I bought a BeoTalk 1200, the front panel works fine, and it can record via the microphone, and playback. However, it doesn't notice what's going on on the phone line. Lifting another phone on the same circuit does not produce an icon of a phone on the display. When the phone rings, the 1200 neither anounces the call, nor answers it. The display currently shows (other than time and date) a square and a two-headed arrow.

The vendor tells me that he replaced the cable which runs from the power/line splitter to the phone socket with one from a computer, just prior to sending it to me. On the assumption that this is the problem, and that a normal phone "modem cable" is not adequate, which contacts from the phone socket should be connected to the 1200? If someone can tell me, then I'll use a multimeter to see whether the right pins are connected.

Thank you,

Mark 

Mark,

Generally speaking a US style modem cable RJ11 to RJ11 only has two of the 4 connections made. You will need a cable with all 4 connections. The pins are connected one for one without crossover.

However if you are in the UK it will be an RJ11 to BT style connector which are standard.

Actually, Keith, what I'm trying to establish is whether there is a wiring fault between the 1200 and the BT socket. I think the answer is "yes". The vendor tells me that he couldn't find the correct cable to run from the splitter to the BT plug, so replaced it with a computer cable. It appears that the computer cable uses pins 3 and 4 (the middle ones) at the splitter, whereas the splitter expects pins 2 and 5.

Actually, looking at the splitter on my BeoCom 4, the Power connection uses pins 2 and 5, whilst the Line connection uses pins 3 and 4. This is different to the splitter with the 1200, where 2 and 5 are used for both Line and Power. As this would allow the power plug to be inserted in the Line socket of the splitter, and put power down the Line connection to the 1200, it seems dangerous. I will try the BeoCom 4 splitter on the 1200 tonight, as this looks like the problem.

Mark 

Mark,

Let me start by answering another members point and that is Beotalk 1200 is an analogue line only product and as such cannot be used on lines like ISDN.

With regards to the cable issue, don't forget that in the UK pin 3 on the BT type phone plug is "Ring" and without pin 3 connected the Beotalk 1200 will not answer any calls. Pins 2 & 5 are the line and pin 3 is created in the Master Socket via a capactor.

So, if you have your Beotalk 1200 plugged into a "Slave" socket without pin 3 connected, this could be your problem.

With regards to the BT (6 pin) to RJ11 (4 pin) cable, pins 1& 6 on the BT type plug are not used, but the rest of the pins are in order, in other words pin 2 of the BT plug goes to pin 1 of the RJ11 plug. Actually on mind I use a RJ11 to RJ11 cable (4 wire) with an RJ11 to BT adapter.

I suggest that you use a standard and cheap 4 wire RJ11 to RJ11 cable with a RJ11 to BT adapter such as the one you see HERE

If that still does not work then plug your BeoTalk 1200 into your Master Socket

I tried out the 1200 using the BeoCom 4 splitter last night... and it worked fine! I clearly needed either a cross-over cable, or a BeoCom 4 splitter - either would do the job.