Old phones

[stan]

My partner changed the modem to a high speed this morning, every thing is fine except the two old phones in the house? They ring, you can answer, have dial tone, but won't dial out? They did with the other modem (this is all with comcast)
A service tech is coming out tomorrow (probably someone who's never "dialed a phone")

Any thoughts, or warnings?

 

[Ultramatic]

 

Rotary (Pulse) dialing will not work on VOiP. You will need a pulse to touch tone converter.

DialGizmo - Pulse to Tone converter for VoIP lines changes decadec dialling to touch tone

The Dialgizmo pulse to tone converter box allows you to use any old rotary pulse dial phone on modern telephone systems including VoIP lines. DialGizmo has been specifically designed for use with VoIP equipment. You can even dial * and #.

www.dialgizmo.com

 

[rp2813]

I'm guessing your new modem doesn't recognize pulse dialing.  I've read about this problem in forums on the Classic Rotary Telephones site.

 

That's a nice D-1 202.  I have one just like it.  I presume you have the retrofitted F1 transmitter element in the handset.

 

[stan]

Thank you

Louie and Ralph for the info!
The transmitter has never been touched that I know of ??

The phone is original to the house, and the only thing that's been changed that I know of is the plug and jack. Original wires to the box in the basement are still in use.
I know that when I've answered it, the person on the other end usually can tell the difference between it and the cordless. Cordless being a little louder and clearer. ? Do I need to change something?

 

[rp2813]

Can you take a picture of that end of the handset?  Just by looking into the "spit cup" I'll be able to tell you if it has the retrofit or not.  I'm betting it does.  If it had the original "bullet" transmitter, you can take it to the bank that the distant party wouldn't be able to hear you very well, but stranger things have happened with old phones.

 

If taking a picture isn't convenient, it's easy to tell the difference.  The retrofit will look pretty much like your typical mouthpiece with a flat, perforated surface.  The original element will look like a rounded cone protruding into the spit cup.  I'll see if I can locate any pix of mine that might show the difference.

 

Also, beware of the Dial Gizmo site.  I've read that they may not be available anymore, hence the backorder indicator.  Again, there have been discussions about these converters on the CRT site.

 

[rp2813]

Here's a shot of mine.  This is what yours should look like for best transmission quality.

 

[Ultramatic]

Dialgizmo

 

 

Well it does say they are back order until after Easter. But there are others you can look into. Now that you know what you need. You some info on your 202:

http://oldphoneguy.net/BookletPDF/202MSW41.pdf

 

[rp2813]

Louie, it looks like the document you posted is providing instructions on how to build a network that will fit inside the D-1 or B-1 base on sets that were designed for use with an external network.  That wouldn't have any effect on the pulse dialing, and by eliminating the subset/external network, your phone loses the ability to ring.

 

I think pulse-to-tone converters like the Gizmo are installed in-line or at the jack, and opening up the phone isn't necessary.  The one exception is something called a "Rot-a-Tone" which I don't think is made anymore.  Those were installed inside the the phone, connecting directly to dial terminals and other points in the circuitry.

 

[stan]

Ralph

Il try to take a pic tomorrow in the daylight , from what I can tell it looks like yours, but feels kind of rounded?
Just seems strange that thus happened from changing one modem for another, but I have trouble understanding all this high tech stuff.
I love this phone because it belongs to the house, and has come in handy when power was out ect
I'll take a pic of the old fuses that the phone connected to in the basement that I wouldn't let the phone man take with him when that was changed years ago.
I hung onto it because I thought I'd change it back myself if the phone didn't work, or sound right!
Like I know anything LOL

 

[NYCWriter]

By the way ...

... if you no longer have telephone service from the telephone company (old-fashioned land line), and have switched your home service to "digital" (anything that requires a modem), your phone will NOT work during a power outage.

It's for this very reason why I've stubbornly hung onto my land line (I have five working rotary dial phone in my home), as well as the fact that I do not like all of my services "bundled" and supplied by one provider.

With all the technical glitches and poor customer service these days, you're just one brain-dead customer "service" representative's keystroke (or, God forbid, one late payment) away from having EVERYTHING shut off at once: Cable, internet, AND phone.

No thank you.

 

[firedome]

Western Electric

formerly "rental" phones are all permitted here, mostly Princess and Trimline pushbutton models (I'm impatient) in various colors, with a few vintage WE rotary desk sets and wall phones in mothballs just for nostalgia. Built to last forever and can really take abuse, as well as work when the power goes out. A pox on wireless and cell phones, they'll have to take my WE phones from my cold, dead fingers...

 

[stan]

Matt

I never thought of that!
Think we are "bundled" now!

 

[retropia]

I was reading somewhere about how copper telephone lines may be eliminated over the next 10-15 years. It is apparently now cheaper for phone companies to switch your service to wireless than maintain the old lines.

 

 

[rp2813]

Copper

What they intend to do is use wireless technology to provide home telephone service for those who still want it.  The subscriber will be able to use a wired phone in their home (or business, I presume) just like today, but the transmission won't be happening over copper anymore.

 

What this amounts to is deterioration of transmission quality down to that of wireless phones.  Static, dead air, and dropped calls. 

 

Welcome to 1914.  It's called progress.

 

[davetranter]

Wireless 'landline'

Sounds like the worst of both worlds, with the advantages of neither. Wireless receiver and transmission loop power provided at the customer's premises (at the customer's expense) and, with no copper connection to the exchange Central Battery, your 'phone will no longer work during an 'outage'. Add to that the poorer transmission quality, and yes, it sounds just about what we expect from our 'technology for technology's sake' communication providers!! It's already happening for some rural subscribers on this side of the 'pond'.... Just the people MOST likely to need the telephone during any 'emergency'...

Customer srevice in the 21st Century.... Forget it... Profit is everything!!

All best

Dave T

 

[rp2813]

Dialgizmo

It looks like maybe they really are back in business.  Per a thread on the CRT forums, Dialgizmo was accepting orders again as of earlier this month. 

 

I can only assume that theirs is a very small operation and that it was shut down over spring/Easter break.  The Dialgizmo seems to be the best, most versatile, least expensive and easiest to install of the pulse-to-DTMF converters available. 

 

Stan, I think this is the best bet for regaining your 202's ability to dial out.

 

[whirlaway]

Mine work!!!!

I have DSL my 402 and 302s work fine,but the 202s if you have your bell box with the network in it should work.Ive had my same 302 since 76 and has been remarkable,it always works hurricanes and all.I also have a 354 Wall phone from the SS United States thats been in my kitchen for 17 years and works great,the only phones I really use, Bobby

 

[rp2813]

There's no issue with DSL.  That's what I have.  It's closely related to POTS and ties directly to the CO switch. 

 

The problems with pulse dialing lie with VOIP systems.  Even with a pulse-to-DTMF converter like Dialgizmo, you may be able to use a rotary phone but if your service is VOIP, when the power goes out, so does your old (formerly) reliable rotary phone.  Most VOIP services will provide a battery back-up, but they generally don't last more than a few/several hours.

 

[tolivac]

When I paid my wireless internet bill at US Cellular a few weeks ago they offered me a an alternative to a regular wired landline phone--it was merely a "cellphone" packaged to be like a regular one-and at 20 bucks per month.They said--"don't worry-the instrument has a battery in it like your cellphone-it will work during a power failure."I told them--I'll pass-pretty much duplicates the cellphone I already use.The fixed one just isn't meant to be portable.You put it on your phone table like a regular phone-you have to plug it into a power outlet.