Telephone problems

Broadback · Mar 24, 2009, 19:59:12

Having managed to get my new computer working I now find I have telephone problem. The BT line comes into an ADSL adapter, I then have 2 extensions, one with a digital master plus slave and a standard Binatone phone, both work fine.. I also had a BT Relate 3000 connected direct into the ADSL adapter, this fails to work, also it will not work on any of the extension sockets. Thinking the phone was bust I bought a new Geemarc CL1100, but this does not work in the ADSL socket, nor in either of the 2 extension sockets, nor indeed when plugged into the ADSL adapter test socket, though my other 2 phones do. Strangely the new phone works when I disconnect the router and plug it into that socket on the ADSL adpter. Makes no sense to me, any ideas please?

Lance · Mar 24, 2009, 20:21:17

So the phones will work when plugged into the routers ADSL socket, but not from the test socket nor any other socket?

Broadback · Mar 24, 2009, 20:24:23

The 2 phone that are on extensions work normally. However the new phone will only work when plugged into the socket that the router is normally plugged into. It will not work in the test socket. it is so confusing, and to me illogical.

Lance · Mar 24, 2009, 20:26:21

Illogical to me as well, so I'll leave this for the rest of the forum to help!

Simon · Mar 24, 2009, 21:57:59

So will I.

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 00:56:04

There has to be a wiring fault.

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 08:42:38

An update.
Being a bit fresher this morning (or so my wife said

) I have methodically worked through and written everything down.
To simplify the basic phone works in all sockets as it should. The new Geemarc CL1100, which is a phone with a built in amplifier only works if plugged in the ADSL socket reserved for the router. It also works plugged into the socket marked "phone Line" on my 2700. Strange but true. Any suggestions please?

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 09:04:28

When you say plugged into the ADSL socket reserved for the router, do you mean a filtered faceplate, or simply a phone socket which is used only by the router?

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 09:23:23

The small socket that is marked for the router.

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 09:25:45

Then you must have a fault with your filtered faceplate, BB.

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 09:29:27

The router works fine, well I am here am I not? Also what is the socket marked phone line for on the 2700?

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 09:30:33

Another point why does the phone not work in the face plate socket?

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 09:33:16

I don't know. If it works in the ADSL socket (are you plugging it in directly?) and in the router VOIP sockets, one possibility is that it's not a normal PSTN phone. Otherwise, without checking your wiring, I can only surmise a faulty face plate or wiring.

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 09:37:32

Of course it could be that the new telephone is faulty.

Trouble is I had to travel 20 miles to get the model I wanted, guess I will go back with it when I have the time.

kinmel · Mar 25, 2009, 09:40:49

Is the telephone digital ( ie for Virgin etc ) rather than analogue as needed for BT

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 10:07:59

It is designed to work with BT, with option for dialling types and time break adjustment. It is "dead" when plugged into telephone sockets. I've just done an experiment with an old ADSL filter that I have. I plugged that direct into the ADSL adapter test socket, again an ordinary phone works fine in the phone output, but my new phone only works in the ADSL socket.

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 10:14:11

There's something very wrong with that phone, BB. Can you try it at a friend's house?

Ann · Mar 25, 2009, 10:14:55

From what you say, logically it just has to be the phone. Tell 'em it doesn't work and get a new one.

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 10:21:50

I've just had a look at the manual for the phone, BB. Have you inserted the batteries and set the pulse/tone dial switch to position 3?

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 10:31:48

Yes and yes Rick. I've just tried something else. If I plug an ADSL filter into any phone socket in the house, then plug the phone into the ADSL socket, using the ADSL output the phone works. To sum up it seems that the new phone will not work with any BT to RJ11 cable which works with another phone but works fine using an RJ11 to RJ11 cable.

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 10:34:26

So either the cable is faulty or the phone is. Weird.

I missed your question on the 2700, btw. The sockets there are for VOIP phones, so it seems to like digital signals.

Lance · Mar 25, 2009, 10:44:27

I think the sockets on a 2700 also act as a normal pass-through, even when the router is switched off (I'm sure I read it on here somewhere!)

kinmel · Mar 25, 2009, 10:56:54

You have the wrong cable between the phone and the BT socket, the correct cable will not fit into the ADSL socket.

The ADSL cable terminal uses the middle 2 connectors on a RJ11, the BT cable connector uses connectors 2 and 5 on a BT terminator

Broadback · Mar 25, 2009, 12:54:23

Thanks everyone for your trouble, it was indeed the cable from the telephone to the BT socket. I thought, as they had the same plugs on, all the cables were the same, it seems not. I took the phone back to point of purchase, they tested it and it is fine, they then told me that not all the cables are the same. So though the cable provided by the manufacturers (Geemarc) look exactly the same as my other cables it is not. So by juditious swopping I found that I was using the incorrect one. I find it strange that the Geemarc cable works on other phones but other cables will not work on their phone. Ah well live and learn. Thanks again for all the help.

Rik · Mar 25, 2009, 12:56:38

Glad you're sorted, BB.