TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINE?

Question

Home phone answering machine stops ringing in after the second ring, which doesn't allow the recorder to come on. Machine is set to pickup after 4 rings. It's a new AT&T phone and was told the phone may be defective. Any thoughts as to why this is happening since I had the same problem with my old phone.

Answer 1

well if that phone is not defective, and this has happened with a different phone, then there is still some equipment that is connected to your line that is defective... it is pre-tripping, which 80% of the time or more is defective equipment connected to your phone line inside your home...



these conditions usually occur after a power surge (namely a lightning storm) on your phone line, damaging the internal electrical components of the phone creating a short when ringing current is placed on your line...



what happens when you call your line with this phone disconnected from your line.. do you get more than 2 rings - if yes, then this phone is defective... if no, then there is something else that is the problem.. what else is connected to your phone line? if you have an alarm system connected to your phone line that is likely going to be the problem...



there are some occasions where this may be an outside trouble.. if the phone company told you that the phone is defective when you called them, but did not come out and check your line, you may want to go to the NID on the outside of your house and connect a working corded phone there, and test if the incoming calls work - if they do, the problem is inside, if not, then it is an outside problem and the phone company needs to be called to make the repairs outside...



to prevent this from occurring again (if the trouble is inside) you should place a telephone line surge protector at the main DEMARC

Answer 2

It's funny, I was experimenting with something similar recently but using the Asterisk PBX to record the messages - this was for warehouse deliverys out of hours though. You can get doorphones that simulate a regular telephone, or you can modify an existing speakerphone to connect to a doorphone, then use this with a cheap old PBX (as someone else has mentioned) from ebay or similar to "speed dial" the anserphone when the button is pressed. A bit messy and you'll need a bit of electronics knowledge, but quite possible. Edit: If you want to simulate ringing, you'll need 50v AC at very low current. This can be generated from a battery with a 555 timer chip and a transistor, or I think Maplin have/had a ring generater circuit that was intended for making phones on stage in a theatre ring - that would do the job. Be careful when electricity is involved of course and don't go messing with anthing mains unless you're qualified.

Answer 3

When you call in on that line what happens when the phone stops ringing? What does the person calling get?

Answer 4

Get the automatic answering service that comes with your phone provider.