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Rotary Phone not ringing

DavidH4 — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 09:56:58 GMT

Hi - advice please (from someone who only grasps the basics of in-home telephone systems)

I have a reconditioned rotary phone (as well as a standard modern push button telephone system).

If I connect my rotary phone to my BT master socket - it works perfectly (which proves to me the phone / master socket are compatible).

But when I connect the rotary phone to an extension socket - I can still hear / talk using it, but it does not ring when I have an incoming call (whereas my push button phones do).

I think the problem could be any of the following:

- I have an ADSL filter after my master socket to split the line between phone and internet;

- I have 2 pair cable going from the splitter to the extension socket;

- I have broadband; or,

- I have the push button telephone system

Anyone know what the likely culprit is based on my description? I can continue to eliminate variables one at a time but it is rather unpleasant crawling around in the sub-space of my house and I don't want to replace my 2 pair cable with 3 pair and find the problem persists!

Thank you in advance

David

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

imjolly — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:13:15 GMT

can you try disconnecting cable from filter to extension socket and then connect rotary phone to filter and see if that rings

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

licquorice — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:15:46 GMT

Just plug a filter in the extension socket to re-create the ring wire

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

Les-Gibson — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:17:46 GMT

More likely pin 3 of the master socket is not connected to pin 3 of the extension socket.

Pins 2 & 5 = A & B legs

Pin 3 = ringing current.

You wouldn't notice this on a Dect or digital phone as neither require pin 3 but the old 700 series phones do

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

licquorice — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:27:03 GMT

@DavidH4 wrote:

I think the problem could be any of the following:

- I have an ADSL filter after my master socket to split the line between phone and internet;

Not entirely sure what you actually mean by that, how is the filter provided? A filter doesn't 'split' anything in any case, it is just a low pass filter that prevents the broadband signal reaching the the phone.

- I have 2 pair cable going from the splitter to the extension socket;

Do you actually mean 2 pair (4 wires) or 2 wires?

- I have broadband; or,

Irrelevant

- I have the push button telephone system

Irrelevant

Anyone know what the likely culprit is based on my description? I can continue to eliminate variables one at a time but it is rather unpleasant crawling around in the sub-space of my house and I don't want to replace my 2 pair cable with 3 pair and find the problem persists!

If you mean pair, then 2 pair is all that you require as only 3 wires are needed.

Thank you in advance

David

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:36:10 GMT

@DavidH4

If you do not want to run another wire, then the missing third (ring) wire can be emulated by plugging a microfilter into the extension socket, and then plugging the phone into the "phone" socket on the microfilter.

The microfilter has an internal capacitor which extends a third wire from the existing two wire connection.

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

licquorice — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 10:37:55 GMT

Indeed, as posted in message 3 😄

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

Keith_Beddoe — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 11:14:49 GMT

No harm in repeating it, with a bit more of an explanation as to why its needed.

Of course any future move to DV, is not going to support pulse dialling without a convertor.

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

DavidH4 — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 11:32:03 GMT

tried this one first - for a change problem was not my wiring! thank you for your suggestion

Re: Rotary Phone not ringing

DavidH4 — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 11:36:48 GMT

Thank you everyone for the suggestions.

It was the simple option of adding a microfilter to the extension socket (so plugged into extension socket before the rotary phone). Added bonus I did not need to go back under the floor 🙂