Will an older GPO phone such as a type 746 or 706 still ring?

[NickT1]

Assuming the wiring is correct, will the Hub 3 be able to provide the correct voltage and sufficient current to drive the solenoid in a 1960s to 1980s dial phone in order to strike the gongs and ring?

I do realise that the pulse dial mechanism will not work.

[Daniel_Et]

Hi @NickT1, thank you for your query. 

The voltage range for that type of phone is between 48 and 105 DC. The typical voltage range for VoIP 21CV starts at 48 DC, so it should work.

Regards,
Daniel

[goslow]

You require an adapter with a ringing capacitor as per your previous query on this a few weeks ago.

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Virgin-Phone-Switchover/Instead-of-the-supplied-adapter-will-I-...

A spec sheet for a similar model device to the Hub 3 is here

https://www.commscope.com/globalassets/digizuite/62348-tg2492s3.pdf

REN number for the hub is 3 which may limit the total number of devices you can connect to the hub alongside the rotary phone.

The only way you will actually find out what works, and how well it works, is by trying it.

[Gareth_L]

Hello NickT1,

Can you please let us know how you get on once you have tested the handset.

Gareth_L

[NickT1]

I'm surprised that you need to ask. I'm not due for the switch until the end of February. Most neighbours seem to now be with BT and it seems their technical support is excellent, probably due to the fact that the GPO had Dollis Hill/Martlesham Heath.  I will test a BT neighbours set up and ask how they are finding it. If all is OK, I'll switch my broadband and phone to BT, as VM tech support is so very poor. 

[goslow]

Some testing and wiring of old phones to a BT Smart Hub 2 in this video (inc rotary dial with bells)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id_KGXMcJHk

suggests the BT phone socket on the back of their hub behaves more like an old master socket than via a VM hub as it does seem to generate ringing for old phones without the need for certain adapters.