telephone line

[nextqueen]

i have a base unit plugged in for a cordless phone downstairs and a second phone in the bedroom to go with it. if i plug in a phone that isnt cordless, ie just one of those cheap phones from argos, in two more sockets in the house will they work?

[ChuckFickens]

Yes, they should do.

[Buenchico]

BT lines normally have a REN ('Ringer Equivalence Number') of 4. Each device attached to the line (fortunately, except your router and/or Sky box) has its own REN, and the total can't exceed the line's REN.

So, if each of your phones only has a REN of 1, you'll be able to use all 4 of them. Most 'standard' phones have a REN of 1. Some cordless phones actually have a REN of less than 1, whereas some types of phone have RENs of, say, 1.5. You'll need to look at the labels, which should be on the base of each phone, to check the relevant RENs and to add them up.

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

The two cordless phones will only be counted as one though as they are (I assume) running from the same base unit, so it would have to be pretty exceptional for the total to be over 4 in this instance.

[SkellieMonster]

Buenchico is absolutely correct.

And in addition, you can get 'REN extenders' which take the total up to 11!

[Buenchico]

As Chuck states, it's the base unit for a cordless phone system that has the REN assigned to it. The number of handsets using that base unit is irrelevant.

In response to Trim's post:
Please replace 'can't' with 'shouldn't'. It's actually a criminal offence to connect to connect excessive REN to a BT line!

[mjwman]

We have just that set up. Mainly because I wanted a corded phone in case the cordless ever conked out, but hey we all have mobiles now so that matters not a jot any more.

[rojash]

The original REN was based on the fact that the current to produce the ring was drawn from the phone line itself. Most phones that connect to a power supply provide their own ringing current, and have an REN far lower than 1 (the lowest I've seen is .08)

[KJN]

I always keep a cheap phone that is not cordless at hand just in case there is a power cut, yes I do have a mobile but some people consider phoning a mobile expensive, (just a thought to share with you)