Corded Landline

heathersonline

Howdy, can anyone let me know if this should work with an Eircom landline? Its bt branded. The mother bought one and I expected it would just be a plug in and go job. Stuck the batteries in and plugged the phone line into it, but nothing, no dial tone etc. Any suggestions?

http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=30001&langId=-1&catalogId=1500001101&productId=1500204031&Trail=C%24cip%3D1500012859.Office%2C%2BPC%2Band%2Bphones%3EC%24cip%3D1500012866.Telephones%3EC%24cip%3D1500012871.Corded%2Btelephones&categoryId=1500012871&clickfrom=name

JohnnieM

It'll work allright..
You just need a proper cable ..did you use a bt/irish adaptor with the supplied cable or an irish cable that you had allready..?

heathersonline

Hi Johnnie, I just took the plug from the eircom phone and stuck it into the BT phone

rmacm

That probably won't work...there's an adapter you can get that will allow you to plug in the BT phone with the original cable and then plugin into the eircom phone socket.

It'll look something like this:

heathersonline

Hey, ok here goes. I have the above connector, and when I test it out on the line upstairs using this connection, its fine, works 100%. Problem is that this is for where I need this one, the regular eircom lines runs through a couple of walls and under carpet to the phone in the kitchen. I think I'll have to get an adapter that I can plug onto the end of the eircom line in the kitchen, which converts to plug into the above, then the above goes into the phone.

Did that make sense to anyone?!!! easier solutions are welcome! :eek:

JohnnieM

I think i follow what your saying...
No that wont work.. the adaptor as above neeeds to be plugged in to the wall side of the telephone cord...

Solair

Basically the problem is that BT phone cords are rather odd.
They have an RJ11 (Standard Irish or US) phone plug on the phone's end but it's not wired correctly, rather it's wired as if it were a BT phone plug.

In a correctly wired RJ11 phone connector the line is carried on the centre two contacts. This is how it's done in the US, Canada, Ireland and in all countries using RJ11 connectors. BT, for some weird reason wire it so that it's carried on the outer two.

In short, you have to use an adaptor and the phone wire that came with the phone.

You can get an Irish phone coupler that lets you plug 2 cords together.
Or, failing that, get an Irish phone double adaptor (any hardware store or even tesco has them)
Plug your RJ11 extension cord into one socket and the Irish to BT adaptor into the other side. It will work!

Phone coupler:


Phone double adaptor:

heathersonline

Looks like what I need, I'll give Maplins a go tomorrow!

Solair

Maplins is the worst place *ever* to get Irish Telephone accessories! They seem to be incapable of realising that the Republic of Ireland isn't part of the UK and uses different standard for telephone wiring and a few other things.

Try Woodies, Atlantic Homecare or any local DIY shop. Most electrical shops also stock phone accessories.