benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
 ·Charter Pipeline
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
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1 edit | Question about a Telephone of mine...I want to fix it.
If this is the wrong forum, I apologize but I can't find a better fit. The only other idea I can think of is one of the DSL forums, since they use the phone line. However, my question has nothing to do with Internet access.
I have a telephone, a Western Electric 500C/D. If I use it, I hear static and most other people complain about my sounding faint. I'm guessing it's something to do with the speaker and the microphone, but I could be wrong. I wonder if someone can tell me what the problem is likely to be so I can fix it, and what parts I should buy.
I did have to make a small modification to the phone, since the ringer was apparently disabled (I don't know why it was) and I had to get it to work, so now the ringer works. Other than that, I didn't make any changes.
I know it's not the phone line because I have another phone, a W.E. 500DM, which works perfectly fine. No static, and no one complains that it's hard to hear me.
I'm hoping this will be an easy fix, as these are simple machines. The alternative would be to go on to E-Bay and buy another phone, but I don't like the idea of doing that.
Can anyone help me? |
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tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
 ·Hollis Hosting
·Verizon Online DSL
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| When you reconnected the ringer are you sure you connected it correctly?
If you hear static may be problem with dirty contacts. Try cleaning switch-hook and dial contacts with alcohol and Q-tip
The dial has a shorting contact to mute headset during dialing make sure is is working properly.
If you think the problem is with the handset swap it out with other one as a test.
/Tom |
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SparkChaser
BURY BECK
Premium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| reply to benc
Everything Tom said plus; since you say that you sound faint to other people I'm assuming that they don't to you. You could try just swapping the mic from the other phone. Unscrew the mouth pieces and swap the buttons and see if the problem follows.
Now this may be an old WWII wives tale and I remember it as a 13 YO ham radio operator, if the mic seems to be the problem take it out and gently tap it on the table. The carbon granules sometime pack and have to be loosened. YMMV 
It looks like you can still buy the microphone button. This site claims to have the it.
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"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - Aldous Huxley |
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phone guy
Premium
join:2003-12-03
USA
1 edit | reply to benc
Definitely sounds like the transmitter(microphone). beeron has a good suggestion, if it's noisy, bang the handset on a hard surface and see if it improves. Also, swapping the transmitter with a known good one is a good indicator, also. |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
 ·T-Mobile US
| reply to benc
said by benc  :I have a telephone, a Western Electric 500C/D. If I use it, I hear static and most other people complain about my sounding faint. Sounding faint could indicate an un-happy transmitter. What happens is the carbon pellets become stuck to each other in what ever position the transmitter has been in for the past few years. Easy fix unscrew the transmitter cap remove the transmitter and gently smack the edge of it on a wooden surface rotate it 180 degrees and repeat once. Your transmitter if it hasn't gotten wet will now work as if it was new. Also while you have the transmitter cap off give it a good cleaning to be sure the holes in are fully open. You would be surprised how much gunk can get in there and cannot get out.
Low volume and noise together could be a dirty hook switch a high open in the line cord, corroded/dirty line cord/handset mod connectors if the phone has them or dirty contacts in a rotary dial. Contact cleaner is your friend or 2/26 in a pinch.
Wayne
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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician. |
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