Answerphone

[whiskeryron]

I live in a residential care home who have their own phone system connected to BT. I have tried to install an answerphone but am having difficulty getting it to work properly, can anyone help please ?

[Buenchico]

Make & model?
Nature of the problem you're encountering?

[Tuvok]

It could be that their phone system is a digital one - you would need an adapter to connect your answerphone to their network.

Even if your answerphone sis "digital" that just means it records to memory and not to tape. Digital in regards to their phone system means it connects differently than just plugging in an off-the-shelf phone.

[whiskeryron]

Chris . BT 6510

Will not connect correctly to receive messages.

[whiskeryron]

Is this because the phone line is not directly connected to BT line ?

Phone system appears to be separate & connected to BT through main connection box.

[Buenchico]

The user guide for your phone states that it's compatible with most types of switchboard, so it seems strange that it doesn't want to work through the system in use where you are.

Try a call to the support line for BT products to see if they've got any ideas: 0800 145 6789

[Old_Geezer]

Not that I've a lot of experience ion this but I'd have thought that compatibility would depend not only on the set-up of the answering machine but also at the private exchange that one is trying to connect it to. Maybe one needs to speak to the telephone engineer at the care home and get them to set the exchange to expect an answering machine ?

[Tuvok]

Can you make outgoing calls?

Do you have to dial a number eg. 9, before you can make a call - if so, you are connected to a switchboard.

[Tuvok]

Check tht the phone is set to "Answer and Record" - if its just set to "Answer" then it won't let the caller leave a message.