Author Topic: Cordless phones do not ring. (Read 2758 times)

Perd Hapley · « **on:** January 19, 2011, 04:43:21 PM »

Disclaimer: I believe I have eliminated DSL interference as an issue, as I have tested the phones with the modem and router unplugged and disconnected from the phone jack. Also, I have similar results from two different phone jacks.

A while back, my cordless phone set quit ringing, so I threw it out. I had had it for years, and never liked it, so good riddance. I got some Christmas gift money, so I used that to buy a set of two Uniden cordless phones. They say DECT 6.0, which apparently is a standard for Wi-Fi friendly cordless phones.

I can dial out, and if I call with my cellphone, I can pick up and talk to me just fine. But the cordless phone doesn't ring, or even show any indication of an incoming call. Theoretically, we can receive calls all day long, but the phone just won't let us know about it.

I bought another cordless set from VTech, and tried that. It will ring once, and indicate an incoming call on the screen, but after that it acts just like the Uniden.

Is there an easy and obvious answer here, or will I need to spend an hour on the phone with tech support? They don't seem very helpful, so far.

Disclaimer: I believe I have eliminated DSL interference as an issue, as I have tested the phones with the modem and router unplugged and disconnected from the phone jack. Also, I have similar results from two different phone jacks.

41magsnub · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2011, 04:50:16 PM »

Do you have a noise filter between the wall and the cordless phone? This is one of the things I've heard can happen, though I've never tried to duplicate it, when you do not and the line is shared with a DSL circuit and a filter is not installed. The DSL modem should have come with at least one.

280plus · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2011, 04:51:44 PM »

That's what I was trying to dig out of the back of my dilapidated old brain...

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2011, 04:52:26 PM »

It happens with the DSL filter in place, and when I disconnect all networking equipment, and just plug the phone straight into the jack. See the disclaimer in bold. Both of them.

41magsnub · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:05:50 PM »

But nothing you said mentioned either using a filter or getting the telco to cancel DSL service on the phone line.. either of which are the only way to actually eliminate interference from the DSL service

41magsnub · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:13:44 PM »

It is also possible the line voltage is low. If you have a multimeter use it to check the line while calling in. It should be about 75v or higher (90v is ideal) while ringing which is what powers the ringer on an old phone and triggers a digital phone that it should ring. If the voltage is wrong it is absolutely is the fault of your telco and they need to fix it.

An analog regular old handset is pretty tolerant of low ring voltage where a digital phone watches the line and if the voltage is >X voltage that means a call is incoming and it should ring.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:19:37 PM »

Huh. OK. I just tried it with the old filter, and a new filter, but that doesn't solve anything.

Jim147 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:55:31 PM »

I had that problem earlier this year. It would sometimes ring once or not at all. It finally went to a busy signal with a dead short on the incoming line underground.

The phone company came out and pulled about 150 yards of new line and repaired a water line they hit in the process. I haven't had anymore problems.

jim

280plus · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:56:10 PM »

He said hold one wire in one hand, hold the other wire in the other hand, Make sure you've got good continuuity between the wire and your hands and have mrs Fistful call that line.
If you jump up and down and scream like a girl chances are it's ok.

280plus · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:56:48 PM »

But yea, it does sound line a line problem not a phone problem. Call the phone co.

Jim147 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2011, 06:00:31 PM »

Do you have an outside box?

I have one that you can unplug the line going to the house and plug in a phone straight to it. This rules out your house wires if it's still doing the same thing.

jim

Harold Tuttle · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2011, 07:24:02 PM »

any other phones on the line?

i had one cordless that rang 2 rings after the others

280plus · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2011, 07:47:54 PM »

Ringing phone related musical interlude:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0wle1GG6MQ&feature=related

RocketMan · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2011, 07:48:41 PM »

Quote from: Jim147 on January 19, 2011, 06:00:31 PM

Do you have an outside box?

I have one that you can unplug the line going to the house and plug in a phone straight to it. This rules out your house wires if it's still doing the same thing.

jim

Try Jim's method if you can. Once in awhile the inside wiring can funkify the ringer voltage, but that is a rare occurrence. Testing it Jim's way (if you have the same outside box arrangement) will absolutely rule out the problem as being inside your house and will put it squarely in the Telco's lap.

sanglant · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2011, 09:45:41 PM »

got cats? they like to chew the phone cord just till the ringer won't work. but you can still call out.

maybe a mouse could do the same thing?

230RN · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2011, 02:18:24 AM »

Had a problem like that many years ago, before the netz. Turned out there was a small surge protector on the incoming lines which got leaky. About the size of a mica disk capacitor. They replaced it, no charge, no problems thenceforth.

Hint (1): If it's a residence line and you belllyache about how not getting calls is affecting your business, you will quite probably regret it. They may stick you on a business line rate.

Hint (2): Don't ask me how I found that out.

280plus · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2011, 06:24:49 AM »

Let me guess,uhhh, "The hard way."

230RN · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2011, 06:42:01 PM »

Can't take a hint, can you?... although, I guess that was just a statement, not a question.

Good parry.

You just get a medium-sized snarl for that.

I'm not signing either of these so the phone company won't know who posted them.

Jim147 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2011, 07:11:42 PM »

The phone company might put your "netz" in a vise.

jim

seeker_two · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2011, 08:02:29 PM »

Have you eliminated DSL interference as an issue?.......

thebaldguy · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2011, 09:53:41 PM »

I had phone line problems for years. I canceled my DSL because of the constant drops. And yes, I did use a DSL filter on all phones. They kept telling me it was inside my house and not from the line as they knew the signal was good. I switched to cable internet with fewer problems.

A few years later, the bad line finally died. I finally got the phone company out to the house. It turned out the line from the pole to the house was slowly going bad after being installed in the 40's. They finally replaced it, and my phone works better than ever.

Get a tech in the house and call yourself on a cell phone to show them the problem.

Jim147 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2011, 10:04:50 PM »

Quote from: seeker_two on January 20, 2011, 08:02:29 PM

Have you eliminated DSL interference as an issue?.......

What about the microwave? Are those phones 2.4 gig?

Are you nuking popcorn all the time?

jim

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Author Topic: Cordless phones do not ring. (Read 2758 times)