note: The total length of the co-axial cables from the outdoor

external antenna to the base station must not exceed
10 m.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Powering up the system

If you added a base station that requires a software update, the
system begins downloading the software to the base station.
The Administration Terminal display shows BS-1 Dload
Start. Press CLEAR to clear the message. When the base
station software is downloaded, the Administration Terminal
shows BS-1 Dload Done. Press CLEAR to clear the message.
Some Base Stations may not be powered up at the same time,
and this message repeats at the beginning of each download.

In the United States, the display shows one of the following
messages after powering up:

If display shows See

UTAM code req’d

UTAM test failed

System logical identifier (LID) on page

66.

Alarm codes on page 102 in the
Troubleshooting chapter.

A loss of UTAM information occurs when
upgrading U.S.-based MICS-XC systems.

UTAM Recovery Codes are required.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

50

/

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Programming

Programming is performed by the installer or the customer
service representative. The interface allows you to change
settings for the entire Norstar system, plus settings for
individual telephones and external lines. Most of the settings
can also be programmed by a system coordinator who has a
SysCoord+ password. This password is distributed only by the
installer to avoid system complications.

Programming affects system operation.

Only a qualified installer or customer service
representative should perform startup, installation and
maintenance programming. Some of the settings affect
the correct operation of the system.

Installation programming

Before you attempt to program the Companion sets,
familiarize yourself with the Programming section of the
Modular ICS Installer Guide. The section explains the four
types of passwords and the menus each password can
access.Not that that the Companion prompts are only visible
through the MICS-XC software.

For information about Companion set programming using the
System Coordinator and Basic passwords, refer to the
Modular ICS Companion System Coordinator Guide.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

/ Programming

52

Programming tools

As with all Modular ICS programming, you can use a T7316
Business Series Terminal or an M7310 or M7324 Norstar set
to perform the programming.

In this book, all processes requiring dialpad buttons are
presented in the Business Series Terminal button icons. If you
are using one of the other telephones, use the appropriate
overlay, and then refer to the table below for corresponding
button faces:

Button Name

Feature

Hold

Volume Control

Release

T7000, T7100, T7208,
T7316

²

³

ú

≥

Ã

¨

M7100, M7208,
M7310, M7324

ƒ

˙
≥

√

®

Programming overlays are included with the Programming
Record.

The Norstar Programming Record

The Programming Record provides a convenient way to
record what you have programmed. There is a special section
for Companion-specific records that includes charts for
recording the handset information and the base station
information.

Photocopy pages from the record, as necessary.

Exiting programming

Norstar stores your changes automatically as soon as you alter
any settings.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Programming /

When you have completed your programming session, press

¨

. The display briefly reads End of session.

Viewing your programming updates

If any of the changes you have made to programming have not
immediately taken effect, you see an UPDATE display button
when you leave programming. The display shows you how
many telephones have not been currently updated due to the
system being busy with other programming or the telephone is
in use.

Press DNs to see the specific sets where programming changes
have not been updated. Items disappear from the list as they
are updated, and UPDATE disappears once all changes are
complete.

Template defaults

This section describes only the defaults that apply to
Companion programming. For all other default settings, refer
to Programming Record.

53

Note: (U.S. only). Before registering Companion portable

telephones you must first obtain and enter a certain
number of portable credit keys. Also keep in mind,
before the base stations can be recognized by the XC
system, you must obtain and enter a UTAM Activation
Key. Please refer to Software keys (U.S. only) on page
67 before setting up your wireless system.

Companion defaults

Setting Default

Startup defaults

MICS-XC template PBX

Start DN 221 (may be different for upgraded systems)

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

/ Programming

54

Setting Default

Passwords defaults

Reg. pswd 72346 (RADIO)

System programming

Registration

Registration
Portable DNs

Radio data

Re-evaluation

Status
Schedule
Radio credits (U.S.

only)

Radios

Cell Assignment
Antenna Type

Cells

Cell radios
Cell nghbrs
Cell rad nghbrs

N
Availble

Required
Not scheduled
No defaults assigned

Unassigned
Internal

Unassigned
Unassigned
Unassigned

Note: DID Companion defaults are the same as PBX defaults.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

Programming /

Startup programming

Before you perform Companion programming, your system
should be running and configured.

Startup programming is explained in the Modular ICS

Installer Guide.

Startup erases programming.

Startup erases any existing programmed data,
and resets the system to factory defaults.

Performing Startup

1. Enter the Startup access code from a M7310, M7324 or
T7316 telephone dialpad, by pressing

²

¥¥êæåæè¸

²

¥¥à¡Ûà¡¡à

which is the same as
.

55

To be accepted, the Startup code must be entered no later
than 15 minutes after the Norstar system has been powered
up.

If 15 minutes have elapsed since you powered up the
system, turn system power off and on, to prepare for the
Startup process.

2. Enter the Installer password. The default is

¯öìéí
ЫЯЯЬЭЭ

The Installer password shown is the default

Tip -

normally used for Startup. For a system which has
already been programmed, the Installer password might
have been changed in programming and recorded in the
Programming Record.

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

which is the same as
.

/ Programming

56

Changing the default template

After entering the Startup access code and Installer password
the display shows Reset memory?.

1. Press YES to select a default template. The display shows

the current template.

2. Press CHANGE to choose the appropriate template.

Changing template resets programming.

If you change your system template, your
programming will be reset.

Entering programming

After performing Startup, use programming to change default
settings as required.

Headings and subheadings in programming help you to keep
track of where you are.

Companion programming falls under System prgrming and
has the following subheadings:

Registration

Radio data

lets you enable and disable registration and
verify which portable DNs are available

lets you view and change cell and radio
settings

For other programming operations refer to Modular ICS
Installer Guide.

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Programming /

Entering programming for system coordinators

The person on staff who is in charge of making changes on the
Norstar system is called the system coordinator. The everyday
Companion programming done by system coordinators is
described in Modular ICS Companion System Coordinator
Guide.

Some system coordinators need to be able to program more
advanced settings and functions in order to carry out the day­to-day requests and upkeep of the Norstar system. These
coordinators are usually dedicated communications specialists
who work with large Norstar systems or other telephone
systems like PBX or Centrex.

By using a special password, a system coordinator can see and
change many, but not all, of the programming settings used by
an installer. In this guide, programming that can be changed
only by an installer is marked in the heading. If you are
programming using the System Coordinator Plus password,
you do not see these items when you move through
programming.

57

1. Press

²¥¥ЫЯЯЬЭЭ

²¥¥¯öìéí

which is the same as

. The display shows

Password:.

2. Enter the System Coordinator Plus password. The default
password is SCPLUS (727587). The display shows
Terminals&Sets. Three triangular indicators º appear
on the vertical display between the rows of buttons.

3. Place the programming overlay over the buttons pointed to
by the indicators º.

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58

Entering programming using other passwords

A set of the most often used headings and subheadings is
available by using a System Coordinator password. This level
of access is designed for the average user who takes care of the
day-to-day changes to the Norstar system, but who does not
need to use more advanced programming. The default
password is ADMIN (23646).

Norstar features

Refer to Modular ICS Companion System Coordinator Guide
for a complete list of features supported on Companion
portables.

Portable features

For information about the features of your handsets, refer to
the Portable Telephone User Guide that is supplied with your
portable.

External paging system

The external paging feature is supported on the

Tip -

Companion portable telephone. For more information on
paging with a Norstar supported portable telephone, see
Modular ICS Installer Guide.

(customer supplied)

Registration password

Before anyone can begin making portable telephone calls, the
portable telephones must be registered for use with the Norstar
system. The recommended steps are as follows:

1. Change the registration password for your system.

2. Enable registration for the system.

3. Confirm the availability of directory numbers (DNs) for
each Companion portable telephone.

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Programming /

4. Individually register each Companion portable telephone.

5. Disable registration for the system.

Changing the Registration password

To ensure unauthorized portables are not registered to your
system, a separate level of password access is provided. You
can, and should, set your own password to prevent
unauthorized handsets from registering on your system. You
can change the Registration password in Passwords.

Change password to avoid incorrect
registration.

To ensure accurate registration, change the
Registration password before registering any
portables. If there is another wireless system in
radio range, and both systems have the same
Registration password and registration enabled,
you may accidentally register on the other
system.

59

The default Registration password is RADIO
(‡¤‹›fl).

Use CHANGE, the dialpad and OK to program the Registration
password.

Record the password in the Programming Record.

You can choose any combination of one to six

Tip -

digits. It is easier to remember the password if the digits
spell a word. Provide this password only to selected
personnel to prevent unauthorized access to
programming. The implications of such access may
include the rearrangement of line assignments, which
could affect the operation of the Norstar system.

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60

Companion programming

Companion programming is found under the System
programming heading. It includes the following subheadings:

Registration

Software Keys are required to activate
wireless capabilities (U.S. only).

To take advantage of the wireless capabilities
available to your Norstar system, you must first
enable a certain number of portable credits using
Software Keys purchased through Nortel
Networks. Keys are obtained and entered into the
system by the installer. For more detailed
information on enabling Norstar Companion,
refer to the Software keys (U.S. only) on page 67.

You must enable registration for the entire Norstar system to
allow individual portables to register.

The options are Yes (Y) and No (N).

• Yes indicates that Registration is enabled.

• No is the default and indicates that Registration is not

enabled.

Use ≠ and CHANGE to enable or disable registration.
Press CREDITS (U.S. only) to view the credits available.

Registration should normally be disabled.

For security reasons, and to prevent
unauthorized users from being registered to your

when you have

system, set registration to
finished registering the portables.

Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide P0992639 01

N

Programming /

Portable DNs

Once registration is enabled for your Norstar Companion
system, a series of extension numbers (637 to 696)
automatically becomes available for registration. Check that
an extension number is still available before registering a
portable telephone to it.

The extension numbers are based on a system

Tip -

with three-digit DNs. If your system has more, the first
number will be repeated.

However, your system may also have a different starting
DN (default 221), so these extensions will reflect that
difference.

• If the extension number shows a status of Available, that
extension number is ready for registering a Companion
portable telephone.

• If the extension number shows a status of Registered, a
Companion portable telephone is already registered to that
extension number. In this case, you can either pick a
different extension number, or de-register the current
portable telephone. You must perform deregistration at the
portable and in either an Installer or System Coordinator
programming session.

61

Press ≠ to view registered and available DNs.

Note: The DN range 637 to 696 can be used by either portable

telephones or ISDN S-loops. You can assign all 60 of
the DNs to S-loops and none to portable telephones.
You can assign up to 30 DNs to portable telephones,
leaving 30 for S-loops. Within these two limits you can
choose a combination of ISDN and portable telephone
DNs. For more information, refer to Modular ICS
Installer Guide.

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62

Deregistering a portable

Deregister an extension number when:

• the portable must be replaced due to loss or breakage

• the owner departs and you want to assign the handset to

someone else with a different telephone number

Press ≠ and DEREG to deregister a DN.

This procedure does not clear the registration data

Tip -

in the portable. You must also deregister from the
portable telephone itself using on-the-air deregistration.
For instructions, see the Portable Telephone
Registration Instructions or Deregistering the C3050 on
page 83.

Radio data

Note: (U.S. only). Before registering Companion portable

telephones you must first obtain and enter a certain
number of portable credit keys. Also, before the base
stations can be recognized by the MICS-XC system,
you must obtain and enter a UTAM Activation Key.
Please refer to Software keys (U.S. only) on page 67 of
this document before setting up your wireless system.

Re-evaluation

Re-evaluation automatically assigns the base station radios to
cells and determines which cells are neighbors. When adding
or removing base stations, Re-evaluation needs to be applied
to the system.

Schedule re-evaluation during slow periods.

Plan on conducting a re-evaluation of your
Norstar Companion when the system is not busy
with calls. Wireless calls may be lost during the
re-evaluation process.

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63

After installing Norstar Companion components and obtaining
the proper number of UTAM activation keys (see Software
keys (U.S. only) on page 67), you need to verify that wireless
re-evaluation has occurred. Alarm code messages can be used
to indicate whether or not wireless re-evaluation has occurred:

Alarm Definition Re-eval occurred?

21 Re-eval in progress No

22 Re-eval complete Yes

23 Cell configured.

Failed to come on line

No

Please refer to the Alarm and Event Code Manual for more
information on alarm messages and the actions that should be
taken to resolve any problems.

Re-evaluation Status

Press ≠ to see the Re-evaluation status. If the display
reads required, you can carry out the re-evaluation by
pressing CONTINUE and following the prompts.

Re-evaluation Schedule

This setting allows you to select whether to proceed or to
schedule the next Re-evaluation.

The default setting is Not scheduled. If you want to schedule
a re-evaluation, press CHANGE. You can begin re-evaluation by
pressing NOW, or schedule re-evaluation by pressing LATER.
You are prompted to enter a time and date.

Radios

Radio programming settings apply to base stations.

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64

Radio credits (U.S. only)

Press CREDIT to see the number of radio credits available and
the total number of radio credits. Verify that the total number
of radio credits is enough to support the system you have just
installed. The number of radio credits must be double the
number of base stations you have installed. If the total number
of radio credits is not enough for the system, you may need to
obtain additional credits. See Software keys (U.S. only) on
page 67.

Cell Assignment

A cell is the area covered by one or more radios in close
proximity. As you move around your office, while on a call
with your portable, the call is handed off from one cell to
another. A call on a portable can be handed off from one cell
to another only if those cells are programmed as neighbors.
The Norstar system automatically assigns cell neighbors and
re-evaluates the cell-to-cell configuration when base stations
are added or removed.

This setting allows you to determine if a base station radio is
assigned to a cell in the Companion system.

Press ≠ and enter the radio number to see the radio
setting: Assigned or Unassigned or select LIST to see all in
sequence.

Antenna Type

Installer password required

This setting allows you to select the type of antenna to use for
each base station in a system.

Press ≠ and enter the five-digit radio number or
select LIST to see all in sequence.

Use CHANGE to select the appropriate setting: Internal or
External.

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Cells

65

Cell programming allows you to examine the cell radio and
cell neighbor configuration. Choose the cell you want to
examine by pressing ≠ and the cell number (01 to 32)
or select LIST to see all in sequence. When in the list mode,
there is a softkey that allows you to FIND a specific cell
number.

From a specific cell number, select ≠ to see all Cell
radios, Cell neighbors and Cell radio neighbors.

Cell radios

This sub-heading allows you to view the five-digit number of
any radios assigned to this cell.

For example, if radio 07012 is in the cell, the display shows
07012 asgned. Press ≠ and enter the five-digit
radio number to view the setting: Assigned or Unassigned.
Select LIST to see all in sequence. Select SCAN to go to the list
or next radio with a setting Assigned.

Cell nghbrs

This sub-heading allows you to view the two-digit number of
any cells that border a particular cell in a system. You can then
remove any of them or add more cells. Press ≠ and
enter the cell number to see the settings: Assigned or
Unassigned. Select LIST to see each neighbor in sequence.
Select SCAN to see the first/next cell Assigned.

For example cell 01, the display shows Nghbr:03 and
Nghbr:04. This means that cells 03 and 04 have been assigned
as cell neighbors.

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66

Cell rad nghbrs

This sub-heading allows you to view the two-digit number of
any cells that border a particular cell in a system, these are
called cell neighbors. As well, you can view any cells that
border the cell neighbors. Press ≠ and enter the cell
number to see the settings: Assigned or Unassigned. Select
LIST to see each neighbor in sequence. Select SCAN to see the
first/next cell Assigned.

For example cell 01, the display shows Rad nghbr:03,
Rad nghbr:04, and Rad nghbr:11. Cell 11 does not appear as
a cell neighbor (see the example under Cell nghbr), so it must
be a neighbor of cell 03 or 04.

System logical identifier (LID)

This setting allows you to change the code by which the
system identifies itself to portables and which the portables
use to request service from the system. The default setting is
randomly generated by the system at start-up. When the
system logical identifier (LID) is changed, all portables must
register again.

When changing the system LID, you can enter any
hexadecimal number between 0500 and FFFE.
Note: Hexadecimal characters can only range from 0 to 9 and
A to E.)

Changing system LID de-registers all
portables.

If you change the system LID, you invalidate the
registration of all the portables in the system.
Portables must be re-registered before they can
be used.

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There are only two reasons to modify the system LID.

• The site has multiple systems, and you want users to be
able to move from system to system without changing slots
on their portable telephones. All systems must be set to the
same system LID.

• Two systems that are located near each other were
accidentally assigned the same system LID. Users of one
system can access the other system.
Note: This highly unlikely situation could occur, for
example, in an office building occupied by multiple
organizations.

Use ≠ and CHANGE to modify the System LID.

Software keys (U.S. only)

The United States FCC has appointed UTAM Inc. as the body
responsible for coordinating and verifying the installation or
relocation of unlicensed, personal wireless communication
devices. To comply with UTAM Inc., Norstar uses keys and
credits to control user capacity and to ensure system location
verification. These software keys and credits are required to
activate Norstar Companion services on a new or upgraded
system. The credits should have been purchased at the time the
order was placed.

67

Base stations must be installed and powered first.

Base stations must be installed and powered before
entering any UTAM Activation Keys. Verify that the base
station LED status is solid red and green before entering
any UTAM keys. Failure to follow the correct order of
UTAM key entry may result in a disabled Norstar
Companion system.

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68

Call Nortel Networks Customer Response Center at
1-800-321-2649 to verify that you have approval
from UTAM Inc. when initially installing wireless
equipment or relocating wireless equipment.

Failure to receive approval prevents you from enabling
wireless communication on the Companion system.
You must provide the Companion ID each time you are
requesting codes or credits.

A disabled wireless system means that base stations
and portables are not operational, but registration
information is retained. These devices may be
reactivated by returning the system to its previous
configuration or by entering a UTAM Recovery Key. A
new system is activated by entering a UTAM Activation
Key.

The Software keys can be obtained and entered using the
following steps.

Step 1: Obtain the Companion ID

The Companion ID Label is sent to each customer once radio
credits have been purchased. In order to implement the credits
and take advantage of the Norstar Companion capability, you
must obtain two sets of keys. One is the Credit Key and the
other is the UTAM Activation Key. The keys are available by
calling the Nortel Customer Response Center. You must
provide the following information as shown on the
Companion ID label:

• your Companion ID number

• the zip code

• the number of radio credits already purchased (if

applicable)

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Step 2: Obtain the System Identification Number

69

Obtain the System ID (SysID) by pressing

²¥¥кзкйл

, or

²¥¥абаЭЬ

on any programming set.

This information is also available by accessing Software
keys in an Installer programming session:

1. Place the programming overlay on an M7310, M7324, or
T7316 telephone.

2. Press

²¥¥¯öìéí

. The display reads

Password:.

3. Enter the most recent Installer password. The display reads
Terminals&Sets.

4. Press ‘ until the display reads Software keys.

5. Press ≠ The display reads SysID: followed by
the unique System Identification Number.

6. Press ‘ to continue in Software keys or

¨

to

exit.

Record the Companion ID and the SysID in the Modular ICS
Programming Record.

Step 3: Call the Nortel Customer Response Center

1. To obtain your two sets of keys call the Nortel Networks
Customer Response Center at:1-800-321-2649.

2. Follow the voice prompts for Norstar products. When you
are asked for the information concerning your request,
provide the following:

• the Companion ID (on the label);

• the customer’s zip code (on the label); and

• the System ID (see Step 1).

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70

3. Indicate the number of radio credits you require. You need
two credits for every base station in your system.

4. You are given two keys, the UTAM Activation Key and
the Credit Key. The keys consist of three separate numeric
strings that contain eight digits each.

UTAM Activation Key

This key activates wireless capability for a new system or a
system upgrade which involves base stations. The software
recognizes base station radios as Radio credits. There are
two radios for each Norstar Companion base station. See
Radio credits (U.S. only) on page 64 for information on
viewing the available number of radio credits.

Portable Credit Key

This key predefines the maximum number of portables that
can be registered to the system. Systems can only register as
many portables as there are available Portable Credits. A
maximum of 60 Companion portable telephones may be
registered.

Record your keys in the Programming
Record.

In the case of an upgrade, you receive new keys.
You need the old and new keys to re-activate the
system following a system restart.

Step 4: Enter the keys

You may enter the keys in either order: UTAM Activation Key
first or Credit Key first. Keys are entered by first accessing
Software keys in a programming session.

1. Press ≠. The display reads SysID:.

2. Press ‘. The display reads Password keys.

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71

3. Press ≠. The display reads Key 1:_.

4. Enter the 8 digit password number for Key 1. Use BKSP to
make corrections. The display reads Key 2:_.

5. Enter the eight-digit password number for Key 2. Proceed
as above until you have finished entering Key 3. The
display reads Entry successful.

6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for the other key.

7. Press– until the display reads Software keys or

¨

to exit.

The system automatically starts reevaluation and the
display shows Re-Eval in prog. , Re-Eval complete,
System online, as the reevaluation runs its course.

Note: If the UTAM Activation Code entry is unsuccessful, the

display shows Invalid code. If this happens, reenter
the code or call Nortel Customer Response Center at
1-800-321-2649 for assistance.

Step 5: Configure base stations and portables

Once you have entered the required keys to activate the base
stations and to obtain enough portable credits, you can proceed
with programming these items with the MICS-XC system.

Configure your base stations

Companion base stations are recognized by the MICS-XC
system once the UTAM activation keys have been entered. To
verify whether or not the base stations have been properly
recognized, see Radio data on page 62 for information on the
re-eval process.

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72

Register your Companion portables

Norstar Companion Portable telephones are added to the
system using the portable registration process. Refer to the
Modular ICS Companion System Coordinator Guide for more
information on registering Companion portables.

If your system has been powered down for an

Tip -

extended period of time your System ID may have
changed. Contact the Nortel Networks Customer
Response Center to obtain a UTAM Regression Key.

If your Norstar Companion system seems disabled (all
keys were input but base stations and portables are not
operational), contact the Northern Customer Response
Center to obtain a UTAM Recovery Key.

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Registering individual portables

Registering the C3060

The following section describes the procedures involved in
registering Companion C3060 portable telephones. To register
each portable with the Norstar system, you must do two things:

• Register the portables by entering the Registration
password on each one.

• Verify that the portable functions correctly.

C3060 Icons

The following table identifies the C3060 portable telephone
icons:

C3060 Icon function

m

k
i

m
l

j

P0992639 01 Modular ICS Companion Installer Guide

Mute button

Hang up button

Answer button

Feature button

Telephone directory button

Service directory button

/ Registering individual portables

74

To register the C3060

1. Turn on registration for your system.

2. Press m ***. The display shows ADMINISTRATION

and three softkeys, SYS, PINFO, DATA.

3. Press SYS. The display shows WIRELESS SYSTEMS.

Note: Wireless Systems is a registration list of names for up

to six different systems. If the list is full, and you must
add another system, de-register an existing system
name.

4. Press ADD to establish a radio link. The display briefly
shows Adding SYSTEM: (next system number). If ADD,
not available, start over at step 1 again.

The display shows Pswd: for an established radio link.

The display shows No connection for a radio link not
established.

5. Enter the registration password. The default password is
72346 (RADIO). The display shows DN:.

The display shows Invld Pswd for a wrong password.

6. Enter the three-digit Directory Number (DN) between 637
and 696. The display shows Enter name.

The display shows Invld DN when the DN is wrong.

The display shows Reg failed when the registration fails.

If you try to register the C3060 to the same system twice,
the display shows the registered name. For example
Registered as NORTEL 1.

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Registering individual portables /

7. Enter up to 16 characters for the system name. For

example, NORTEL 1.

• Press the dial pad key until the letter you need appears on
the display. For example, press key 5 three times to display
the letter L.

• Press SPACE to add a blank space to the name.

• Press BKSP to delete the previous character.

• Press > if the next letter is on the same button.

8. Press SAVE . The display shows the registered name. For
example, NORTEL 1 registered .

9. Turn off registration for your system.

To confirm that the C3060 is registered

1. Select the system you just registered.

a. Press k to power off the portable, and press k

again to power on the portable.

75

If the display shows the system name that you just
registered, proceed to step 2.

If the display shows a different system name or No system
selected, then:

b. Press m ***.

c. Press SYS.

d. Press , or . until the display shows the system

name you just registered.

e. Press SELCT. Then press OK or END to exit

Administration.

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76

2. Make a call.

a. Press i. You hear dial tone, and the display shows

LINK. If you do not hear dial tone, check that you have
selected the correct system and that the associated desk
telephone is idle or register the portable again.

b. Dial the number of a working telephone. The telephone

must ring to confirm the registration.

3. Receive a call.

a. If the portable has the same extension number as a desk

telephone, make sure the desk telephone is idle and Call
Forward is not active.

b. On another working telephone, dial the telephone

number of the registered portable. The portable must
ring to confirm the registration.

If you do not hear dial tone, or if the portable does not ring,
refer to Troubleshooting. If you continue to experience
difficulty registering the portable, contact your distributor.

Deregistering the C3060

You can deregister the C3060 two ways:

• from the portable

• from the Administration Terminal

If you are in radio range of the system deregistering the C3060
from the portable clears registration information stored in the
portable and the system. For example, you may want to
deregister the portable before you assign it to another DN on
the same system.

Deregistering the C3060 from the Administration Terminal
does not clear registration data from the portable. Use this
method if the portable were lost or stolen or if you want to
assign it to another system.

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Registering individual portables /

If a portable is registered on other systems, it will still be
available on those systems. You deregister one system at a
time.

Note: If you are out of range of the system, this procedure

clears registration data only from the portable.

1. Press m ***. The display shows ADMINISTRATION
and three softkeys, SYS, PINFO, DATA.

2. Press SYS. The display shows WIRELESS SYSTEMS.

3. Press ERASE . The display shows Erase item? .

4. Press OK . The display shows Deregistering... and then

Item erased.

Measuring RSSI for a C3060

The Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is a
measurement of the signal strength the base station receives
from the portable. The strongest RSSI value the display shows
is -44 dBm. The weakest RSSI value the display shows is
approximately -94 to -100 dBm.

77

Measuring undirected RSSI

You can measure the signal strength between a portable and a
system-selected base station using undirected RSSI.

1. Press m.

The display shows

MENU.

2. Press , or . until the display shows Feature
request.

3. Press SELCT . The display shows Feature: .

4. Press 8 9 8. The display shows the radio ID of
the base station to which the portable is linked, followed

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78

by the signal strength and power mode. For example,
14112 - 67.

Hand-off occurs normally between the cells.

Note: In this example, the module is 14, the port is 11and the

radio is 2. The signal strength measured by the base
station is -67 dBm.

5. To end the connection, press k.

Measuring directed RSSI

You may want to measure the RSSI between a portable and a
specific base station radio. For example, you may suspect that
one of the two radios in a base station is not working properly.
You can also use directed RSSI to prevent hand-off while you
find a cell edge. To measure the RSSI of a specific radio, you
must be in range of two base stations—the one you want to
measure and another base station.

Note: You cannot measure the directed RSSI of both radios in

the base station at the same time.

Before you measure directed RSSI, use the Programming
Record to find and note the following:

• the five-digit ID of the base station radio you want to
measure. Do this by mapping the base station location to
the TCM port.
The first four digits indicate the TCM port to which the
base station is connected.
The last digit indicates the number of the radio on the base
station.
For example, the number 03142 on the base station is
connected to TCM port 0314, and 2 is the radio number.
The number might be printed on a label attached to the
base station mounting bracket.

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Registering individual portables /

79

• the radio IDs of all other base stations in the same location

1. Follow steps 1 to 5 of Measuring undirected RSSI on page

77.

If the display shows the ID of a base station neighboring
the one you want to measure, proceed to step 2.

If the display shows the ID of the base station you want to
measure, move out of the cell boundary range so that hand­off occurs and then continue with step 2. To end the
undirected RSSI connection, press k.

2. Press m. The display shows MENU.

3. Press , or . until the display shows Feature

request.

4. Press SELCT . The display shows Feature: .

5. Press 8 9 9.

6. Enter the five-digit ID code for the base station radio you
want to measure. This mode displays the radio ID of the
base station to which the portable is linked, followed by
the signal strength and power mode. For example, 14112

- 67.

Hand-off does not occur as you move between the cell
boundaries. The link drops when you move out of range.

Note: In this example, the module is 14, the port is 11 and the

radio is 2. The signal strength measured by the base
station is -67 dBm.

7. To end the connection, press k.

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80

Registering the C3050

The following section describes the procedures involved in
registering Companion C3050 portable telephones. To register
each portable with the Norstar system, you must do two things:

• Register the portables by entering the Registration
password on each one.

• Verify that the portable functions correctly.

C3050 Icons

Some C3050 portable telephone icons for Canada and the
United States are different but have the same functions. The
following table identifies these icons:

C3050 Canada or

C3050 Rev 2 US

m

e

L

F

D

Icon function C3050 US Rev 1

Mute button

Hang up button

Answer button

Menu button

Telephone directory
button

µ
´
Ò

Ï
Î

To register the C3050

1. Turn on registration for your system.

2. Open the portable flap. The portable displays the current
system name or No system selected for two seconds.

3. Press Í. The portable displays WIRELESS SYSTEMS.
Your portable can be registered to a maximum of nine
different systems.

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4. Press the ADD key to establish a radio link. The portable
displays Adding SYSTEM:# for two seconds, then it
displays Pswd:.
If a radio link is not established, the portable displays
No connection. Close the flap, and repeat the procedure
from step 1.

5. Enter the Registration password. The default is
¶™£¢§ (RADIO). The portable displays
DN:.
If the registration password is not correct, the portable
displays Invld Pswd. Close the flap and repeat the
procedure from step 1.

6. Enter the DN (between 637 and 696). The portable
displays Enter name.
If the DN is incorrect, the portable displays Invld DN. If
the registration fails, the portable displays Reg failed.
If you try to register the C3050 to the same system twice,
the portable displays the registered name, for example
Registered as NORTEL 1.

81

7. Enter up to 16 characters for the system name, for example
NORTEL 1. If you are registering to only one system, use the

portable telephone user’s name.

Press the key that has the letter. For example, to enter A,
press ™, to enter B, press ™™.

Press SPACE to add a blank space to the name.

Press BKSP to remove a mistake.

Press ¯or ˘to move the cursor backward or forward.

8. Press SAVE. The portable displays the registered name, for
example NORTEL 1 registered.

9. Turn off registration for your system.

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To confirm that the C3050 is registered

1. Close, then open the portable flap.

If the portable displays the system name that you just
registered, proceed to step 5.

If the portable displays a different system name, or No
system selected, proceed to step 2.

2. Press Í. The portable displays WIRELESS SYSTEMS.

3. Press the scroll keys (” or ’) until the system name

is displayed.

4. Press SELCT (or OK if the correct system is already

selected).

5. Press Ò or L. You hear a dial tone, and the portable
displays [.

6. If you do not hear a dial tone, check that you have selected
the correct system and try to register the portable again.

7. Close the flap on the portable, and set the Ringer Control
Switch to g.

8. If the portable is twinned with a desk telephone, make sure
the desk telephone is idle and Call Forward is not active.

9. On another working telephone, dial the telephone number
of the registered portable. If the portable rings, it is
functioning properly.

If you do not hear a dial tone, or if the portable does not ring,
refer to the Troubleshooting section in this guide. If you still
cannot register the portable, contact your system supplier.

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Deregistering the C3050

You can deregister the C3050 in two ways:

• from the portable

• from the administration set

You can deregister the portable to clear information stored in
the portable and the system. To do this, you must be within the
coverage area. For example, you may want to deregister the
portable before you assign it to another DN.

You can also deregister a portable using the Norstar
administration set. You could use this method if the portable
was lost or stolen, or if you wanted to assign it to another
system. This procedure does not clear registration data from
the portable.

If the portable is registered on other systems, it is still available
on those systems. You deregister from one system at a time.

83

To deregister the C3050

1. Open the flap on the portable.

2. Press Í. The portable displays WIRELESS SYSTEMS and

ADD.
Note: Do not select ADD.

3. Press the scroll keys (” or ’) to display the system

name that you want to deregister.

4. Press ERASE. The portable displays Erase item?.

5. Press OK. The portable displays Deregistering... and
then Item erased.

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84

Measuring RSSI for a C3050

The Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is a
measurement of the signal strength the base station receives
from the portable. The base station controls the power
transmitting mode of the portable. When the base station
receives a weak signal, it instructs the portable to transmit in
high-power. When the base station receives a strong signal, it
instructs the portable to transmit in low-power. The strongest
RSSI value the portable displays is -45 dBm (in the US) and

-44 dBm (in Canada). The weakest RSSI value the portable
displays is approximately -94 to -100 dBm.

To measure undirected RSSI

You can measure the signal strength between a portable and a
system-selected base station radio using undirected RSSI.

1. Open the portable flap.

2. Press Ò or L.

3. Press °•ª•. The portable displays the radio

ID of the base station that the portable is linked to,
followed by the signal strength, for example 03142 - 54.
Hand-off occurs normally between the cell boundaries.

In this example, the module is 03, the port is 14, and the
radio is 2. The signal strength measured by the base station
is -54 dBm.

4. To end the connection, press ´ or e or close the

flap.

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Measuring directed RSSI

You may want to measure the RSSI between a portable and a
specific base station radio. For example, you may suspect that
one of the two radios in a base station is not working properly.
You can also use directed RSSI to prevent hand-off while you
find a cell edge. To measure the RSSI of a specific radio, you
must be in range of two base stations—the one you want to
measure and another base station.

You cannot measure the directed RSSI of both radios in the
base station at the same time.

Before you begin to measure directed RSSI

Use the Companion Provisioning Record to find the
following:

• the five-digit ID of the base station radio you want to
measure, by mapping the base station location to the time
compression multiplex (TCM) port. The first four digits
indicate the TCM port to which the base station is
connected. The last digit indicates the number of the radio
on the base station. For example, the number 03142 on the
base station is connected to TCM port 0314, and 2 is the
radio number. The number may be printed on a label
affixed to the lower right corner of the base station
mounting bracket.

85

• the radio IDs of all other base stations in the same location.

To measure directed RSSI using your portable

1. Repeat steps 1 to 3 of To measure undirected RSSI on page

84.

2. When the portable displays the base station ID you want to
measure, move out of the cell boundary range so that hand­off occurs, and press ´ or e.

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86

3. Press Ò or L.

4. Press °•ªª.

5. Enter the five-digit ID code for the base station radio you
want to measure. The portable displays this ID followed by
the signal strength, for example 03142 - 54. Hand-off
does not occur as you move between the cell boundaries.
The link drops when you move out of range.

In this example, the module is 03, the port is 14, and the
radio is 2. The signal strength measured by the base station
is -54 dBm.

6. To end the connection, press ´, e or close the flap.

Registering the C3020 (Canada only)

The following section describes the procedures involved in
registering Companion C3020 portable telephones. To register
each portable with the Norstar system, you must do two things:

• Register the portables by entering the Registration
password on each one.

• Verify that the portable functions properly.

To register the C3020

1. On the Administration set, turn on registration in a general
programming session.

2. On the portable, press s, then press m.

3. Press o.

4. Check the portable display.

If the portable has space for another system, the display
shows Office n: Free.

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87

If the display does not show Office n: Free., follow the
procedures in Deregistering the C3020 (Canada only) on
page 88 to overwrite the system number then return to step
2 of this procedure.

5. Press s, then press m. The display shows

Registering....

6. Next, enter the Registration password when the display

shows Pswd:. The default is 7 2 3 4
6 (RADIO).

If the display does not clear after entering the password,
then you may be using the wrong password.

7. Wait for the display to clear. When it shows DN:, enter the

internal number (637-666) you want to assign to the
portable. When the display clears, it shows
Reg'n complete.

8. On the administration set, turn off registration in general

programming, Companion, subheading Registration.

To confirm that the C3020 is registered

1. To check that the portable has a dial tone, press L.

If you hear a dial tone, go to step 2.

If you do not hear a dial tone, check that you have selected
the correct system number and press Lagain. If you no
not hear dial tone try to register the portable again.

2. Make sure that the flap is closed and the Ringer Control
Switch is in the bottom position. Make sure the portable
telephone is idle and call forward is not active.

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88

3. On a working telephone, dial the telephone number of the
registered portable.

• If the portable rings, it is functioning properly.

• If the portable does not ring, try to register the portable

again.

If you do not hear a dial tone, or if the portable does not
ring, refer to the Troubleshooting section in this guide.

Deregistering the C3020 (Canada only)

You can deregister the C3020 in two steps:

• from the portable

• from the administration set (For more information about

using the Norstar administration set, see the Modular ICS
System Coordinator Guide.)

For example, you may want to deregister the portable before
you assign it another number on the same system.

You can also deregister a portable using the administration set.
You could use this method if the portable was lost or stolen or
if you wanted to assign it to another system. This procedure
does not clear registration data from the portable.

If the portable is registered on other systems, it is still available
on those systems. You deregister one system at a time.

To deregister the C3020

1. Press s, then press m.

2. Press o. The display shows Office n:.

3. Press either s then #, or s then * until
you display the system you want to deregister.

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4. Press s, then press 0. The display shows

Deregister?.

5. Press s, then press 0 again. The display shows

Deregistering... and then Deregistered.

6. To continue using the portable, press r.

Measuring RSSI for a C3020 (Canada only)

The Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is a
measurement of the signal strength the base station receives
from the portable.

The base station controls the power transmitting mode of the
portable.

• When the base station receives a weak signal, it instructs
the portable to transmit in high-power.

• When the base station receives a strong signal, it instructs
the portable to transmit in low-power.

89

The strongest RSSI value the portable displays is -44 dBm.
The weakest RSSI value the portable displays is
approximately -85 to -95 dBm.

Receive Signal Strength Indicator overrides
normal display.

You cannot receive calls while measuring
Receive Signal Strength Indicator.

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Measuring undirected RSSI

You may want to measure the Receive Signal Strength
Indicator between a portable and a base station radio.

1. Press L. Wait for dial tone.

2. Press *. Enter the feature code: 8 9 8.

The display shows the radio ID of the base station to which
the portable is linked, followed by the signal strength, for
example 03121 - 67. In this example, the module is 03,
the port is 12, and the radio is 1. The signal strength is

-67dBm.

3. Read your measurement. Hand-off occurs normally.

4. To end the connection, press ror close the flap.

Measuring directed RSSI

You may want to measure the Receive Signal Strength
Indicator between a portable and a specific base station radio.
For example, you may suspect that a radio in a base station is
not working properly. You can also use directed Receive
Signal Strength Indicator to prevent hand-off while you find a
cell edge. To measure the Receive Signal Strength Indicator of
a desired radio, you must be in range of two base stations—the
one you want to measure, and another base station.

Receive Signal Strength Indicator applies to
one radio in a base station.

You cannot measure the directed Receive Signal
Strength Indicator of the other radio in the base
station to which you are connected.

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Before you begin measuring directed RSSI

Use the Companion Provisioning Record to find and note the
following:

• the five-digit radio ID of the base station you want to
measure, by mapping the base station location to the TCM
port. The first four digits indicate the TCM port to which
the base station is connected. The last digit indicates the
number of the radio on the base station. For example, the
number 03122 identifies radio 2 on the base station
connected to TCM port 0312.

• the radio IDs of all other base stations in the same location.

Measuring directed RSSI using your portable

1. Perform an undirected Receive Signal Strength Indicator
by following steps 1 to 3 in To measure undirected RSSI
on page 84. To direct the Receive Signal Strength
Indicator to the other radio of the base station, move out of
range until hand-off occurs before moving on to step 2.

91

2. Press L. Wait for dial tone.

3. Press * 8 9 9.

4. Enter the five-digit ID code for the base station radio you
want to measure. The display shows this ID followed by
the signal strength, for example 03121 - 67. If you have
not established a connection with the desired base station
radio, you hear a tone when you hold the portable to your
ear.

5. Read your measurement. The system drops the link when
you move out of range of your base station (no hand-off).

6. To end the connection, press r, or close the flap.

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After registering the portables

When you have completed programming the system, use the
following checklist to ensure you completed the required
tasks.

å

Register the portables.

å

Verify Portable Credits.

å

Ensure that you registered all the required portables.

å

Verify that all portables are available for use.

å

Test each portable to verify it is operating properly.

å

Disable Master Registration when you have finished
registering the portables.

For the steps involved in operating a Norstar Companion
portable, see the Companion Portable Telephone User Guide
that is supplied with the portable.

When you distribute the portables, tell the users that the
portables are registered and give them the corresponding
extension numbers.

You can register a portable to more than one

Tip -

system. You cannot register a portable to more than one
extension number per system. You cannot register more
than one portable to one extension number.

If a portable telephone is used in more than one Norstar
or Companion system, the user must know which
registration slot number was used to register the portable
telephone with each system. It is preferable that each
user register the system they use most in slot 1.

If a portable telephone is lost or broken, you can
deregister it from the system before replacing it with
another portable telephone.

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Testing

Testing the Companion portable telephones

You must register all portable telephones before testing them.
For more detail on registering portable telephones, refer to
Modular ICS Companion System Coordinator Guide and the
Telephone Registration Instructions.

1. Verify that the portable telephone is ON.

2. Establish a connection to get internal dial tone. If no dial
tone is present, the portable telephone may not be
registered. Try to register the portable telephone again.

3. Verify that the portable telephone is using the correct
registration slot.

4. Verify that the portable telephone can make a call.

5. Verify that the portable telephone has been assigned the
correct extension number by calling a wired telephone and
viewing the line number displayed.

Testing the base stations

1. Verify that the ICS is ON.

2. Verify that re-evaluation is complete.

3. Verify that the base station has been powered up correctly
by checking that the green light is ON and the red light is
OFF.

If the red light is flashing, it indicates that one of the
following problems may exist:

• The base station is not connected to the ICS.

• The base station is faulty and should be replaced.

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94

A solid red light indicates that both radios on the base
station are busy, that the ICS is downloading data to the
base stations, or that one or both radios have not been
assigned to a cell.

4. Using the directed Received Signal Strength Indication
(RSSI) feature on a portable telephone verify that you can
establish a link with every radio on the system while
within the cell range of the radio.Using another portable,
establish a second link with the other radio on the same
base station and check that the red light is ON while both
radios are active.

Testing the system coverage

Using the undirected Received Signal Strength Indication
feature on a portable telephone, verify that the base stations are
handing off calls and serving the coverage area as intended. To
check valid handoff, move from one cell to another. As you do
this the radio number shown on the portable telephone display
changes.

To test system coverage at critical points, follow these steps:

1. Make a call. Move over the entire coverage area, including
stairs, elevators and critical points, while maintaining the
call on the portable. You should maintain good quality
speech throughout the area you are moving in.

2. Check that you can receive a call while at these critical
points. If a significant hole in the coverage area is found
and the base stations are working properly according to the
above tests, refer to Companion Site Planning Guide. You
may need to redeploy the base stations or add an additional
cell.

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