Question: How can I add up to 24 digital phones to my Magix system?
Written: Aug 23 '07 (Updated Oct 23 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Controls up to 24 high quality 44xx series digital telephones.
Cons: Module is expensive. Merlin Magix product line is discontinued.
The Bottom Line: If price isn't a problem, you can't beat the 024 TDL for adding extensions to a Merlin Magix system.
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| telecomman's Full Review: AVAYA - MERLIN MAGIX 108514522 |
Answer: Add an Avaya Merlin Magix 108514522 module!
Now before I go too far along; a quick history about Avaya and the Merlin Magix system.
Who is Avaya?
The company with this strange name traces its roots back to the old commercial telephone equipment division of the Bell System (aka Western Electric). From there, Avaya has a history with AT&T (now called at&t) and Lucent Technologies (now called Alcatel Lucent).
Avaya came into being in 2000 when Lucent decided to exit the commercial telephone equipment business and focus on supplying equipment to companies that provide telecom services. Lucent split itself apart and, voila, Avaya was born.
What is a Merlin Magix?
The Merlin Magix was created by Bell Labs (the R&D division of Lucent Technologies) back in 1999. This telephone system was derived from the Merlin Legend, which was created by Bell Labs when it was a part of AT&T.
The Merlin Magix, while having many similarities with the Legend, has some differences, some of which are:
1) The Legend's chassis is made out of plastic. The Magix chassis is made out of metal.
2) Legend modules need to be housed inside of a plastic clamshell. The Magix does away with that.
3) The Legend supports the old Merlin Classic telephones from the late 1980's. The Merlin Magix does not.
The Magix can support up to 80 telephone lines and 200 telephone sets. Those limits depend on which modules are installed, and cannot be reach simultaneously. Based on those vast numbers of lines & sets, it is clear that the Magix is designed for commercial as opposed to residential
applications. The high cost of Magix hardware makes it impractical for residential use.
What is a 108514522?
The Merlin Magix 108514522 is commonly known as the 024 TDL module. It's function is to connect up to 24 4400 series digital telephones to the Merlin Magix. For the rest of this review, I will refer to the module as a 024.
What Does the 024 TDL Look Like?
All Merlin Magix modules look very similar. Front brackets are a powder gray in color, have a clip on the bottom for routing cables and have a sticker at the top of with the name, part and serial numbers of the board.
The components on the circuit boards themselves vary from module to module, but the vast majority of the parts are surface mounted.
Modules use gold plated edge connectors to mate with the carrier's backplane.
When looking at the front of the 024 module, one will notice that the bracket is, for the most part, empty. The only device seen is a standard female 25 pair Amphenol connector. The system's installer will use a cable with a 25 pair male Amphenol connector on one end and some other suitable connector (or none at all) to connect into the in-house wiring.
Installing the 024 TDL.
At this point, I should mention that installation of a Merlin Magix should only be done by someone who has been either officially trained on the system, or knows proper techniques.
Magix modules are not hot swappable, so the carrier must be shut down before inserting or removing any module. The technician lines up the module with the grooves in the carrier, slides the module in and carefully pushes the module in until it snaps into place. Next step would be to connect the 25 pair cable and lastly, power the carrier up.
Programming.
A thorough discussion of how to program a Merlin Magix is beyond the scope of this review. In general, there are 2 ways to administer the Magix.
1) Using a 4424LD+ console connected to a port on the 024 or 412 modules.
2) Using a Windows based computer program called WinSPM.
Once the Magix processor sees the 024 module, the technician can proceed to program various options for the telephones connected to the module. Options include line assignments, a button to allow a user to log into a voicemail system and much much more.
How Well Does it Work?
The Merlin Magix has the reputation of being a solidly built system. The 024 is no exception. True, there are no moving parts on the module, so reliability is high.
The 024 and 4400 series telephone are digital devices. As such, the audio is free from the white noise hash often found on analog transmissions. For a while, Partner ACS telephones were connected to the Magix by using a 016 ETR module. During that time, I conducted a very informal test by accessing the voicemail system from both types of telephones. Sure enough, I could hear a faint hiss in the background when I was on the analog Partner telephone, but no such noise was present when I was on the digital Magix telephone.
How Do I Purchase a 024?
Because local Magix administration requires a 4424LD+ telephone and the vast number of Magix systems that were sold, the 024 module is in good supply. The module can be purchased from numerous online vendors. Due to the fact that Avaya no longer warranties new Magix installs, many Authorized Avaya Business Partners keep only enough stock on hand to support their clients' existing systems.
The 024 TDL is one of the higher priced common modules in the Merlin Magix line-up. Prices vary from dealer to dealer so shop around. The Avaya Merlin Messaging (voicemail) module is one of the few commons that costs even more.
Closing Thoughts.
Make no mistake about it. The Merlin Magix has been a true success story for Lucent & Avaya. The system was in production for about 7 years and was a favorite with medium to large businesses.
Sadly, time marches on. The face of Telecommunications is undergoing a radical change. Traditional key systems and PBXs are being replaced by devices that transmit voice & data over the Internet. The Merlin Magix, while a potent system, simply could not be updated to work in the VoIP realm. This was a major factor in the decision to retire this fine system.
For anyone not ready to take the VoIP plunge and needing to grow their existing Magix, look no further than the 024 TDL!
Recommended:
Yes
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telecomman
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Member: Paul C.
Location: Arlington, Mass, USA
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 39 members
About Me:
Telecom tech since 1990. Dabbles with electronics, telephone gear, pro audio & pipe organs.
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