Hello:

Would anyone be able to help me with a problem?

Since purchasing a used Beotalk 1401 (U.S. issue, 1991) recently, I have been unable to operate the answering system.  The handset seems to work fine in its telephone functions, whether plugged directly into a wall socket or into a "splitter" along with the plug from the answering system.  When the answering system is powered by the adapter / transformer, the "ON/OFF ANSW" or upper indicator flashes red (as it should, I believe).  Following the steps listed in the manual for recording an outgoing message, however, the process fails.  I am attempting to use the system with a B&O supplied power adapter (not included in my original purchase) but with a non B&O supplied, two-socket, plug-in splitter (again, the original absent on purchase).  I am wondering if the lack of the originally supplied splitter / adapter may be the reason for malfunction.  I suppose other possible causes could be improper plug installation (sequence of coloured wires is different on base and handset plugs) or circuit board issues.

On pressing this rocker switch to select the "ANSW" function, the LED changes to solid green and will flash (green) when the switch is held down.  When the switch is released and the handset is lifted (dial tone is audible) no cue is apparent and, whether the handset is returned to the base (switched "off") or held (remaining "on"), the upper indicator returns within a few seconds to flashing red.  Of course, no answer can be heard through the handset, following the steps listed to play one.

Even when using the ON/OFF selection of the upper rocker switch, the indicator briefly remains red then returns to flashing mode (as it would with no message recorded).  It would seem there is no signal going from one unit to the other and I wonder, if the issue may indeed be with the line adapter, if I may be able to wire a two-socket wall plate to allow for this.

If anyone may have advice, clues, suggestions or a service manual, I would be very glad to hear from you!

Thanks!  

 

Having been in a similar situation, I believe I can say that the phone line splitter is indeed not a normal one, but specifically engineered for this product. My solution to having a 1401 without this important part was to wait until another one came up on eBay, this time with it included. I have spoken with Arlington Heights headquarters and they say that part is not available to order.

Thanks PL!  That's one more piece of the puzzle, as I see it.  So the good news is: my answering system may not be malfunctioning; the bad news is: I need a hard to find item (or need to duplicate its function, somehow)!

Perhaps someone else may have more clues for me?

Cheers!

 

 

I can try and take apart the splitter that I do have, to see what's going on inside. It may be as simple as just a few wires placed in a nonstandard arrangement...

Darn! Where were you went i bought my 1401! hehe i got rid of it, had exactly the same issue, didn't have the splitter. Never mind! If you figure it out, PL, archive it, would be valuable information for the next person! :)

A very kind offer!  Not knowing what may be involved in opening the splitter to view, I wouldn't ask you to risk damaging it simply for my sake, though.

It did occur to me, however, that the splitter may simply re-route the connection from one of the main pair of conductors (the middle two) of the handset into the answering unit where a switch would either return the phone signal to the handset, through another conductor, or engage connection between the two for message transfer.  Perhaps you could just make  continuity tests for each of the contacts of the sockets and plug (this would take more of your time than I should ask for!)?  Resistance checks might indicate if there was any componentry within.

Another issue I should check on, even before you consider testing or opening your splitter, is the correct sequence of the wire pairs at the modular plugs.  On the Beocom 1401, the handset, the colour sequence is (when viewed from the side with the retainer clip, cable down, left to right): red, blue, white,(last contact unused).  This matches the sequence in the plug of a newer Beocom 1401 set I have (purchased new, this year; it's never been changed), and must be correct as it works fine.  The plug from the Beotalk 1401 (answering) unit has four wires in the sequence of: red, blue, green, white.

I simply don't know enough about the system to guess at, or try random configurations with any risk of damage to a circuit as a possibility.

Thank you, again, for your input!

Rich 

Dave:

Sorry to hear you parted with your Beotalk.  I had looked at the dialogue from your quest for help while I was trying to find answers (or just figuring out what the questions were) to my problems.  The Montreal Beostore has helped, in supplying a new power supply (and feet), but, probably because the system has been out of production for so long, they were not absolutely familiar with it and even they were unsure of the requirement for a specially configured phone line adapter.

Were you able to set up your standard base with your Beocom 1401?  As I recall you had inadvertanltly removed the note pad door spring . . .

best regards,

Rich

Found it -- it's a small black splitter, outwardly identical to any other $0.99 splitter from a hardware store, but labelled TEL and ANS on the two female connections. Will test do a continuity test to see how it is wired and report back...

OK, here is the pin layout we are dealing with:

TEL   1 2 3 4
ANS   1 2 3 4
OUT   1 2 3 4

Testing to follow...

This is what I have so far... not guaranteed to be correct, but does this match anything (for example a two-line switching system) that people are familiar with?

TEL 1 > OUT 4
TEL 2 > ANS 1 > OUT 4
TEL 3 > ANS 4 
TEL 4 > OUT 1

ANS 1 > TEL 2 > OUT 4
ANS 2 > OUT 3
ANS 3 > OUT 2
ANS 4 > TEL 3

OUT 1 > TEL 4
OUT 2 > ANS 3
OUT 3 > ANS 2
OUT 4 > ANS 1 > TEL 2

Good information!  I will wire my plate accordingly and try it out, tonight.

Thanks very much!  I will let you know how it works.

 

Richard

I just finished trying to replicate the conditions you had listed and most of it seems to work - the only exception I found is in the first line: TEL 1 > OUT 4.

Unless I am mistaken, if ANS 1 has continuity only with TEL 2 and OUT 4 (as stated in two ways; also OUT 4 > ANS 1 > TEL 2), TEL 1 should not have continuity to OUT 4 (otherwise, TEL 1 would be continuous to TEL 2 and ANS 1, as well).  It does not seem to follow.

Then again, perhaps I misinterpret the designations you use.  I am assuming OUT 1 is the first contact on the plug end (retainer tab up), or the black conductor in the set with the order of: black, red, green, yellow; and for ANS and TEL, it would be the reverse order (1 would normally contact 4, etc.).  Am I correct?

Would you mind re-checking the contacts for continuity to TEL 1?

Thanks again - I remain hopeful we can make this work!

Yes, clearly an error on my part! It's difficult to create a connection to one wire only. The revised chart looks like this:

TEL 1 > OUT 4
TEL 2 > ANS 1
TEL 3 > ANS 4 
TEL 4 > OUT 1

ANS 1 > TEL 2
ANS 2 > OUT 3
ANS 3 > OUT 2
ANS 4 > TEL 3

OUT 1 > TEL 4
OUT 2 > ANS 3
OUT 3 > ANS 2
OUT 4 > TEL 1

The revised chart seems to make more sense.  After my first attempt of wiring my plate to match, the Beotalk would still not give a cue nor remove the dial tone when using the message record sequence; still not recording.

I have not had a lot of time to look at this but will check everything over again soon.  I will post another message here, to indicate what I find.

Thanks, once again, for all your effort!

Just to be sure, you are attaching TEL to the BeoCom handset, ANS to the cable from the base, and OUT to your wallplate, right?

Yes;  I believe I have arranged the wires so the pair in the middle (# 2 and # 3), coming from the wall socket, would go through the answering system first, then to the handset (out of "ans" # 1 and # 4, into "tel" # 4 and #1).

Seems simple enough but I can make all kinds of errors when I'm in a hurry!  I still haven't had time to re-check, unfortunately.

Thanks, again.

Where I wrote:  "out of "ans" # 1 and # 4, into "tel" # 4 and #1" I should have indicated: into "tel" # 3 and # 2 as I had it wired.  The handset does get the phone line signal (dial tone works; can dial out and complete calls, etc.) with the wires arranged this way but still no cue to record a message when following the sequence.  The handset does not get the line signal when the answering system plug is removed from the "ans" socket; I think this would indicate the interconnection is right.  The answering system allows the signal to bypass but does not interupt it to exchange directly with the handset.

In any event, after checking everything again, no success.  No fault of yours, PL (pardon the pun); thanks to you for your attention and going out of your way in trying to help.

 The possibility of an internal fault seems high.  When I received the unit, I had found old batteries in the back-up compartment which were leaking and there were obvious signs of corrosion at and around the terminals.  This was cleaned up, as well as possible without opening the base enclosure (the means to which were not obvious).  There is a circuit board partially visible, when viewing the unit with the battery compartment open, but I cannot access it to check it out.

I'll look for instructions for disassembly now, I suppose, but am wondering if the problem may be with some irreplaceable component on a board that is no longer available.  A magic "reset" button would be a nice thing to have here . . . 

 Thanks again. 

Why don't you send me a PM with your address and I'll put the little splitter in the mail to you so that you can try it out -- I'm not using the machine presently and would be glad to loan it to you if you'd like to examine it...