This topic

Incoming calls only ring once

BenCooper — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:38:53 GMT

My landline was reluctantly switched to BT Digital Voice a few weeks before Christmas.

After realising that incoming calls were not getting through, or the phone only ringed once, I discovered that it was diverting to BT Voicemail (which I didn't even know was part of the package - I didn't ask for it and I certainly didn't ask for incoming calls to be diverted after one ring!!).

After totally unhelpful calls to BT and supposedly my query was being looked at by engineers I came on the forums and found that I could disable Voicemail totally, by logging onto MY BT and going to Digital Voice.

However, voicemail is now deactivated, but incoming calls still only ring once - the incoming caller still hears a ring tone, and indeed once can still answer the phone many seconds later, but one ring is a JOKE!! I've tried going to 1570 to increase the number of rings, but that option doesn't seem to be available having disabled voicemail.

Not amused by this wonderful new BT service, and seriously considering ditching my landline totally - very BAD.

Any suggestions please?

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

jac_95 — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:40:02 GMT

Hi BenCooper,

Thanks for the post and welcome to the Community.

This is an automated response as I can see you have a question about BT’s Digital Voice service. Rather than waiting for a response from the Community, you may find an answer to your question by using the search bar on the Community homepage. We also have a thread that contains a wealth of info related to BT’s Digital Voice, click this link to take a look, Digital Voice FAQs.

To learn more about the nationwide change to this Internet based voice service visit landlinesgo.digital

If you have already looked for the answer to your question and have not found anything that can help, then please ignore this message. One of our Community members will be along shortly to help you further.

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 19:44:54 GMT

@BenCooper

Is your phone plugged into the phone socket on the back of the Smart Hub 2, or are you using one of the BT digital handsets or the digital voice adapter?

There are issues with the BT handsets.

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

BenCooper — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:22:34 GMT

We have radio phones in the house (Panasonic), and the base station for one of these is plugged into the Smart Hub.

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 20:29:30 GMT

There could be some compatibility issues. I assume the phones are DECT, so its possible some interaction is occurring between the DECT base station in the home hub, and your Panasonic base unit.

Do you happen to have a basic wired phone that you can plug into the socket on the home hub, to see if that only rings once?

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

BenCooper — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:46:06 GMT

I've tried a very old basic wired phone, and whilst it does ring its not a 'normal' ring. Firstly it was very quiet, and second it sounded for several seconds (maybe 10 or more), then stopped for several seconds before repeating the same quiet prolonged ring ... it was almost as if the phone wasn't getting enough power to actually ring.

Could the problem be my Halo Hub - its several years old?

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:26:25 GMT

@BenCooper

It does sound like the internal ringing current generator has gone faulty, or there is a shortage of power from the power unit, (that would be less likely as it would affect the performance of the broadband).

I would ask BT for a replacement Smart Hub 2.

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

imjolly — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:29:54 GMT

Have you checked the number of rings before you are diverted to 1571 answering the strange ring tone may be due to messages on your 1571 answering service

Re: Incoming calls only ring once

BenCooper — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 22:14:32 GMT

Problem finally solved. A new Smart Hub was the answer, although the old one was only about 4 years old.

What I am surprised by though is that BT didn't have an answer to the original issue. Surely before rolling out Digital Voice they must have tested various different configurations including testing whether the system worked with Smart Hubs of all 'ages'?