Telephone problem

[NozSpark]

Been out to a customer today to try and fix a problem they are having with one of their telephone lines..

The problem is that when someone dials in the phone only rings once,,, the phone making the call also gets a ringing tone once and then it sounds like a fax machine (sort of) ; if my customer then picks the phone up (so long as the dialer doesn't hang up) they can have a chat!!

BT have been and charged them

 

[Andy™]

how many phones connected? normally, there is a total REN of 4. a standard phone has a REN of 1, so if you connect 5 your gonna get problems. check everything for the value and add them up. any loud sounders may have 2 REN or more

(and thats Ringer Equivalent Number for the uneducated)

 

[Apache]

(and thats Ringer Equivalent Number for the uneducated)

Even I know that!

Have you tried a different phone?

 

[oliver1234]

All the above symptoms sound like the alarm to me. Many alarms have the ability to dial in (as well as out) so remote diagnostics and servicing can be carried out.

If programmed to do so the alarm will answer the phone and it will sound like a fax on the line, it is actually a modem. This will account for why you can talk on the line in the same way you can talk over a modem and will also account for why it all seems ok when the alarm is disconnected from the line.

Perhaps the engineer re-programmed the alarm during the recent service and adjusted the ammount of incoming rings before answer?

 

[ianmacd]

how many phones connected? normally, there is a total REN of 4. a standard phone has a REN of 1, so if you connect 5 your gonna get problems. check everything for the value and add them up. any loud sounders may have 2 REN or more(and thats Ringer Equivalent Number for the uneducated)

REN is not so important these days as most phones are self powered. Handsets that are powered list themselves as REN 1 (the lowest) but really do not use any current in their ringer circuits from the line so you could almost have an infinite number on a circuit without issue.

Ian.

 

[ianmacd]

Perhaps the engineer re-programmed the alarm during the recent service and adjusted the ammount of incoming rings before answer?

Or even accidentally turned this feature on when it may have been off before.

 

[oliver1234]

Or even accidentally turned this feature on when it may have been off before.

Yes quite likely!

Fine if it's on a dedicated line but not so good if it's shared with a normal phone.

 

[NozSpark]

Like I say I have a feeling that it's the alarm,,,

The fault is apparent even with only one phone on the line (+ the alarm)

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

BT have been and charged them

 

[batty]

I guess they there for less than an hour? No materials, no fix. :| Why do some qualified electricians quibble at the thought of charging

 

[Pyro]

BT have been and charged them

 

[NozSpark]

You're not wrong. I spent nearly half a day there, replaced 2 lengths of old cable and loads of peeing about trying to find the fault (it became intermittent) and charged them about the same as what BT had......

 

[Theorysparky]

on the other hand

my partner had BT put a telephone system into her 2 offices feeding 3 phones which i wired in

all she wanted was a 3 phone hunt group,,a fax line and broadband

could they do it ????? nah

12 months on changed providers and told them to swivel for the outstanding bills

told them to collect the kit within 14 days or it will be binned.....

its in my office now !!!!!

these big companies use fear factor....... bring it on......