The handset on my faxphone has no dial tone

Posts: 51 · Full Forum Member Joined: Nov 02, 2008 Posts: 51

Let's leave aside the faxing question for a moment. I have an HP640 fax that I have had successfully attached to an AT&T Callvantage Voip line on my network for a few years. I have had both Callvantage and Vonage TA's behind my router for quite some time and they have both worked fine.

Well AT&T is closing down its CallVantage service. All I want to do is plug my HP640 Fax into the V-Portal. So far I do not even get dial tone. Nothing. I have tried both the "Line" and "Ext" ports. Nothing - so what's going on. My GE 2-station cordless phone works 100% plugged into the V-Portal as we speak - but the handset on the HP640 - Nada.

Any help would be appreciated.

Posts: 51 · Full Forum Member Joined: Nov 02, 2008 Posts: 51

Never mind: I replaced the 4-pin RJ-11 (which worked on my other TA) for a 2-pin RJ-11 and it's fine. I am dumb.

Posts: 51 · Full Forum Member Joined: Nov 02, 2008 Posts: 51

Ok am I crazy or does the V-Portal REQUIRE a 2-pin phone cord to connect to any phone device?

I discovered that replacing the 2-pin cord to the phone I already have working, with a 4-pin wire that phone DOES NOT operate.

So - does the V-Portal require a 2-pin wire? And if so where would you get one today? A check of RadioShack and BestBuy shows they only sell 4-pin. What next? An RJ-11 splicing kit?

Posts: 183 · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject:

In my experience, you should always use the 2 pin when connecting to the ATA. Almost every phone I've purchased has the 2 pin not to mention I saw a ton not too long ago at the Big Box Mart. Smile

Posts: 227 · Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject:

The Vonage VDV21 device delivers both lines 1 and 2 to the jack labeled phone 1. (It also delivers line 2 to the first position in the jack labeled phone 2.) This is normal wiring for an RJ-14 jack, and correctly supports most two-line telephone sets with 4-wire cords designed to plug in to such a jack. A single-line phone with a two-wire cord will also work, as it ignores the second line.

A problem occurs when a customer assumes that the device is providing an RJ-11 single-line jack. The problem occurs when a single-line device that uses the second pair for some other purpose is plugged in. If the device connects the two lines together, it causes crosstalk. If only one line is provisioned, picking up the second line produces a recorded announcement: "Your phone may be plugged in to the incorrect jack." A single-pair cord solves these problems.

A single-line device that is designed to plug into a 1A2 or ComKey key telephone system normally shorts the second line when off-hook. (This is used, in these ancient key systems, to control the busy lamp associated with the line, and to cancel a HOLD condition if the line was held at a key telephone set.) A single-pair cord solves this problem, also. Some answering machines still on the market still have this 'feature' even though they haven't made 1A2 or ComKey systems for years.