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Thread ID: 132134 2013-05-07 23:56:00 Business split phone line problems. Coldy (17075) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1340173 2013-05-07 23:56:00 Hey all . First post .

For the past 15+ years we've had no faults with the phone in our small business .

Normally, if a call was answered and a second person tried to ring in, the other phones in our system would ring and could be answered as usual up to the maximum of two calls at once (two lines) .

As of late, when a call comes in and is answered, then a second person tries to ring through, the other phones will only ring twice then fall dead .

Does anyone have any information/solutions to help us out here?

I can't post a picture yet of our ancient machine used to split calls but the model is the Phillips Homephone System 2000 (15+ years old)
Coldy (17075)
1340174 2013-05-08 00:14:00 Welcome to the board Coldy. I think the reality of it is that you need to upgrade your ancient phone system and donate your old one to the museum of technology lol.

Sorry, not much help really I know, you might still be able to find a techy who has been in the business a long time that might still know their way around your system to look at it.
Iantech (16386)
1340175 2013-05-08 00:52:00 I'm with Iantech, sounds like you've more than got your moneys worth outta it at least! Chilling_Silence (9)
1340176 2013-05-08 01:15:00 I realise we're dealing with a dinosaur here. I'm just trying to work out whether the fault is with the machine or the lines/setup. I don't want to replace the machine if the fault is somewhere else. The old girl has become a valued piece of office nostalgia! Coldy (17075)
1340177 2013-05-08 01:42:00 I worked with Telecom faults for 21 years and I think that I know what your problem may be and it most probably is not your phone system.

You have two lines to your phone system. When the first line is busy, the next incoming call steps down to the second line. From what you have said, I would say that the second line is faulty, most probably a contact with another line, which would make the call cut off after a ring or two.

I suggest that you call Telecom and ask them to test the second line. If you do not know the number of the second line, it is usually, but not always, one number less than your main number, but Telecom should be able to tell you that from their records.

Call them now. I'm certain that they will be able to help you.
Roscoe (6288)
1340178 2013-05-08 11:37:00 When you say "The other phones ring twice", you mean the phones in the office? If that's the case it sounds like the stepping is working correctly.

If it's the callee that hears ringing then dead, I'd say it's the lines that aren't stepping correctly.

Then again, I specialize in VoIP, not PSTN unfortunately ;)
Chilling_Silence (9)
1340179 2013-05-09 02:47:00 We got it sorted.

The old box was discarded and a new system installed. Working perfectly.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help. Appreciated!
Coldy (17075)
1340180 2013-05-09 05:08:00 So it was the old PBX system then, going haywire, not the lines itself? Chilling_Silence (9)
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