Orchid V4, V4+ and Ranger 400 phone users - Discussion

heidegeist

My original Orchid phone - a Gotalk - has been working well for years, but is now developing faults. I bought a "reserve" Ranger 400 2-phone set before Orchid folded and have just got it out to programme it. A few issues have arisen:

1. The phones won't show as 1 and 2 - but 2 and 4 instead. I've tried to reset them by following the "delete handset" part of the instructions, but they stick at 2 and 4. Does this matter, and if so how do I reset them?

2. I have tried to load numbers into the memory of one of the handsets to no avail - and when I press the memory button it says "memory full". Any suggestions?

3. The four ringtones loaded on the Rangers are horrible - is there any way to change them?

If, after all that, the Ranger isn't a runner, does anyone have any experience of using the Orchid CPS dialler with a bog-standard DECT phone - and would that combination have the same money saving effect?

I would be very grateful for advice - I hope this is the right thread, but I'm a newbie here, so please be kind.

Many Thanks,

Heidegeist

Heinz

1. No, it doesn't matter (my current DECT system has handsets 1, 4, 5 and 6).
2. From the handset numbers you mentioned, it's clear the handsets and/or the base have been used before. Are you sure the handset's phonebook is not full?
3. No. I had a Ranger 400 system with 2 handsets for a while* and, apart from lack of outgoing speech volume issues, that was my main dislike.

* I'd bought a back up system for £1 on eBay and, as it came with 3 base stations and 2 handsets, I Freecycled 4 DECT systems (each with 1 handset) to 4 very happy Freecyclers.

heidegeist

Heinz,

Very many thanks for replying so quickly. Regarding the questions:

1. That's fine - thanks.
2. No, the phone book has never been filled before - it has no entries but still shows memory full.
3. Sad news - the ringtones would drive me nuts!!

Looks like we'll stagger on with the Orchid Gotalk until it finally dies.

Would you have a view on the final question in my last post - do you have any experience of using the Orchid CPS dialler (or the Mitel equivalent) with a bog-standard DECT phone - and would that combination have the same money saving effect? Orchid still seems to be selling one on their new website here - http://www.smallbusinesstelephonesystemsuk.co.uk/business_cpsdiallers.html - or is that old hat?

Once again, many thanks for your assistance,

Heidegeist

Heinz

Sorry, I wasn't even aware* of the CPS dialler so cannot comment. I've emailed them asking for details.

Except when I had the Ranger 400 system, I have always used a V4 dialler with a DECT system. Works perfectly. In fact, it's easier if anything because one V4 unit is all that's needed for a multi-handset system. I cannot see why the "CPS dialler" shouldn't do the same.

* Frankly, I'm very disappointed they didn't contact me in view of our close association (via their former employee, Toby Clark) in the past.

heidegeist

Many thanks again, Heinz - that gives me another option to work with.

Kind Regards,

Heidegeist

Heinz

Heinz wrote: »

Sorry, I wasn't even aware* of the CPS dialler so cannot comment. I've emailed them asking for details.

Orchid Telecom (yes, they still use that name) advise me they do, indeed, now market (in bulk, not to individuals*), the CPS dialler you mentioned.

Compared to the old V4, it is somewhat limited in functionality though - having no time/day/date capability and only 9 routing possibilities (e.g. all calls to a particular number range - or to multiple number ranges - route via 18185 at all times).

The dialler has an individual call override prefix (*0) and that can be changed to any suitable 2-digit sequence.

* Admin etc. costs mean that is not viable.

heidegeist

Can anyone help please??



Having replaced successfully (just before Christmas) my terminally ill GoTalk with a Ranger 400 that I had kept "just in case", all was going brilliantly until a couple of days ago when it began to misbehave very badly - as follows:

• Reception is intermittent - it goes on/off/on/off every second or so, making conversation impossible.
• It will often disconnect a couple of seconds after answering an incoming call.

All in all, it is unworkable in its present state (which is only a couple of months from "new out of the box").



I have taken the following actions - all to no avail:

• Checked whether it is a line issue with the provider (Primus) by connecting a basic dialler phone and calling with a manual 18185 prefix - the reception and line are fine.
• Cleared the carrier codes and routing rules as per Heinz's advice and re-programmed the phone - no luck.

I'm kind of stuck now - logic tells me that if the line works - and it seems to - the problem probably lies in the router/dialler in the Ranger base set.

Has anyone had similar problems and know how to fix them? If not, I think I'm destined for a generic DECT phone with manual 18185 predial until I can source a 2nd hand V4. Which is a shame, as I like the Orchid phones and V4s seem pretty scarce.


Living in hope!!!

Kind Regards

Heidegeist

tiptoe_mouse

heidegeist wrote: »

• Reception is intermittent - it goes on/off/on/off every second or so, making conversation impossible.
• It will often disconnect a couple of seconds after answering an incoming call.

I don't know anything about the Ranger 400 phone, but these problems sound like exactly the ones we had we our DECT phone (admittedly after using it for for many months, not just a couple). In our case, we replaced the rechargeable batteries in the phone with new rechargeables (simple in our case as our phone takes AA batteries - don't know what the Ranger takes) and it worked fine again. It appears that the batteries were not holding their charge.

Our friend had a similar problem with his dect phones, with the same cure. Might be worth a try (depending on what sort of batteries the Ranger takes)?

HTH

tiptoe

rc3675

My immediate thought on seeing your problem, regarded batteries. And with tiptoe_mouse suggesting the same it could be a good idea.
If I remember correctly (it'a a long time ago now, but I vaugely remember Orchid sending me some replacements for some reason) I don't think they're strainght batteries, rather a pair of AA or AAA wired in sequence with a connector attached. If so it should be fairly easy to replicate, but would need a soldering iron to fix properly.
Maybe my memory is wrong and it's straight AA's. I hope so for you.

rc3675

I've just gone into the cupboard and found my old Ranger phones and it's not the best of news, the batteries are wired AAA batteries.
Still if you can do it, plus if that is the fault, it gives you the opportunity to use longer lasting batteries.