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Fixing a Cordless Phone

Cordless telephones are made to withstand moderate abuse. If yours needs fixing, you may need to call a technician. Before that, however, try a few easy fixes.
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You can check the battery charge with a multimeter.


Disconnect the antenna from the circuit board, typically attached with a single screw.

A cordless telephone is a phone that has a base connected to a standard phone jack and an electrical wall outlet. The base receives the signal from the telephone line and translates it into radio waves that are transmitted to the cordless handset. The base also includes a recharger for the handset's batteries. Recharging takes place when the handset rests on the base.

Maintain proper charging:
  1. Once a month, clean the charge contacts on both the base and the handset with a pencil eraser.
  2. Once a month, leave the phone off the base until the battery completely discharges, then put it back on the base to recharge it (unless your owner's manual gives other instructions). If the battery does not recharge, replace it. Batteries typically last about a year. (Tip: As you replace a phone battery, write the date on it.)

Replace an antenna on a cordless telephone:

  1. Inspect the antenna to determine how it is installed. If you are still not sure, take it to a retailer that sells replacement parts and ask a clerk. Antennas on newer cordless phones screw in. Older models may require the unit be disassembled, the antenna desoldered, and the new one soldered into place.
  2. If disassembly is required, remove the cover to the battery compartment and look for screws or clips that allow access to the antenna and other components. Sometimes a simple visual inspection will identify the problem.

Text by Dan & Judy Ramsey - from "If It's Broke, Fix It!"
Artwork by Dan & Judy Ramsey
Copyright Fix-It ClubŪ © 2004


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