Help with old model BT cordless phone

alstemp

Hi there - can anyone help me?

it's concerning a cordless phone, the BT Freelance XA5000. I won this phone on Ebay a week or so ago. Up until now I have used my home phoneline for broadband internet only and didn't use a conventional phone on it. I now have requirement for a phone which is why I bought this one.

I think this Freelance handset dates back to 2004/5. Anyway - I don't as yet have the manual. Still waiting for it - can't find it on BT's website either.

However my main concern is I cannot get a dial tone or receive any calls. I know it's not my master phone socket as i also use it for my internet line and have absolutely no problem with it.

My main problem is:

- i can't get a dial tone on the cordless phone
- if I call my number from say my mobile phone I can hear the phoneline ringing on my mobile, but not acutally hear the cordless phone ringing
- essentially I can't make any outgoing calls or receive incoming calls

Any ideas?

This is what I have checked os far:

• I am using the line cord that was supplied with the phone. I have tried both plugging the cord directly into the master phone socket, and also into the "splitter" device where I "share" the phoneline between my broadband internet and home phone.
• I have checked that both ends of the supplied line cord are connected securely.
• I have checked power is on and correctly plugged in (for base unit)
• I have tried switching the mains power off, waiting 5 seconds and then turning on again to reset product - made no difference

Does this sond like the handset is at fault? As I say it's hard for me to tell as I don't have the manual and can't read any troubleshooting tips.

thanks in advance

Heinz

My money's on the DECT handset's batteries not being charged (and/or not being capable of accepting a charge). Charge the handset for at least 16 continuous hours.

The second alternative is the handset is not registered with the base station.

I can't find a User Guide for the XA5000 but I expect the XA3000 is similar.

http://www.telephonesonline.co.uk/BT%20User%20Guides/DECT%20Cordless/BT%20Freelance/freelance_xa_3000.pdf

alstemp

Hi there Heinz, thanks for quick response. I thought it was already charged but will leave for a whole day and try again.

So if the batteries are not completely charged it won't ring even when you phone it and can hear it "ringing" say on your mobile phone earpiece?

Also ref registering the handset - do you have to do that even if there's just one handset and one base, ie it does not have 2 or 3 other handsets anywhere, it's just that one handset?

thanks regards

Heinz

alstemp wrote: »

Hi there Heinz, thanks for quick response. I thought it was already charged but will leave for a whole day and try again.

So if the batteries are not completely charged it won't ring even when you phone it and can hear it "ringing" say on your mobile phone earpiece?

Also ref registering the handset - do you have to do that even if there's just one handset and one base, ie it does not have 2 or 3 other handsets anywhere, it's just that one handset?

thanks regards

The base should ring but most can be set to silent - and you don't know whether your ebay purchase has been. You need a working handset to check that even if that User Guide I found is almost the same for your model and the procedure is there.

Similarly, you don't known that the handset you have received is registered to the base you have received.

macman

First thing I would do is to plug in a good old fashioned corded phone to check if you can get a dial tone and dial out. Quite possible for your broadband to work but still a problem on the voice side of the line, obviously you would not have been aware of this if you were not using the line for calls.
Sorry to ask the obvious, but now you are using a phone on this line, have you installed an ADSL filter?

alstemp

OK thanks - am going to have to find a corded phone I can borrow. I live in a small flat and there's only phone socket in whole place.

I use an ADSL filter yes - see attached link to one I have.
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1640723585.1256421170@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdjadeijeliehgcflgceggdhhmdgmj.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=807698&category_oid=

Right now the internet part is working fine but as I say no dial tone and no ringing sound if I dial the number.

is this something I should speak to BT about?

thansk

macman

No point in contacting BT until you have ruled out a faulty phone as above. Do the test in the BT test socket behind the master socket faceplate. If you call, BT the first thing they will do is ask you to run these tests. The reason being that if they come out and the fault is downstream of the master socket, then you will be charged minimum £125 call out.

spike7451

A lot of old phones draw their voltage from the phoneline,sometimes if your phoneline is shared,the voltage can be lower than normal & the is'nt enough there to charge the phone & make it ring if the batteries discharged.

alstemp

OK latest update - thoughts, ideas, suggestions . . ??

I took the phone from my apartment that I couldn't get a dial tone on to try in my neighbour's flat. And hey presto - I got a dial tone in her flat! so that must mean the fault is with the line?

So i called BT from my mobile who tested my landline while I waited - but it came up fine!!!!!!!!!!! and didn't give me an option to speak to a proper person just referred me to the fault/problem pages on the bT website.

Any bright ideas as to what to do now would be hugely appreciated. can't figure out what's going on with my line - the phone obvioulsy worked as it was fine in someone else's flat. But I def can't get a dial tone . . . !

thank you

spike7451

Phone BT Faults & ask them to increase the gain on your phoneline,liek I said above,it's the line voltage.

BT_company_representative

Hi alstemp, I have sent you a PM containing some information and I look forward to hearing from you.