AboutSpencer Holcombe Expertise Hi, thanks for checking me out, I have several years in the telecom industry, working for Pacific Telephone,American Bell,AT&T,AT&T Communications,AT&T Information Systems, and Pacific Bell-SBC. I can answer most questions regarding Telephones,wiring,jacks,PBX, Local and Long Distance,Billing,Custom calling services, Customer Service,and Fraud. I can`t answer Cellular questions.
Expert: Spencer Holcombe Date: 10/13/2006 Subject: Cordless Phones Acting Up
Question If somebody calls and activates the answering machine without us picking up the handset, the beeping sound continues throughout the message and can be heard through the base speaker.
The batteries in the old phone were replaced not long ago and were fully charged, and we went through the full-charge instructions on the new phone.
Once, when we moved the cordless to another room, it was okay the first couple of times we picked it up and we got a regular dial tone, but the next time we picked it up, we got the tones again.
The problem is pretty much constant, but stops at times. For example, when the phone company guys were here, I came up with the idea of taking the battery out of our wireless doorbell to see if that helped. When I took it out, the tones stopped, but (of course) after the phone guys left, the phone started making the noises again even though I hadn't put the battery back in the doorbell transmitter. I have taken the all the batteries out of the doorbell transmitter and chime, and also a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer we've had for two years. Those are the only wireless devices we have besides the garage door opener, but I would think if it's stuck and sending out some kind of signal, the garage door would try to open or close.
Thanks for your information.
Eric Planalp
We have tried moving the new cordless phone to another room and it does it there. If we plug a regular phone into any jack where the cordless phone was making the tones, we get a regular dial tone with no tones.
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Followup To
Question -
Hi,
A couple of days ago, when we either called somebody, or somebody called us, our 2.4 gHz cordless phone would make a repeated series of 4 beeps. We could talk over it, but nothing would make it stop. Thinking it was the phone, my wife bought a new 5.8 gHz phone, but it does the same thing. Our hard-wired phone doesn't do it. We had the phone company come by, and they said something was affecting our cordless phones, but all I read about interference on cordless phones mentions crackling or cutting out; no mention of repeated tones. We can use ours, we just get the annoying tones that make using it unfeasible; the reception is always fine.
We have added no new devices in our home, and the only thing we moved was a cheap scanner/copier that we've had for two years and just moved two feet farther away from the phone. The nearest neighbor's house who is even likely to be using some kind of wireless router or something is more than 40 yards away.
Any idea what is causing this repeated series of four tones whenever we try to use our phone?
Thank you,
Eric Planalp
Answer -
Eric,
Is the sound (tones) coming from the PHONE, or do you hear them through the receiver ie: if your cordless is in use, can the tones be heard on your wired extension? If they can only be heard through the cordless phone(s) CHECK the battery(S) and make sure their charged. You can try to move the base units to another jack and power outlet location as well. (the fact that you describe a "series of four tones" makes me think it's a battery alert rather than another device causing it. Older cordless phones need to be recharged and batterys replaced and new phones should be charged fully before using them. See your owners instructions for replacing batteries and charging information. Spencer
Answer Eric,
thanks for the update. The only other thing thing I can think to try would be placing an RF filter on your phone(s). These are available at electronic shops/stores at little cost and just plug into the jack(s) where you might have a problem. I'm asuming you've checked your modem and computer and they aren't causing the problem. Spencer
