Depending on whom you ask, the telephone is one of the world's greatest or worst inventions. Most people, however, agree that it is both. It can bring you the friendly voice of a loved one or that of a rude stranger at 2 A.M. It can deliver useful Web pages or annoying faxes. Sometimes you wish it would break of course, then you would have to fix it!
A telephone is a low voltage transmitter and receiver for distributing and reproducing sounds over a distance. A call from a fixed telephone goes through a series of local and main exchanges that route it to the called telephone. The call may be transmitted over metal cables, radio links, fiber-optic cables, or a combination of these components. All together, it's called a telephone system.
If you get a continuous dial tone, even when dialing, the red and green wires are probably reversed. Try the following options. If you have the same problem on all your telephones, remove the network interface module cover and switch the red and green wires leading to the phones. If the problem affects only one telephone, use a screwdriver to remove the cover of the modular jack serving that telephone and reverse the red and green wires leading from the jack to the telephone.
Other problems may occur within the telephone itself. Although many telephones can be replaced inexpensively, some problems can be resolved easily by checking connections and settings.
If there is no sound from a classic telephone headset, you may be able to remedy the problem (see below). Electronic phones are harder to service (sometimes impossible because many new ones are sealed).
Improve transmitter sound on a standard phone:
- Unscrew the mouthpiece cover and lift out the transmitter.
- Clean off dirt with a foam swab dipped in denatured alcohol.
- Clean metal contacts beneath the transmitter.
- Raise the metal contacts slightly with a screwdriver and clean with an emery cloth.
- Reassemble the headset and make a call. If poor sound persists, have the phone serviced by a professional or replace it.
Improve receiver sound on a standard phone:
- Unscrew the earpiece cover and lift out the receiver.
- Loosen terminal screws and remove the wire leads.
- Clean the leads and screws with an emery cloth.
- Reconnect each wire terminal securely to its screw.
- Reassemble the handset. If poor sound persists, have the phone serviced by a professional or replace it.
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