Phone failures

			Phone failures
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	With so many depending on phones, it is worth knowing a couple of clues on how to apply 'first aid' to your phone!
The basics
Account is unpaid / overdue	If the phone is important - contact your provider, negotiate a deadline extension and even pay some dollars towards the account. Some Telco's may allow emergency calls in life threatening situations. Check! See also the Shared Housing Survival Rules, and Telstra's card access system so you can still make calls.
	Buy a low cost pre-paid mobile. (These phones can have serious overseas service blocks ... check first!) If you have a pre-paid and little funds, buy a low cost top-up and keep the outgoing calls short and limit texting.
No network service (mobiles)	When there is 'no spare capacity' in the system some providers display 'no network' on your mobile display. Give it a few minutes and try again. If you know where the mobile tower is .... move closer, and yep, try again. If you are travelling overseas, and you have a pre-paid mobile service ... check that it will work BEFORE you travel. Eg: Optus Pre-paids will NOT work in New Zealand. TOP
Standard phone	A few checks ... more detail below for the tech-heads 1. Phone is plugged in? 2. No dial tone .... can you hear yourself whistling into the mic? 3. Wriggle the plugs and wires ... any change? 4. Swap phone with a known good one, Try again .. still no good? 5. Time to call the phone company and report the problem! Sounds like a wiring, street cable and/or phone account issue
VOIP Phone	See 'Standard Phone' Dial tone sounds different - it is usually a continuous tone. If you hear music when you try to dial out, the system is 'busy' - try later. Speak with your service provider to reconfigure for a better service. TOP
Broadband Modem	Use kit / CD supplied by internet service provider - follow steps. Make sure that the telephone exchange has been modified for your service. (Start by phoning your internet service provider).
Dial up modem	Make sure that the software on your PC is OK. If you're running a fax receive package, turn this off. Make sure that your password is OK. Re-enter if necessary. Check the phone number for access. (If calling from a hotel room, you may need another '0' or similar to access an outside line etc).
Hotel radio modem	These services are sold for a couple of hours or in 1 day lots. Do not be surprised to see lots of radio weblinks on your laptop. If you cannot see your specific hotel site, call for hotel service. (Change hotel rooms if necessary. Management usually knows which are the better rooms for such services.) Test your laptop BEFORE travelling to make sure that it is OK for service.
Plug-in radio modems	Before travelling, make sure that your service provider of both the radio links and internet access have confirmed that their hardware and software will work in the countries where needed. Worst case, buy some short term pre-paid plug in local service in the country that you are staying in. (Network with fellow travellers and pick their brains and experience for the 'best deals'). TOP
Mobiles that go swimming	It's a sign of the times ... mobile phones get left in pockets and go swimming in washing machines, at the beach etc etc. What happens ... phones that are turned on at the time can have their connections shorted out so the electronics get fried and if the water is deep, then H2O sneaks into keyboards and the stuff in the liquids attacks the connections, the screens and the built-in camera. Some use it as a time for a phone upgrade. Others hope to claim the insurance .... make sure the premium is paid, and what is in the fine print. For everyone else .... immediately remove the batteries ... leave your phone, open, in the sun for a couple of days .... and then re-insert the battery and try your luck. Even if the camera is suspect, and the screen is sort of OK, you might get some life out of it until you can afford a new one.

One for the Tech Heads! On the left is simple GO / NO GO flowchart with some fault finding guidelines. The Multimeter testing notes is for the more technically mined.


The Whirlpool and the doitmyself websites for those willing to seek other alternative answers. No recommendations, give it a go if really desperate.

Other useful stuff ....

The information in the front of the WHITE PAGES Directory
will give a guide on how to understand and use
some of the features that are available in the Australian phone system.
(You do pay for most services some how).

Services like CALL DIVERSION can be useful
for small business and parents on-the-go.

Turn on: lift receiver, dial *21 and the number to be diverted to
Although dial tone changes, you can still use the phone for making calls.
Realise that you pay for another call ..
and at mobile rates if diverted to a mobile.

Turn off: lift receiver, dial #21#
Try it out.


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