Norstar: Systems - Modular ICS

Overview

The Norstar Modular Integrated Communications System (ICS) is a key system designed for growing small-to-medium businesses and is expandable up to 248 ports. Advanced integrated applications include voice messaging, unified messaging, digital networking, enhanced call centers and speech recognition. The Modular ICS can grow with your business through the addition of trunk and station modules as you need them.

Northstar Mics

Key Features:

High bandwidth to the desktop enables you to use applications like ISDN and CTI without changing your existing wiring.
Modular, scalable design lets you choose the system that fits your needs today, while planning for the future.
Digital technology creates a platform for current and future PC-based applications.
Wide range of call processing and call handling features designed to drive productivity and profitability into your business.
Reliability with one of the highest mean time between failures in the industry over 100 years.
Leverage Digital Mobility to provide increased employee productivity and collaboration, improved customer service, significant cost savings, new revenues and growth opportunities.

Features & Benefits

Grow your business at the pace that works best for you
- MICS is fully scalable up to 224 users in total
Improve your productivity and save money
- Add features and applications as you need them
Achieve cost savings and operational simplicity
- MICS is multi-site capable: by inter-networking multiple MICS to create an extensive, seamless, multi-site network and centralized voicemail
Investment protection & easy migration
- MICS grows in a modular, building block fashion so you can reuse all your existing components
- MICS shares many components with BCM portfolio (for a long-term convergence strategy)

Technical Specifications

SERVICE TONE CADENCES
TONE	CADENCE (SECONDS)	TONE	CADENCE (SECONDS)
Busy	0.5 on / 0.5 off	Confirmation	1.0 on / 1.0 off (3 bursts followed by no tone)
Expensive Route	0.3 on / 0.3 off (3 bursts)	Recall	1.0 / 1.0 off (3 bursts followed by steady tone)
Overflow	0.25 on / 0.25 off	Ringback	2.0 on / 4.0 off
Ring Splash	0.2 on (1 burst)
POWER SPECIFICATIONS
CHARACTERISTIC	ICS	TM	SM
Voltage V ac	110 - 120	110 - 120	110 - 120
Current A rms (max)	2.6	1.75	1.0
	47 - 63	45 - 70	45 - 70
Crest Factor	4.0	4.0	4.0
TELEPHONE LOOP SPECIFICATIONS
CHARACTERISTIC	VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	VALUE
Loop resistance	64 Ohms (300 m of 0.5 mm wire or 1000 ft of 24 AWG wire)	Min. voltage at telephone	10 V dc
Current at telephone (idle)	45 mA nominal	Loop length	300 m (1000 ft) without SAPS 780 m (2600 ft) with SAPS
Current at telephone (active)	80 mA maximum
ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Electrostatic discharge	IEC 1000-4-2 / EN 61000-4-2 severity level 3 max.	Radiated Immunity	max. of 5 V/m from 100 kHz to 1 GHz
ICS and telephones	of 15 kV with a 300 Ohm/150 pF probe	Conducted immunity	max. of 3 V rms from 0.1 MHz to 30 MHz
Connectors IEC	1000-4-2 / EN 61000-4-2 severity level 2
DIGITAL TRUNK INTERFACE/NETWORK INTERFACE
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Physical	RJ48C 8-pin modular jack	Line code	AMI/B8ZS*
Line rate	1.544 +/- 32 Mbps	Framing	Superframe/extended superframe*
Impedence	100 Ohms
DSX1 OPERATION
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Pre-equalization	0 - 700 ft*	Stratum	4E
CSU OPERATION
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Line build out	0, 7.5, or 15 dB*	Payload loopback support	Remote activation/deactivation via FDL as per TR 54016 or TIA-547A
Input dynamic range	0 to -26 dB (typical)	Performance reporting	Simultaneous support of TR 54016 or TIA-547A
Carrier failure alarms (CFA)	Alarm indication signal (AIS) Red Yellow	Line loopback support	Remote activation/deactivation via in-band code or FDL as per TR 54016 or TIA-547A
TRUNK SIGNALING SUPPORT
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Loop start with answer and disconnect super.	OSI interval* Pulse/DTMF dialing*	DID	Immediate start (pulse dialing only), Wink start or Delay start* Pulse/DTMF dialing*
E&M	Immediate start (pulse dialing only), Wink start, Delay start or ring-down tie line* Pulse/DTMF dialing*
LOCAL TEST SUPPORT
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Monitor jack	Bridging via Bantam jack	Card edge loopback	activate/deactivate via maintenance
Line loopback	activate/deactivate via maintenance*	Continuity loopback	activate/deactivate via push button on faceplate*
Payload loopback	activate/deactivate via maintenance*
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE	CHARACTERISTIC	SPEC/VALUE
Height	24.8 in.	Depth	6.7 in.
Width	11.8 in.	Weight	13.23 lbs with power supply

* Value is set in Configuration programming

FAQs

Question/Concern: We've looked at several systems, all with plenty of features. If the features are too complicated, our people won't use them.

Answer: All Norstar telephone sets have an LCD display that prompts the user through the use of the features, reducing and even eliminating the need for training.

Question/Concern: I'm impressed with Norstar's growth, but I don't see my business growing in size. Is the Norstar really the system for me?

Answer: Norstar's modular design provides the option for the system to cost-effectively grow as the business grows, but you will not incur unnecessary costs for capabilities you will not be using.

Question/Concern: Do I need a PC to make the system work?

Answer: No. Although Norstar offers value-added applications using the PC, they are enhancements to the system, not a requirement.

Question/Concern: Can other equipment, such as fax machines and credit card verification devices, be connected to Norstar?

Answer: The Norstar ICS has a standard built-in analog port for the connection of such devices. There are also analog modules that can be connected to the system depending on the number of analog devices required.

Question/Concern: Will I have to "redo" my system's programming as new features evolve?

Answer: The Norstar system is designed to accommodate updates and protect you from its becoming obsolete. Updating to new software features is as simple as changing a VCR tape.

Question/Concern: Norstar looks like the system to meet my needs today, but what if I want to move to a Voice over IP solution in the future?

Answer: With Norstar, a large part of your initial investment is protected because your Norstar telephone sets and the Norstar fiber trunk and station modules can be easily migrated to the Business Communications Manager.

Question/Concern: When programming changes are made and telephone sets are moved, does the Norstar system remain in service?

Answer: Yes. The only system components that are possibly affected are the features being programmed and the sets being moved. The system remains completely intact.

Question/Concern: What aspects of Norstar justify the cost?

Answer: To name just a few:

Expandability (pay for what you use)
Upgradeable architecture (pay for what you need)
One of the highest reliability ratings in the industry
User programming
Value-added applications to improve customer service
- T7406 Cordless
- Automated Attendant/Voice Messaging
- Call Center
- Calling Line ID integration

If you have any queries or would like more information about any of the solutions outlined, please contact us or request a call back. Alternately, you can call us on 905 695 2239 or 877 530 4448 for more immediate help and advice.