BT Caller Display 30 not showing caller-id after Digital Voice upgrade

[Taffia]

Just been switched to Digital Voice and my Caller Display 30 (Yes I know it is a bit ancient) no longer shows the callers number. Shows nothing at all. I rely on it !!!.

It is plugged into the green phone port of the Smart Hub 2 and a not quite so ancient BT relate 80 phone is plugged into the Caller Display 30.

When I phone my home number from my mobile (on the ASDA/Vodaphone network) my home phone rings but no caller id shows. The same happens if I dial 17070 and choose option 1.

Do I need to do something to enable Called Id in MyBt ?. If so what ?. I cannot see any Caller Id options in MyBt.

PS I always thought that any existing internal extension wiring would still work if it is simply disconnected from the BT master socket and merely connected to the Smart Hub 2 Green phone socket but the Openreach engineer was adamant that only a single analogue phone could be plugged into the green analogue port. Which answer is correct ? 

[jac_95]

Hi Taffia,

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.

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[rbz5416]

There should be a Digital Voice section under MyBT > Your Products & Caller Display should be in there. If it shows as already enabled, disable it & log off for a few minutes. Then log back on & re-enable it.

[Taffia]

All I can see is Call Protect, Call Barring, Voicemail essentials and Call Barring, and the last two show [add now] the other two show [manage]

Nothing else.

I have since discovered that despite having enabled automatically previously, with Digital Voice it is now necessary to order it (even though it is free !!!) and wait 24 hours to get it back.

Utterly wierd requirement.  

[rbz5416]

Are you sure you're looking in Digital Voice & not the old Landline?

[Keith_Beddoe]

I think you may find that the  BT Caller Display 30 is incompatible with the current phone network, in fact it did not work on certain exchange types.

I think it may have to do with it needing a line polarity change, prior to the incoming CLI data burst, whereas the modern phones simply look for the data stream, which is sent just before the first ring. That allows blocking phones to supress any ringing if the number is blocked.

The line polarity reversal is a hangover from the old Strowger mechanical exchanges, and was replicated on crossbar and electronic exchanges.

BT Digital Voice does not have this feature, as its no longer needed.

[Taffia]

Well, having 'ordered' caller-id (in order to get it back), I can now confirm that my ancient Caller Display 30 now shows the incoming number. At least, that means the ringback number from option 1 of 17070, and my ASDA mobile number now appears.

Openreach guy (NOT Kelly) spent ages rewiring my diy phone (pins 2 and 5 only) and data extensions because I had moved the previous Smart Hub 9 mtrs away from the original BT master socket and he then made up a flying lead plugged into the Smart hub 2 green socket that goes into the back of the new NTE 5C at its new remote location next to the Hub and then re-used the cat5e that I had used to extend the data from the original master socket to take the output from the Green Socket back to where it connects to my internal extension so that I can carry on having the caller Display 30 and BT relate 80 phone in my upstairs 3rd bedroom/office.

I assumed that the green socket could power all the original internal extensions but OR guy said no, only one phone was possible (but it drives the Caller Display 30 daisy-chained to the BT relate 80). The phone output on the new NTE 5C box does not work, so to have a downstairs phone I will apparently need a BT digital home phone that uses DECT to connect to the Smart Hub 2 (correct?). Does anyone know what make of 3rd party DECT phones that can do this and also have all the functionality of the BT digital phone.

[licquorice]

There are no third party DECT phones that connect to the BT hub via DECT with full functionality.

The green socket will power more than one extension phone. Alternatively, you can use a Digital Voice adapter which is effectively a portable phone socket that you can plug any phone into.

All explained in the FAQ

[Taffia]

Every time I try and reply, EDGE crashes before I get a chance to type any text !!??

From what I have read here and elsewhere, the digital voice adapter which plugs into any power socket seems to have intrinsic design flaws and is best avoided.

I always thought that the green socket could have a string of existing internal phone sockets connected to it (pins 2 & 5), but the OR guy claims that this could affect broadband speed.

Who is correct ?.

I am happy with what I now have and Caller Id now seems to be working. I just wish the lady who provisioned my Digital Voice upgrade, despite asking questions about my age and any telecare devices, had also asked me if still wanted caller-id and done it as part of the package.

Even your DV FAQ fails to mention that it may be necessary to 'order' it again, even though it is free.

[licquorice]

I'm not entirely sure what the REN value of the green socket using, but I'm confident it will support more than one phone.

Whilst not exactly the same as multiple analogue phones, my green socket is currently supporting an analogue phone on one extension socket and a Panasonic DECT base station in another.

I think the problems with the adapters are in relation to not providing the necessary ring wire for older phones. I have no personal experience of using an adapter, but I have neighbours that do without problem.