A question about BT Callsign/cordless phones

[TraceyHand]

Hi folks!
We have BT callsign set up so I can differentiate between my personal incoming calls and my business ones (BT callsign gives you a second number with a different ring pattern)
Thing is, our current cordless phone network has ridiculous ringer melodies rather than proper phone rings and it doesn't distinguish between the 2 incoming call patterns.

What I need to know is, does anyone have a cordless phone that has proper phone rings on it? We need at least 4 cordless phones (same make/model) and are going to replace the whole system but it's no good getting one that cannot pick out the incoming business calls from the personal ones!

Thanks folks
Tracey

[Mike Hughes]

Hi Tracey,

I doubt if any cordless phones will work this way. The handsets will definitely always use a melody generator for the ring as the aren't driven by the ring tone voltage on the BT line but from the handset battery.

At best, I think all you can do is have a standard phone plugged in as well and use that to tell what kind of call is coming in (if/when you can hear it).

Mike

[george]

Caller display with as many suppliers and friends programmed in as possible?

[TraceyHand]

Caller display with as many suppliers and friends programmed in as possible?

Yes, interesting alternative!
Sometimes I need to be able to know, without approaching the phone, whether it is a business or personal call though (eg, when I'm dealing with rowdy kids or nursing my littl'un) to enable me to make a decision whether to answer!

After much discussion with BT, they have informed me that thei Freestyle 2000 series is callsign compatible.
However, I've also had BT advice today telling me that NO cordless phones will be compatible so it's anyones guess (I'm inclined to believe the latter, form experience)

We may end up getting a non-cordless phone for the main part of the house, so we can, at least, hear the different ring from a phone somewhere, even if it's not one of our cordless ones

That'd be significantly cheaper too as it'd mean we only need buy a cheap corded phone to add to our 4 cordless ones we already have! Rather than replacing the whole cordless system which would cost a lot more!

[Mike Hughes]

Ha, this looks like it might be a good solution for you.

http://www.shop.bt.com/invt/ccr101

If I read it correctly, then using the twin talk stuff, only one set of phones rings depending on the callsign ringing.

You still need to two sets of phones though.

Mike

[Legends]

Hi Tracey

I use BT Synergie 3500 twin set for this very purpose and it works a treat.

I believe BT also do a 4 phone version.

The ring is electronic but it can be set to operate as a standard ring tone and it is very easy to tell the difference between home and business calls.

Note that only BT phones are guaranteed to work with Callsign

Hope this helps.





Ian

[TraceyHand]

Hi Ian,
I spoke to BT and they informed me that, while a lot of their phones don't support Callsign (only silly ring melodies) several of them do, indeed, have a "ring ring" option which enables Callsign to be used.
I was given a few modesl that would be compatible and some that aren't.
Mind you, I did speak to some "know-it-all" BT call person who told me that NO cordless phones would work with Callsign... I put him right ;-)

[Earlybaby]

Just as an aside.. We use a really old BT Dect phone in the home office plugged into a VoIP Gateway with the Telephone Line plugged into the gateway also. We do get totally different ringing cadence between the two, so we can tell between VoIP (business) calls and personal.

Will