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Hi! I just bought a great looking 80s Beocom1000 on eBay. It came from Denmark and the guy said it worked, but when I plug it into the phone line I get no sound from the headset. I plugged another phone into the line and it worked fine... so I'm stuck. I saw another post here about a switch under the sliding plate but I don't have a switch there.
Any ideas? There is a single AA battery which I think is for the answering machine part. I put a battery in there.
Thank you!!
Hi and welcome to Beoworld. I have several Beocom phones, including the 1000, that I have used UK, Denmark and Germany.
Firstly the phone should work without a battery fitted - as far as I remember that just enables it to store speedials etc. Even so, the battery is NOT a standard AA - although the same size it's a special 3.3-3.6V battery. Have a look on eBay (I can't remember where I bought then from, but they are available).
Occasionally I have had to experiment with different connection cables/adaptors in order to get the phone to work. I presume that you are using an RJ11 to a traditional BT plug? If your modem/router has a phone socket it may be an RJ11 also, in which case try an RJ11 to RJ11 cable.
Also check that you haven't confused the handset and phoneline sockets on the Beocom base! As you look at the phone on a desk , the handset should connect on the left.
Also I am not sure from memory which versions have a switch, but if there is one you usually have to push the sliding plate to the right, then press the RHS down slightly and move it further to the right. Perhaps you have tried this?
Hi Guy! Thanks for the prompt answer.
Let's see, here's what I've tried so far:
- Removed the AA battery (it wasn't working before I installed it)
- Verified I'm using the right connection cable. I'm in the USA, so it is RJ11 to RJ11. I'm using an Ooma Telo device. I verified it works with another 1980s telephone using an RJ11 to RJ11 cable.
- Confirmed that the handset and phoneline cables are plugged into the right spots on the base. Luckily, the phoneline cable connector is slightly smaller than RJ11 so that helps.
- Looked under the sliding plate--this version has no switch there.
- Tried a different RJ11 to RJ11 cable.
Would it be possible that a phone from Denmark would not work in the USA? I thought it would based on my research but... well this one isn't working and the eBay seller said he confirmed it was working.
Otherwise, I'm still stumped. It's a beautiful phone in great physical condition. It's a real surprise that it's not making any sounds at all.
I did some more testing and it appears the problem is limited to the handset speaker not making any noise.
- Phone can receive calls. Caller can hear me talking into handset.
- Phone can make calls too.
The Beocom 1000 has no volume control, so there's no switch I can adjust.
Hmmm... perhaps replacing the connector? I tried another non-B&O handset with the base and I could hear some very faint sounds.
Hi again,
I am a bit stuck for ideas, but did find this on another forum:
But of course the real reason the phone doesn't work is because the US and UK use different line voltages and in particular ringing voltages on their phone systems. So the phone simply does not know that the line is ringing because it is set to detect a very different voltage level.
But the above would probably only apply is the phone was connected direct to a phone socket on the wall - your use of a Oma Telo device maybe gets rid of that problem. Was the other 1980s telephone a UK or US model?
I does sound as if the phone has a problem - I haven't taken any BeoCom1000s apart but if you are reasonable technically competent it could be worth having a look inside for anything obvious like a loose connection or weak solder joint.
The eBay seller replied today that it did indeed work when he tested in in Denmark. The only other thing I can think of is there is some difference between Denmark and USA phone lines. I noticed that my telephone cable is RJ11, with two metal connections. The port on the Beocom has four metal connectors inside it. Can anybody confirm if they have a vintage Beocom unit working in the USA and if so, how many metal connectors can they see on the inside of the socket that the phone line goes into from their wall?
Thank you!
I would definitely try an RJ11 with all 4 pins connected. If you look at Amazon etc for UK/USA adaptors (for example) they all seem to have all 4 pins connected at the RJ11 end.