Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

threeseven · 8th Nov 2013, 3:35 pm

Would anyone know if the pushbutton version of the Trimphone has a last number redial function, and if so how to use it?

Nickthedentist · 8th Nov 2013, 4:36 pm

Hi,

I think the 786 is an early, very basic DTMF phone with no such clever business as a redial button or function.

However, if it's a 786RR, it has "Register Recall" AKA Timed Break Recall, which is essentially a button marked R or Recall which causes a "1" to be sent the old-fashioned way (i.e. loop disconnect). This is of no use when used on a BT line, but would have had uses when connected to a private switchboard, as these phones were originally intended to be used. This has nothing to do with last number redialling, of course.

http://www.britishtelephones.com/t786.htm

Nick.

threeseven · 8th Nov 2013, 4:40 pm

I was thinking that because it has * and # keys it might be the same as the xpress callmaker, which was the 772, which had last number redial.

Nickthedentist · 8th Nov 2013, 7:14 pm

Bob of Bob's Telephone Files is invariably right, so I'm afraid if he doesn't mention LNR then it's almost certainly not a feature.

As you know, the * and # keys were also for switchboard use and had no use (AFAIK) on standard domestic lines when this phone was introduced in the late 1970s.

If it's anything like the 700-series DTMF phones I've had, you have to dial carefully on a PSTN, holding each button down for a tad longer than you would with a modern phone. Jabbing the keys in a staccato way can lead to the exchange not recognising the digit, and misdialling.

Nick.

threeseven · 8th Nov 2013, 7:43 pm

So far I've found that I can dial at the same rate as a modern push button phone without any problems. I would like to find an instruction set for this though, I reckon those * & # keys must have a function as the previous version didn't have them.

Nickthedentist · 8th Nov 2013, 8:00 pm

But don't they just produce DTMF tones like modern tone-dialling phones do?

AndiiT · 8th Nov 2013, 8:16 pm

Hi, the 786MF Trimphone is nothing more than a Trimphone with an MF dialing keypad, pad so it should work on any modern exchange or PBX.

There is no last number redial and if a (register) recall facility was required an additional button would be fitted underneath the front part of the case to operate an additional internal auxiliary switch.

The additional switches and buttons to do this are becoming quite scarce to obtain but the only time you would require recall is to use PBX or some of your service providers "less used" facilities such as three - way or shuttle calling.
These days, in most cases, register recall can be invoked by a swift tap on the switch hooks to simulate a line break anyway.

Regards

Andrew

threeseven · 8th Nov 2013, 8:32 pm

Thanks Andrew. So the * & # are just like any modern MF phone then, pity. Of course it does have a deeper case to accommodate the key pad etc. Actually I just had a look at my 772 and I'd forgotten the 2 additional keys were designated T & P, and that is pulse dial of course.

hamid_1 · 10th Nov 2013, 6:03 pm

The push-button Trimphone doesn't have a redial button, but it used to be possible to redial a number via the telephone exchange itself.

Picking up the phone and pressing * * 0 would redial the last number called. This was part of BT's Star Services, later renamed Network Services.

See here - it's part of "Code Calling".

I definitely used this feature in the 1990s, and when I had a cable company provided phone line, it had a similar facility to store and redial phone numbers. However the web page says "believed no longer available. Can anyone confirm?". Sorry I can't confirm this myself right now. Maybe just try it or ask your telephone line provider.

OscarFoxtrot · 10th Nov 2013, 6:32 pm

If you're on a talktalk line you have Shortcode dialling on **1 - **8 and Talktalk directory enqs on **9

I don't know what **0 does and I'm not going to try it in case it costs money

Unfortuinately both TalkTalk and my Panasonic exchange require * or # for speed dialling which makes using LD phones a little more awkward than it needs to be.

Nickthedentist · 10th Nov 2013, 7:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamid_1

Can anyone confirm?". Sorry I can't confirm this myself right now. Maybe just try it or ask your telephone line provider.

"Sorry, the service requested is not available" on my PlusNet line.

threeseven · 10th Nov 2013, 8:27 pm

Same here

8th Nov 2013, 3:35 pm	#1
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? Would anyone know if the pushbutton version of the Trimphone has a last number redial function, and if so how to use it? __________________ BVWS member

8th Nov 2013, 4:36 pm	#2
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? Hi, I think the 786 is an early, very basic DTMF phone with no such clever business as a redial button or function. However, if it's a 786RR, it has "Register Recall" AKA Timed Break Recall, which is essentially a button marked R or Recall which causes a "1" to be sent the old-fashioned way (i.e. loop disconnect). This is of no use when used on a BT line, but would have had uses when connected to a private switchboard, as these phones were originally intended to be used. This has nothing to do with last number redialling, of course. http://www.britishtelephones.com/t786.htm Nick.

8th Nov 2013, 4:40 pm	#3
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? I was thinking that because it has * and # keys it might be the same as the xpress callmaker, which was the 772, which had last number redial. __________________ BVWS member Last edited by threeseven; 8th Nov 2013 at 4:47 pm.

8th Nov 2013, 7:14 pm	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? Bob of Bob's Telephone Files is invariably right, so I'm afraid if he doesn't mention LNR then it's almost certainly not a feature. As you know, the * and # keys were also for switchboard use and had no use (AFAIK) on standard domestic lines when this phone was introduced in the late 1970s. If it's anything like the 700-series DTMF phones I've had, you have to dial carefully on a PSTN, holding each button down for a tad longer than you would with a modern phone. Jabbing the keys in a staccato way can lead to the exchange not recognising the digit, and misdialling. Nick.

8th Nov 2013, 7:43 pm	#5
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? So far I've found that I can dial at the same rate as a modern push button phone without any problems. I would like to find an instruction set for this though, I reckon those * & # keys must have a function as the previous version didn't have them. __________________ BVWS member

8th Nov 2013, 8:00 pm	#6
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,865	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? But don't they just produce DTMF tones like modern tone-dialling phones do?

8th Nov 2013, 8:16 pm	#7
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? Hi, the 786MF Trimphone is nothing more than a Trimphone with an MF dialing keypad, pad so it should work on any modern exchange or PBX. There is no last number redial and if a (register) recall facility was required an additional button would be fitted underneath the front part of the case to operate an additional internal auxiliary switch. The additional switches and buttons to do this are becoming quite scarce to obtain but the only time you would require recall is to use PBX or some of your service providers "less used" facilities such as three - way or shuttle calling. These days, in most cases, register recall can be invoked by a swift tap on the switch hooks to simulate a line break anyway. Regards Andrew

8th Nov 2013, 8:32 pm	#8
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? Thanks Andrew. So the * & # are just like any modern MF phone then, pity. Of course it does have a deeper case to accommodate the key pad etc. Actually I just had a look at my 772 and I'd forgotten the 2 additional keys were designated T & P, and that is pulse dial of course. __________________ BVWS member

10th Nov 2013, 6:03 pm	#9
hamid_1 Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks. UK. Posts: 811	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? The push-button Trimphone doesn't have a redial button, but it used to be possible to redial a number via the telephone exchange itself. Picking up the phone and pressing * * 0 would redial the last number called. This was part of BT's Star Services, later renamed Network Services. See here - it's part of "Code Calling". I definitely used this feature in the 1990s, and when I had a cable company provided phone line, it had a similar facility to store and redial phone numbers. However the web page says "believed no longer available. Can anyone confirm?". Sorry I can't confirm this myself right now. Maybe just try it or ask your telephone line provider.

10th Nov 2013, 6:32 pm	#10
OscarFoxtrot Heptode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? If you're on a talktalk line you have Shortcode dialling on 1 - 8 and Talktalk directory enqs on 9 I don't know what 0 does and I'm not going to try it in case it costs money Unfortuinately both TalkTalk and my Panasonic exchange require * or # for speed dialling which makes using LD phones a little more awkward than it needs to be.

10th Nov 2013, 8:27 pm	#12
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Push Button Trimphone 786 MF Instructions? Same here __________________ BVWS member