NTL and Panasonic DECT Phones

[Nemesis]

I've moved recently, from Bromley (ex CWC) platform back to Langley platform.

Basically same set up in new house as I had before. Digi TV, Phone, BB.

In the old house I had two Panasonic DECT phones working from one base with built in Answer phone. Worked with no problems whatsoever.

Now, the phones ring intermittently, and the answerphone never kicks in.

I know what your going to say, the phones are faulty, I thought so myself, so got the units replaced. Same thing happens with new one.

So my thoughts lead to the Phone line itself. I rang NTL who did a line check ... came back all clear, they have activated the NTL answer service as a consolation. But I'm not overly happy with the situation.

My question is whether there may be a problem with the signal strength to the house. As I said the phone rings intermittently when there is a call coming through, whereas a standard phone will ring ok. Does the signal strength need to be higher for DECT phones.

Anyone else had this type of problem, and how can I get it resolved ???

Thanks

[SMHarman]

are they plugged into the NTL master socket or another extension in the house.

Does the house have extension wiring, if so can you disconnect that and see if the master socket alone works OK.

This sounds like a missing third connection on the phone cable, Orange with white bands to pin 3

http://www.wppltd.demon.co.uk/WPP/Wi...telephone.html

This document also mentions polarity and problems with answer phones. I'd say you only have 2 pins wired though.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

are they plugged into the NTL master socket or another extension in the house.

Tried both

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Does the house have extension wiring, if so can you disconnect that and see if the master socket alone works OK.

Yes it does, and yes I have isolated the main box, no difference.

Originally Posted by SMHarman

This sounds like a missing third connection on the phone cable, Orange with white bands to pin 3

I've checked the wiring and it looks ok.

http://www.wppltd.demon.co.uk/WPP/Wi...telephone.html

This document also mentions polarity and problems with answer phones. I'd say you only have 2 pins wired though.

Nice one, I'll check the polarity out (i.e. swap the wires round and see what happens .

[Nemesis]

ok tried that , no difference ..

I have an NTL engineer turning up tomorrow, I'll see if he can change then main Telephone Box .... maybe it's that ???

Any other ideas people ?

[Nemesis]

Right, changed the Main Telephone box, and it wasn't that . But spoke to the engineer, and he was suggesting that it could be the voltage supplied. He suggested that I report it as a fault and the engineers will do a whole load of tests.

How true this is I don't know, any other ideas folks ??

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Right, changed the Main Telephone box, and it wasn't that . But spoke to the engineer, and he was suggesting that it could be the voltage supplied. He suggested that I report it as a fault and the engineers will do a whole load of tests.

How true this is I don't know, any other ideas folks ??

I am no expert, but I did read a fair bit about wiring phone sockets. Put simply, the engineer is right. If the line voltage is not high enough, the phone will either ring intermittently or not at all. It may still be possible to use the phone to make/recieve (assuming you can hear the ring ) calls, but the voltage required for this is lower than than the ring.

[Nemesis]

Right .... on that basis I'll call them and log it as a fault

Cheers folks

[Matth]

How many pnones or other devices are connected - presumably you've gone down to just one while testing, as the other reason for being short of ringer power is having too many devices (REN) connected - I'm guessing that NTL should be able to handle a REN total of 4, the same as a BT line?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Matth

How many pnones or other devices are connected - presumably you've gone down to just one while testing, as the other reason for being short of ringer power is having too many devices (REN) connected - I'm guessing that NTL should be able to handle a REN total of 4, the same as a BT line?

Looks like Nemmy has already tried this

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Yes it does, and yes I have isolated the main box, no difference.

[Nemesis]

More to add now ...

Spoken to the Customer Service guys, and after talking to the 2nd line support, it would appear that Panansonic have already approached NTL about problems with the phone lines.

He stated that in original NTL (Langley) areas, the way the phone lines work is different to BT and the Ex CWC areas (Bromley).

I have an engineer booked for Monday to see if they can get this working, but if not they may charge me for the priviledge of having an engineer try and make the phones work.

I'm more than a little confused .... what this guy is basically saying is that the Langley platform Phone lines are not to be compared to BT, and that some phones will not work when used on NTL Langley platform.

Well I'll see what the engineer comes up with on Monday, but if I can't get it working, I'm sorely tempted to move back to BT.

[Matth]

That's bizarre!

I did have one thought - if NTL use a lower value ringer capacitor, connecting the offending phone through an ADSL microfilter (real cheapo ebuyer one) might work, as they provide their own ringer capacitor.

If SOME phones won't work, then what else?
Modems?

[Nemesis]

Engineer came out on Monday morning as promised

Spent about 5-10 minutes with me explaining the problem. He agreed that it was probably the voltage and said that the engineers will work on it over the next few days.

Yesterday comes and lo and behold ... The phones and answer machine start working properly

Me a happy Warlock

[Simplastic]

Resurrecting this thread ...

I have a problem with DECT phones cutting out after about 2 minutes use. First I used a BT Synergy which worked a treat on my old BT line. I gave it away assuming it to be dead and bought a new Southwestern Bell DECT which did the exact same thing.

Naturally, when I reported the fault initially they said it was my DECT phone as my fixed line phones are working fine. I am reluctant to log it as a fault again with NTL for fear of being charged a call-out fee but am very frustrated that for the 9 weeks I've been on NTL I can't use my cordless phones.

I checked my phone line voltages on the master socket (against earth):

0V = -3V
48V = 42V

Question: is 42 volts too low and causing me the problem?

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Simplastic

Resurrecting this thread ...

I have a problem with DECT phones cutting out after about 2 minutes use. First I used a BT Synergy which worked a treat on my old BT line. I gave it away assuming it to be dead and bought a new Southwestern Bell DECT which did the exact same thing.

Naturally, when I reported the fault initially they said it was my DECT phone as my fixed line phones are working fine. I am reluctant to log it as a fault again with NTL for fear of being charged a call-out fee but am very frustrated that for the 9 weeks I've been on NTL I can't use my cordless phones.

I checked my phone line voltages on the master socket (against earth):

0V = -3V
48V = 42V

Question: is 42 volts too low and causing me the problem?

Possibly .... I was also threatened with a call out fee, but was positive that it was a problem with NTL. If you are sure that it is an NTL problem, stick to your guns, get them out to investigate, you generally get more information from the engineers anyway good Luck

[Saneboy13]

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Possibly .... I was also threatened with a call out fee, but was positive that it was a problem with NTL. If you are sure that it is an NTL problem, stick to your guns, get them out to investigate, you generally get more information from the engineers anyway good Luck

Nemesis, have you seen my post in

Caller ID/Voicemail Problems