AboutEric Miller Expertise I have over 10 years worth of experience in the telecommunications industry. I can give helpful information on virtually all aspects of telecommunications from residential installations to full size commercial installations. I have extensive experience in working with telecom media from CAT3 cable to fiberoptic cable. Be forewarned, hardware and software is not my thing, but I will give it my best to answer your questions.
Experience I have over 10 years worth of telephony experience, most of it in installation. I have extensive experience working with dial tone. I also have extensive knowledge in the installation/termination of all low-voltage cables, from CAT3 voice grade cable, to outside plant cable, to fiberoptic cable. I have used all types of test equipment ranging from CAT5 cable testers to OTDR's. I have experience in working with digital keys systems and PBX's.
Education/Credentials I have been BICSI certified. I have held certifications in digital key systems, voicemail, and other external equipment. I have held numerous certifications covering the installation of low voltage cable, including fiberoptic cable.
Expert: Eric Miller Date: 9/17/2007 Subject: Digital Phone
Question I work for a cable company who recently started offering digital phone service (not VOIP). As we are still new with this, we keep finding new issues that we need to find out.
We have a number of issues where the customers are unable to access their voicemail from their home phones, mostly when they use a cordless phone in the house. They get a message that the PIN is incorrect, yet they are entering it correctly and when they call in from a different phone (a cell or work phone), they CAN get into voicemail.
Do you know if these wireless phones work with a digital phone service?
Also, do you know if there is any kind of list anywhere of types of phones that DO work with digital phone, or a list that do NOT work with digital phone?
I appreciate any help we can get with this.
Thank you!
Answer Hi Jim-
When you say you're offering digital phone service and not VoIP, I take that to mean broadband service. My opinion is going to reflect my assumptions (if I am wrong I do apologize)with the broadband service. It sounds to me like there is an issue with the translation that is being sent back to the CO from the house phone. If the house phones are cordless "broadband" phones they may be sending back a slightly different translation than what the main switch is looking for. I think the reason customers are able to access their Vmail from outside the home is they are going through actual telephone exchanges that clean up and rectify the translations that are sent back and forth. With the home phones being cordless, they may be getting interference from another frequency, also. If they pick up interference from inside the house, they could push that "garbage" into the data stream back towards your CO.
With any new technology, like you said, there are bound to be hiccups. In my field of work, we are deploying new VoIP technology and are constantly having to find, troubleshoot, and fix all kinds of little things. As time goes on, the industry will get a grasp on these new technologies like VoIP and broadband phone service and these problems will go away. The sooner the better!
I hope I was able to help in some way. If I can help further, just let me know. Thanks for the question!
