Can I convert this old Ericsson to a BT line

[guinness]

Hi all

I'm brand new here and looking for some help.

I bought an old French wall mounted Ericsson phone and I'm hoping I can convert it to a working BT phone.

I saw some stuff on youtube but the insides of my phone don't look like anything on there. Also at present it has no cable attached.

I've attached some pics at a very low resolution in the hopes that one of you guys can help.

Cheers

Guinness

[ThePillenwerfer]

You certainly can convert it; a mate of mine has got one.

Have a look here: http://britishtelephones.com/pstconv1.htm#non

- Joe

[guinness]

Thanks Joe

There are about five varieties of Ericsson on there. Any idea which one would apply to mine?

Excuse me for being a complete newbie without a clue

[Dave Moll]

If you have a standard red/blue/green/white cord* with a BT plug, it should work with red and white connected respectively to L1 and L2 - though be aware that with this arrangement, dialling from this instrument will cause "bell tinkle" on other 'phones connected to the line.

*If it's yellow/green/red/black, substitute yellow for red and black for white.

[guinness]

Hi Dave

That may be my first problem. The cord I was going to use only has a red and blue cable. Can this be right or have I got the wrong cord?

[ThePillenwerfer]

It looks like the French PTT Wall Model U43.

I'd take Dave's advice.

Good luck

Joe

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by guinness

The cord I was going to use only has a red and blue cable.

The important question is to which pins are these wires connected?

If you have a multimeter, preferably with a fairly pointy probe to access the contacts on the BT plug, check which contact goes to which lead. If there are the usual four contacts in the plug, you need the outer two - generally referred to as pins 2 and 5. If there are six contacts, ignore the two outer ones (pins 1 and 6).

By the way, I am assuming here that your lead has the standard BT plug. If it is an RJ11, as used in USA for example, you need the inner pair of contacts - but then you would need an adaptor anyway, which should make the appropriate connections to the BT plug (inner two of RJ11 to outer two of BT).

[guinness]

Ok guys
First up thank you all for taking the time to look.

I connected my red cable to L1 and my blue cable to L2. Eureka!! I have a dial tone. I can also phone a land line starting 01, but if I try to dial a mobile the minute I dial the 7 of 07 it tells me that the number isn't recognised.

Also when I dial in it doesn't ring. (That's the bit I was most looking forward to. Well that and the old fashioned dial)

Anyone able to help?

PS. Ignore part of my earlier post. It does dial mobiles you just need to be reasonably quick dialling the number.

Now to make it ring

[ThePillenwerfer]

That'll be a challenge: there isn't a bell in it to ring. You can get small bells that may fit inside it. If you do a Google search for "GPO Telephone Spares" you'll find several suppliers.

If you want a 'phone with a proper bell look out for a 1960's 706 or a 1970s-80s 746. These are common and cheap in 'As found' condition.

Glad you've got it working at least.

- Joe

[guinness]

Thanks again guys

I'm incredibly chuffed with my working phone. The bell would have been nice but really it's just an extension so the fact that I can make and answer calls is great. It's on the wall in my office and I grin every time I look at it.

Thanks again

Guinnnes