Norstar equipment
Programming the system is by entering data from a phone, a very laborious job if all the information has to be entered.
A system called ERAD allows remote programme changes, although we have the ERAD units it has not been possible to obtain the software so any data changes are done the hard way.
Norstar 824 switch and a MOX16
Shown below - the switch, on the right, has a capacity for 8 analogue exchange lines and 24 digital extensions.
The unit on the left is a MOX16 which provides 16 additional digital extensions, this is connected to the main unit via a fibre optic link.
Norstar 032 switch, 2 AEMs and a MOX16
From the left are 2 AEMs, analogue extension modules, each unit provides 8 analogue lines, again connected to the main unit via a fibre optic link, next is a MOX16, described above.
On the right is a 032 switch Central Control Unit, this has 0 exchange lines fitted as standard but by plugging in removable cards up to 8 analogue exchange lines can be provided.
ISDN2 and ISDN30 services can be provided by using appropriate cards.
Equipped with 32 digital extensions, however each AC15 circuit used reduces the number of extensions by 1.
Modular 032 CCU with front panel open.
To the extreme left is the power unit, the small unit top left is the software cartridge.
To the right of it is a 2 port expansion card, this is provided if additional external units are provided, in this case can be seen two black fibre optic connections, one going to a MOX16 and the other to 2 AEMs.
The 2 AEMs are inter linked by a further fibre optic connection.
A 6 port card is used if more than 2 fibre optic connections are needed.
Next are two 4 port analogue exchange line cards.
On the right are the wired external connections to the adjacent distribution case.
The red numbered circles on the cards are an attempt to keep track of what item is where on the railway.
Printed circuit boards inside the Central Control Unit.
Norstar Compact exchange - 6 exchange lines and 16 extensions, this one is at Medstead and although used for testing purposes only it is connected into the rest of the Norstar linked numbering scheme.
Norstar phones and equipment
7100 telephone - basic phone in an office at Alresford
7208 telephone Medstead station office
7208N telephone restyled 7208 Ropley shop
7310 telephone in Alresford marketing office
7324 telephone, also at Alresford
AC15 unit - used to link 2 Norstar exchanges together
Analogue terminal adaptor 1 (ATA1) - connects an analogue device to a digital Norstar port, mains powered.
Analogue terminal adaptor 2 - later version of the ATA1, used on computer/swipe machine extensions, also mains powered.