Rotary Phone Help

[Ziggy]

Again, mine works with the phone line from my cable modem. I guess it varies from service to service?

Did you call your provider and ask?

[Luke]

@ Luke - I posted a couple of links in my previous reply, would one of those work?

Unfortunately no, but I appreciate your help.

Did you call your provider and ask?

That was the first thing I did.

[CRTGAMER]

@ Luke - I posted a couple of links in my previous reply, would one of those work?

Unfortunately no, but I appreciate your help.

Did you call your provider and ask?

That was the first thing I did.

I don't see why one of the rotary to tone converter's wouldn't work. If I understand them right, they read the pulse counts of the rotary and output tones just like a real touch tone phone. The same musical beeps that any touch tone sends. If you don't need the # or * key they should work. I think some even have the extra keys on the box. A forty dollar investment at the links though, maybe cheaper on Amazon somewhere.

Maybe your cable provider does have that pulse dial capability for Rotary phones. After all, they do provide basic cable analog for older TVs without a digital box. The same idea of support for Rotary Phones might be hidden in the sytem, just not widely known by the average employee. Maybe the technician was mistaken, did you try the phone?

@ Luke - What is your Cable Provider?

Maybe we could list Cable Companies that support Rotary Phones.

Mine is: COX CABLE, supports Rotary Phones and Analog Cable for older TVs.

[Luke]

First, thanks again for all the help.

My provider is Suddenlink, which was formerly COX, just as CRTGMR has. So weird that I can't get the phone to work.

I've found a few adapters that "might" work, but they are in the $40-60usd range. Kind of dumb to have a non functional telephone hanging around, so I might have to bite the bullet on this one and pony up some cash.

I just keep thinking there has to be another way...

[CRTGAMER]

You should be able to at least answer calls and talk with it, just not rotary dial. The ringer should work too and a touch tone phone on the same line can dial out. There are even portable beep boxes that can "dial out" by sending tones into the handset mouth piece. Of course the nostalgia will be turning the dial, but at least for now you should be able to use it.

[alienjesus]

Maybe we could list Cable Companies that support Rotary Phones.

Lets make a new thread! - "Let's name the top 100 Cable Companies that support Rotary Phones Together!"

[Luke]

You should be able to at least answer calls and talk with it, just not rotary dial. The ringer should work too and a touch tone phone on the same line can dial out. There are even portable beep boxes that can "dial out" by sending tones into the handset mouth piece. Of course the nostalgia will be turning the dial, but at least for now you should be able to use it.

I've tried dialing in with my mobile phone, and no luck.

What baffles me is that I know the phone works, it may be my provider that's screwing it all up.

[CRTGAMER]

I've tried dialing in with my mobile phone, and no luck.

What baffles me is that I know the phone works, it may be my provider that's screwing it all up.

That is strange, not even a dial tone when hooked up? I always thought the only major difference would be the way the phone sends a dial signal. The ear, mouth pieces, bell and hangup switch should be the same wiring layout. The mechanical bell inside draws more power then a touch tone 'bell" speaker but it seems the phone should still work. The phone should be able to at least be used as just an extension to a touch tone phone on the same line.

Maybe something with the electronics identification side of it? I'm thinking along the lines of Caller ID which cannot be displayed on a Rotary Phone.

[Hobie-wan]

I've tried dialing in with my mobile phone, and no luck.

What baffles me is that I know the phone works, it may be my provider that's screwing it all up.

I remember when things started switching from phones that the phone company merely lended you (like these rotary phones) to using your self purchased phone you had to tell your provider the ringer equivalence number. Maybe that old phone is too beefy for whatever your line is set to since they're not expecting you to need that much juice for it to ring those big bells. Heck, maybe there isn't enough juice to run the phone for an outgoing call either.

[Ziggy]