Re: Pulse dialing query
 

I just tried this and it works :D

Also reminds me of someone saying "Whose idea was it to make the emergency services 999? It takes forever on a rotary dial phone! By the time it calls the person could be dead!"

Still, better than the IT Crowd's emergency services number... "0118 999 881 999 119 725 ... 3" :D

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Going to be geeky here and point out it was because of pulse dialling that 999 was chosen for the emergency number ;)

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

I can see it wouldn't be too easy to accidentally dial :) It just doesn't make sense in other ways, as I explained :)

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Hmm - it's actually not what I originally thought it was - well not totally

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/999_(em...lephone_number)

999 was chosen because of the need for the code to be able to be dialled from A/B button public telephones. The telephone dial (GPO Dial No 11) used with these coin-boxes allowed the digit "0" to be dialled without inserting any money, and it was very easy to adapt the dial to dial "9" without inserting money.

I always though it was because 999 was least likely to be dialled by the overhead telephone lines knocking together in the wind

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Just learn to whistle the chords that tone dialling generates, job done.

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Or use a DTMF generator.

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

I was just about to suggest this. It was a great technique for getting round the dial lock my mate's stingy parents had on their phone many years ago. :D

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

It also used to fool some pay phones into not asking for payment too (the ones where you dial the number first and put the money in when the other person answers)... So I'm told lol

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

I have an old 300 series rotary (pulse) dial phone which has been fully restored and which I had hoped would work on my VM/NTL line - but it doesn't :( I get a dialling tone OK, but this remains there as I dial a number. Others on this thread are quite definite that it is possible to use a pulse dial phone on a modern line - so where am I missing a trick?

The old phone is very nice as an ornament/antique - but it would be even better if I could use it.

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

@ original OP.

You've already said that the phone is rotary dial that has been converted for modern usage (i.e it will support tone dialing only) so in essence you can use it on either pulse or tone networks

---------- Post added at 10:45 ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 ----------

It probably would help if you give your location as a VM staff member might be able to help you better if they are about

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

I'm speculating, but is the rotary dial moving at the correct speed? Can you get your hands on a basic touch-dial phone with a pulse/tone switch, and try dialling out from your line with that, set to pulse, just to confirm whether it's your line or your rotary phone that's causing the problem?

---------- Post added at 10:46 ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 ----------

@ Kymmy ... the original OP posted more than two years ago, he's probably not listening to you ;)

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

@ Chris

Your fault for not prodding me with that stick to wake me up!!!

Actually busy doing 4 things at one, really should learn to do the 5th thing like reading original dates :)

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Your fault for swigging cask-strength Aberlour from the bottle, with or without the help of cheap Lidl cola ... ;)

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Oi!!! that was a private conversation!!! No fair telling people that I drink cheap Lidl cola!!!

Gonna get you for that!!!

;)

Re: Pulse dialing query
 

Chris - I have run this test with an old tone/pulse switchable phone and the pulse dialling works OK. I have also confirmed with VM/NTL tech staff that their lines do support pulse. I have tried the old rotary phone on a neighbour's BT line and it worked perfectly. So I tried again on my NTL line and found that, if I drag the dial back rather than letting it return by itself, it will dial out. So it looks like a problem with the dial return speed as you suggested - NTL line would appear to require it to be a tad quicker.