Battery Answerphone?

[Mick F]

I have no idea about landline voicemail.

This info about turning off the landline phones and converting to digital has really knocked the wind from my sails.

Next idea - seeing as were going to be forced to change our phone system - is can you get a WiFi connected landline answerphone?
All the rest of our stuff is WiFi connected to the router.

That way the base unit can be anywhere in the livingroom where there's an existing ringmain socket and the unit won't need a phone socket and a mains socket adjacent to each other.

[thirdcrank]

I have no idea about landline voicemail.

This info about turning off the landline phones and converting to digital has really knocked the wind from my sails.

Next idea - seeing as were going to be forced to change our phone system - is can you get a WiFi connected landline answerphone?
All the rest of our stuff is WiFi connected to the router.

That way the base unit can be anywhere in the livingroom where there's an existing ringmain socket and the unit won't need a phone socket and a mains socket adjacent to each other.

I understand that the RN has stopped depending on signal flags in much the same way, although I'd expect you to know more about that than I do.

I can't remember if I've mentioned this but I got a mobile ages ago, and a smart mobile in 2014. We kept the landline including answering machine because it suited mrs thirdcrank. We had to go over to the pretend landline a couple of years ago so we scrapped it.

IME few people leave a voicemail - texting is normal

[CliveyT]

Ok not an immediate answer but for when the big switchover happens- we've got rid of the landline for a SOGEA offering (so pure internet to the house with no associated phone line). Ported our existing mobile phone number over to Sipgate who are our internet phone provider (and I have a second sipgate account which my mobile is registered with so if I'm travelling then I just need to find wifi to call home and will go through to the pseudo-landline). I have a fritzbox router which has an answering machine function and will handle multiple cordless phones (which can be any make), so the phone doesn't have to be physically attached to the router.
If you don't look into the details it looks exactly like a conventional landline setup and it works well for us. The router wasn't cheap and may not now be available in the UK. The major disadvantage is if you do have a power cut then you have no phone line either. I'm considering getting a small UPS to keep the connection going for a short time.

[axel_knutt]

These days, many 'mains' appliances (router, radio, ansafone, PVR, etc) have a low voltage DC input, and a wallcube with a SMPS. If you find an ansafone like that it's a simple matter to replace the wallcube with a battery supply.

This one is powered off the line, no batteries or mains.

[Jdsk]

"Answer Phone WiFi?":
viewtopic.php?t=151921
with several suggested solutions.

Jonathan

[backnotes]

This one is powered off the line, no batteries or mains.

The phone linked to above seems to lack any of the buttons you might expect to find on an answering machine - play, delete, next message etc. or a message counter etc. One of the product reviews (in French) suggests that the manual doesn't seem to cover the answering machine function, and that the product is possibly mis-described because it isn't an answering machine after all:

Amazon's translation of the product review says that "The telephone works well, but there are no instructions in French to find out if there is indeed an answering machine. I was never answered: yes there is an answering machine. Therefore, I consider it a scam to post: with answering machine."

So "caveat emptor" may apply in this case!

[Mick F]

I see I'm repeating myself. I blame my age!

I also see there are alerts to merge the two threads.
I don't know how to do it, and I'm not sure if I have the "privileges" to do it.

Here is the other thread from last year.
It shows you how long I've been doing this in the livingroom!
viewtopic.php?t=151921

[rjb]

My doro cordless phone base station has a 6v supply from a power supply built in the 13 amp plug. You could therefore use a 6v battery pack to power it. If it also charges up your cordless phone you would need a battery capable of a suitable capacity, and have a spare to hand so you could keep it topped up and replaced as necessary. I feel an experiment coming on here. Sit down and have a beer whilst you mull it over.

[Jdsk]

To summarise several pages (and thanks for merging the threads):

Do you want a solution now that will survive the move to VoIP in a few years?

Why do you prefer a physical answering machine in the house to a service provided from somewhere else?

Jonathan

[gaz]

A mains powered BT 7660* dual handset phone may provide a solution.

It features a handset message indicator (although you may not like it ) .

Untitled.png

Plug in the base unit at your secondary socket and use mains power to charge a handset. The secondary unit is not plugged in and becomes a "dummy", with no function beyond acting as a drop-off/storage point for a handset in your desired prime location. Swap the handsets over each day so they remain charged.

* gaz has no personal experience of this product and makes no recommendation. Many similar products with equally miniscule message indicators may also be available.

[Mick F]

Thank you Gaz.

Many yonks ago we had a dual system like you suggest. The "dummy" could be in the livingroom and the main unit on the main BT socket at the back of the house.

Thanks for suggesting this, and reminding me.
We got rid of that phone system as it went up in smoke after a lightning strike on the (copper) lines. We've lost two like that and two routers as well over the years. We now disconnect the landline if there's an impending storm.

As for "going digital" I've been chatting to friends and we all came to the same conclusion ........... it won't happen for maybe a decade or more until we old fogeys die off.

So, I'm going to sleep on it and probably go with the dual unit idea and forget the digital.
The main unit can be at the back, and the 2nd phone can be on a cradle near a mains socket in a better location in the livingroom than it is at present.

Now, off to do some more gloss-work on the skirting. Hey ho, work to do.

[Jdsk]

...
As for "going digital" I've been chatting to friends and we all came to the same conclusion ........... it won't happen for maybe a decade or more until we old fogeys die off.
...

The current statements and guidance on migration:

Ofcom: "Moving landline phones to digital technology: what you need to know":
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecom ... line-calls

"Landline telephone services are changing":
https://www.futureofvoice.co.uk

December 2025 for most of the UK.

Jonathan

[Mick F]

Decided to fit our old phone in the livingroom and move the answerphone unit into the back bedroom.

This is the phone .............. that Mrs Mick F hates! .................. and we're considering a double cordless system, like wot we used to have.

[Mick F]

Bought this yesterday.
Seems fine.

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/panas ... 47105.html

[al_yrpal]

Bought this yesterday.
Seems fine.

https://www.currys.co.uk/products/panas ... 47105.html

Same as ours. We have a third handset in our bedroom. Announces who is calling from the number title you put in your caller list.

Al