"Check Tel Line": Do I need a new phone?

Have you checked for dial tone on the line? It sounds like you have a problem with the inside wiring to the phone jack. To test your dial tone out call you number and use a screwdriver and stick it inside the phone jack on the wall, if you have dial tone to the jack you will hear the "short" that you are putting on the line.

This sort of issue requires you to check if the base or the phone line has a problem.

I prefer to use an old corded phone for testing. I also get a new RJ-11 cable. Unplug your phone base from the jack and check for dial tone when you plug in your test phone.

If you get a dial tone on the test phone, try the new cable with your cordless phone. If you still get that message, then the phone has failed. If it is under warranty, contact the manufacturer for repairs. If it is out of warranty, then determine if it is worth fixing or replacing. These phones are not designed to be fixed by the end user.

If you do not have a dial tone, take your test phone to another jack on the phone line. Check if there is a dial tone at that point. If there is a dial tone, the problem is at the first jack or the phone line to the jack.

If you still do not have a dial tone at the second jack, find where your telephone service comes in. Open the box and determine the type of connection used. If you are lucky, it will have RJ-11 connections. Plug your test phone into the jack and check for a dial tone. If you do not have a dial tone at this point, call your telephone company. They will fix the problem for free. If you find that the connection is not an RJ-11 type, call the phone company and have them test the line and repair it if needed.

If you have a dial tone at the service box, then you have an inside wiring problem. Inspect the visible wires for damage. Open the faceplates for the jacks and check for loose wires. There are two types of connectors. Screw type connectors need the wire stripped back a little then wrap around the screw and tighten. The other type is a punchdown jack. To repair a loose wire in this, you will need a punchdown tool. These are often available in hardware/home improvement stores in the wiring section. http://www.lanshack.com/wire_phone_jack.aspx has clear pictures of the wire color to pin pattern.

You may want a professional to check the wires inside the walls. Your telephone provider will do this for a fee.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(who has had outside phone line problems due to rodents chewing on wires, road crews digging just a little too much, and lightning damaging a DSL filter.)

First be sure you have dial tone at the jack. Use a corded phone to do this with. If you do have dial tone then be sure you have ac at the outlet that the transformer is plugged in to. If there is no dial tone at the jack...go to your interface box outside and check for dial tone there....if none call the phone company. If you do have dial tone then you need to check your wires to the jack...or have the phone company do it for you. If you don't have ac at the outlet....check your breaker box or have an electrician check for you.

Unplug your Phone and plug in a regular un-powered phone. If it rings your cordless base station is bad and you will need a new one if it does not ring then there is a problem on your phone line and you need to contact your phone company. Note, the phone company will charge you for repairs inside your house.

Sounds like your telephone line might be dead. If you have a gray or tan telephone box on the outside of your house you can plug your phone in there to test the line. If you get dialtone then thrers a problem in your house wiring, if you don't get dial tone then the line is dead and you need to conact your telco provider.

We've had the same problem with our new Uniden phone. Sounds like someone's on the other line - no dial tone and answering machine doesn't work. The telephone line works though because we plugged our old phone in and it works fine. Any solutions anyone?

Here's what the manual says: Changing the Dial Mode (Tone or Pulse Dialing) (HS1 only) Your phone can communicate with the telephone network in two different ways: tone dialing or pulse dialing. These days, most phone networks use a method called tone dialing, so your phone comes programmed for tone dialing. If your phone company uses pulse dialing, you need to change your phone's dial mode. If you don't get a dial tone or can't connect to the telephone network, follow the steps below to modify your phone?s settings: With the phone in standby, press and hold [cid/menu]. Press [vol/ / ] to move the pointer to select DIAL. Press [select/channel] to set the phone to pulse dialing. Press [end]. Return the handset to the base. The handset communicates the new setting to the base, and the base activates the setting on any other handsets. Hope this helps out. K

Uniden offered a replacement, stating that the base phone was probable beyond repair.

E4 IS AN ERROR MESSAGE, THE BASE IS NO LONGER GOING TO WORK, POSSIBLY A POWER OUTAGE COULD OF DAMAGED THE BASE.

Activating Call Forwarding

You can activate Call Forwarding whenever you want your calls to be sent to another phone, including a mobile phone. Once activated, all your calls will be sent to the forwarding number you request. Each time a call is forwarded, you will hear one short reminder tone on your home phone, but you will not be able to answer the call from your home number.

1. Lift your telephone's receiver and listen for a dial tone.


2. Press *7 2.
In some areas you must use 72#
Dial 1172 on rotary or pulse-dialing phones.


3. At the tone, dial the telephone number where you want your calls transferred.
You will hear the number you entered ring. When the number is answered, Call Forwarding is activated.


4. If the call is not answered or the line is busy, hang up and call the number again within two minutes.
You will hear two short tones telling you that Call Forwarding is activated.


5. Hang up the receiver.

Deactivating Call Forwarding

Turn Call Forwarding off when you want to receive calls on your home phone.

1. Lift your telephone's receiver and listen for a dial tone.


2. Press * 73.
In some areas you must use 73#
Dial 1173 on rotary or pulse-dialing phones.


3. Listen for two short tones.
Call Forwarding is now off and you will receive your calls at your home number.