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Original poster

Desperate for a clue re my landline phone conection - can call out but not receiving

29 replies

citronella · 04/04/2009 11:41

I have a BT Verve 450 and BT Broadband. For months I have not been receiving calls but I can call out. When I ring my landline from my mobile it sounds like its ringing but the landline is not making any noise (ifyswim). People have been telling me that I'm never there and I don't have an answering machine but I am and I do.
I phoned BT and we have checked the main line in and established its not faulty, they have sent me a new Verve 450 which I have plugged in but the exact same thing is happening.

HELP please anyone? What could it be? It's probably something really stupid. My broadband is via a BT Wireless Hub if that makes any difference. I have justs noticed a green phone socket at the back of the Hub - am I supposed to use that?

sorry if long and boring but it's really annoying me now and can't afford to have a bt engineer come out.

TIA

OP posts:
LadyOfScoffleTheEasterEggs · 04/04/2009 11:44

Have you flicked a silent switch on the phone somewhere?

LadyOfScoffleTheEasterEggs · 04/04/2009 11:47

o, try plugging it into the back of the hub? Is the hub connected to a phone line itself?

foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:48

you must have set the volume to off?

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 11:48

When you got your hub you should have been given some little bits that go your phone socket before you connect the phone or the hub - will try to link to what I mean. Maybe that's it?

foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:48

no, don't plug it into the hub

Original poster
citronella · 04/04/2009 11:50

I've checked in case the volume was turned down but that wasn't it. I'll try plugging it into the hub - yes the hub is connected to the phone line.

It won't blow up or anything will it?

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:50

yes, you should have splitters on all your phone jacks - so something that comes out of the socket that is in the wall that has 2 holes. One for the broadband (the hub) and the other for the phone line. You need one of these on each phone jack.

Otherwise, go to your menu on the phone, and check you haven't set ringer volume to 'off'. I am not sure about the 450 but on the 500, it's menu, navigation and then the picture of a speaker and then you choose the volume (for handset ring).

LadyOfScoffleTheEasterEggs · 04/04/2009 11:51

Ignore me I don't know how hubs works, but if anythint like my setup I have a box that goes into my phone socket that you plug the phone into, and the broadband into. Filters them or something, stops BB blocking calls...

foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:51

it's not a hub phone though

there are phones specifically made that plug into that hole

Original poster
citronella · 04/04/2009 11:51

oops why not foxinsocks?

I got a filter thingy which I have used.

Can't have set the volume to off on the new one as well - it's straight out of the box.

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:52

unless you have it enabled as a VOIP handset?

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 11:52

the little things are called converters (green ends)...

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 11:53

or microfilters...

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 11:54

am looking at my instructions...

Original poster
citronella · 04/04/2009 11:54

splitters? phone jacks?

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:55

that hole in the hub is to use VOIP services (so phone calls over your broadband)

if you have a functioning phone line, you should be able to plug a phone into the phone jack (after the splitter has been plugged into the wall) and use it

has anyone near you, like a neighbour, got a phone you know that works that you could plug into the jack to use?

tbh, I'm surprised BT haven't sent you an engineer out!

I would try and plug a functioning phone into your phone jack and see what happens because you need that to work.

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 11:56

OK, it says...at each phone socket where a device [eg aphone] plugs in:
unplug the device from the socket
plug a microfilter into the socket
plug the device you just unplugged into the microfilter's phone socket

You can order additional BT microfilters at www.bt.com/shop or by calling us on 0800 800150

foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:56

(sorry have just read initial post) they wanted to CHARGE you to come out? how farking ridiculous

Original poster
citronella · 04/04/2009 11:57

you mean the two holes out of the filter?

I haven't plugged the phone in that one just in a different line socket to the hub but with a filter (does that make sense?)

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:57

splitter = microfilter (and you need one on each phone jack that comes out of the wall, i.e. each place you could plug a phone into)

Vamonos · 04/04/2009 11:58

I had this once and it did turn out to be a problem with the line (despite BT saying otherwise).

Can you find your MAIN phone socket to the outside world? Try plugging a basic phone handset STRAIGHT into that (remove any internet lines, splitters etc) - preferably using a different phone from the one that doesn't appear to be working at the moment. Have you maybe got an old handset hanging around, or can you borrow one from somewhere?

Then try phoning it with your mobile. If it still doesn't work, it's probably a problem with the line.

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 11:58

Thnk that might be your problem - do you still have all the gubbins they sent you when you first got broadband?
The microfilters are like a very tiny little extension lead - just a couple of inches long. Mine are white but that was a couple of years ago.

foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 11:59

yes makes sense

you've definitely plugged it into the right hole in your filter? the phone one? maybe try the other in case you have the wrong one?

(then go and steal a neighbour's phone!)

other things to try....

go to the OTHER socket, where the hub is plugged into and put your phone in the phone bit on that filter as you KNOW that line is working...

try that before stealing your neighbour's phone

bellabelly · 04/04/2009 12:00

Should be fine if you are using a microfilter whichever phone point you use in your house. I think. (am not really v technical!)

foxinsocks · 04/04/2009 12:06

don't disappear!

what is happening...are you plugging it into a diff socket?

if you are v near me, I would come and look at it for you

if it doesn't work after a) plugging it into the other socket and b) trying someone else's phone in the socket you know works...you must call Bt back and tell them the line is definitely not working.

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