Caller ID failure on AT&T phones, a fix???

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 10

We use AT&T model 955 multiline phones here at
the house. One line is a standard landline, the other
line is my Vonage line. When they are both plugged
into the same phone (no matter the configuration)
the Caller ID stops working. When testing each
line separately, Caller ID works fine. When I had
two LANDLINES everything was fine.... when I plugged
in Vonage was when my caller ID problems began....
Vonage CID data must be throwing something for a loupe.
I tried wiring it many different ways into the phone (two line
wiring, single dedicated wires, etc) and nothing fixes it.

I'm using the Motorola VT2442. Is there any suggestions
to resolve this? I love my phones.

~Brendan

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Does caller ID fail on both lines or just one? Is there a hum or something on either of the lines that isn't there when only one is connected?

Posts: 1179 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1179

omarawatch wrote:

When they are both plugged
into the same phone (no matter the configuration)
the Caller ID stops working. When testing each
line separately, Caller ID works fine.

Are you saying that when you test the Vonage line on another phone caller id works? Or when you test it on this same phone without your landline, caller id works?

It's a bit unclear. If it is the 2nd case, then my suggestion is to get somekind of dsl filter and put it into the landline since it looks like the landline is causing interference on your phone.

Some have found these dsl filters helpful in eliminating whatever interference in their phones so that they can use all its features. Perhaps your situation is lke that.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 10

What I mean is that using the SAME two line phone:

Caller ID works with two land lines on the phone display
Caller ID works with one land line
Caller ID works with one Vonage Line

Caller ID DOES NOT WORK on the
display for phone calls to EITHER line when
one landline and one Vonage is attached

Strange.... but the only theory I have is that the Vonage
line is putting off some noise of some kind (nothing audible)
causing issue when it's in use. I don't have a DSL
circuit for my ISP so DSL noise on the landline isn't it
(but I can try a noise filter on the Vonage if someone
thinks it will do some good?)

Please keep thinking of reasons why the Vonage line
craps out my caller ID for my phones (PS I also tested
other AT&T model 955 phones in our house, does
the same thing so it's not phone-specific).

Thanks a bunch! ~B

Posts: 1179 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1179

Brendan,

a dsl filter is often used with a dsl connection but not always.

check out this post especially pg 2

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic10370-0-asc-10.html

he used one to enable his phone to function properly. I was simply suggesting a similar possible solution since there is obviously some line noise from somewhere such that your phone's caller id is not functioning properly.

hope this helps. I think it's worth the $5-6 to try it and you can always return it if it doesn't work.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Agreed.

Brendan, we've seen a number of posts with people describing strange behavior with 2 line phones. I've used one with Vonage and a landline without problems, but others have had issues with things like static noise. Now you've got this one with caller ID. Frankly, I haven't seen any definitive solutions and a few experiments, such as the DSL filter, may help.

Question: Are you distributing the Vonage line to your 2 line phone via house wiring or are you going directly from the Vonage adapter to the phone?

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 10

Testing directly to the phone to avoid inhouse wiring questions.

Any other testing ideas other than a DSL filter for the
Vonage line (since the Vonage line is what causes the
interference). Any settings or changes Vonage can make
(or myself) to the Motorola router I have? ~B

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Here's a simple one. Try reversing line 1 and line 2; i.e., if Vonage is currently plugged into the line 1 port on the phone, try plugging it in as line 2 and making the landline line 1. And vice versa, of course.

Here's another. If you're using quality phone cords that have all four wires (two pairs) wired, try a couple of cheapies that have only the center pair- line 1- wired. The idea here is to prevent the phone itself from acting as a bridge that connects the Vonage line to the second pair in your house wiring. Most 2 line phones have a port labelled line 1-2 and another labelled line 2. The first one is used if you have fully wired, 2 line RJ-11s for the house wiring and want to connect two lines using just one cord. If you're using both ports on the phone, whatever is connected into the line 2 port is bridged to the line 2 contacts in the line 1-2 port by the phone itself.

Posts: 260 · Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:38 pm Post subject:

Here are some threads about the same problem

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic1095.html

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic9600.html

It seems this setup works with some models of multiline phones but not others.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Thanks for the links. They certainly seem to support Mundy's suggestion.