message waiting indicator draining cordless batteries

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 06, 2004 Posts: 3

I have a GE model 21006GE3-A cordless base with 1 additional handset and charger. Every 30 seconds they both light up for 15 seconds indicating either "MSG WAITING OFF" or "MESSAGE WAITING" depending on whether or not there are messages waiting. The stutter tone also works as you would expect.

My problem is that with these leds being on for 50% of the time the batteries drain very quickly. Even keeping them on the charger permanently does't keep them charged enough to use. It's basically a useless cordless system.

Is there any way to turn off the backlighting or have my linksys PAP 2 only notify when there are messages waiting and not when there are no messages waiting?

Or, can someone suggest a cordless, expandable phone system that allows me to turn off the backlighting for these message indicators?

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:12 pm Post subject:

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1824.html&sid=a6f355b626033d34fbd4640bf1ef0d68

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1088.html&sid=a6f355b626033d34fbd4640bf1ef0d68

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1144.html&sid=a6f355b626033d34fbd4640bf1ef0d68

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1930.html&sid=a6f355b626033d34fbd4640bf1ef0d68

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1739.html&sid=a6f355b626033d34fbd4640bf1ef0d68

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:14 pm Post subject:

whoops, sorry about leaving the sid's on there. this should look a lot cleaner:

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1824.html

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1088.html

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1144.html

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1930.html

http://vonage-forum.com/ftopic1739.html

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 06, 2004 Posts: 3

Thanks for the links John. I appreciate it. As you might expect, they cause me to raise a separate question. The first link gets the closest to my problem, hits it on the head even.

New question (that you didn't answer originally) is -> Does setting the MWI signal to 0 mean I never get indication that there are messages waiting? If so, then it's not helpful to me since I'd like to know, preferably visually.

If it's true that I'll have no msg waiting indication then I'll probably see if I can get these folks to change it to 15 minutes or so. It sure would be nice to have http access to the PAP2 device so that I could do some self configuration. Similar to the Linksys family of routers.

Thanks for your help.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:04 pm Post subject:

yeah no kidding, I would love to have access to the voice page. But then I'd probably mess it up entirely like a lot of people, which is why it's inaccessible I'm sure. Anyway, I don't have a message indicator on my phone, so I'm not sure. It seems like if it's not sending a signal, then the phone won't know. Best other way to have it is either pick up the phone and listen for the stutter, or have Vonage email you (with or without the wav file attachment) when you have new vmail. I'm getting a new phone for Christmas, so I hope I don't have much problem with them re-enabling the MWI.
FWIW, I chose this one:
http://www.uniden.com/product.cfm?product=TRU8860

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 01, 2004 Posts: 10

One of those links was me asking the same question. After tech support changed my setting to 0 my phone stopped lighting up every 30 seconds, but I still get the message notification light, almost immediately when a message is left. It was the first thing I tried out after they changed the settings.

Posts: 79 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:01 pm Post subject:

nimbleron wrote:

Thanks for the links John. I appreciate it. As you might expect, they cause me to raise a separate question. The first link gets the closest to my problem, hits it on the head even.

New question (that you didn't answer originally) is -> Does setting the MWI signal to 0 mean I never get indication that there are messages waiting? If so, then it's not helpful to me since I'd like to know, preferably visually.

If it's true that I'll have no msg waiting indication then I'll probably see if I can get these folks to change it to 15 minutes or so. It sure would be nice to have http access to the PAP2 device so that I could do some self configuration. Similar to the Linksys family of routers.

Thanks for your help.

The PAP2 is a Linksys device also, and there IS a way to log into the PAP2, but you would not be able to do anything about the VMI in there. The only thing YOU the customer can do in there is check & adjust ipconfig (static IP), enable/disable DHCP setting, and manually reboot the device.

Posts: 22 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Nov 29, 2004 Posts: 22

reebok wrote:

I'm getting a new phone for Christmas, so I hope I don't have much problem with them re-enabling the MWI.
FWIW, I chose this one:
http://www.uniden.com/product.cfm?product=TRU8860

Heads up. The Unidens only support FSK VMWI (Voice Mail Waiting Indicator) and not stutter tone. The Linksys RT31, and the other units I assume, also support FSK Caller-ID and VMWI.

However, Vonage does not support FSK. I have specifically called Vonage and had them track down a Telco support rep. The equipment Vonage is installing in each phone switch doesn't support it. Considering that most of the latest phones, routers, and other equipment supports FSK, I can only imagine that Vonage is saving some $$$ for cheaper equipment.

See this thread.