English Telephones

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 02, 2005 2:56 pm

Can I trouble you further?

Will my English tel/fax work in Portugal?

Cheers

digger · Post by **digger** » Mon May 02, 2005 3:27 pm

When we moved to pt we brought with us more than ½ doz phones of different descriptions, inc 2 cordless and 1 tele/fax. And they all worked, but only one would ring and that was the tele/fax ………. Don’t ask me why

steve · Post by **steve** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:26 am

You will find that this has cropped up before on the forum . My English phones worked fine when I brought them over and I have since purchased another English BT phone with answering machine because you cannot get a Portuguese equivalent - probably due to the PT monopoly and its own less desirable voice mail service.

The English phone connection does not fit the Portuguese wall sockets but there is no need to buy an expensive converter. You can replace the lead from the phone with a local one for about 1.5 euros.

If you put too many phones on your circuit you may exceed the REN value and the ringing facility will be affected

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 03, 2005 8:47 pm

Hi guys many thanks....
Sorry if it is a silly question Steve..where would I buy the lead you mentioned, please and does it ahe a Portuguese name?

Would be straight forward in the UK, but PT is still rather a mystery to me as to where to buy what.

Thanks once again you guys have been really been a great help

steve · Post by **steve** » Tue May 03, 2005 11:46 pm

The last phone lead I bought was from Mestre Maco the DIY supermarket at Lagoa on the 125. You can see them on display among the telecoms stuff and therefore you do not need to know the name in Portuguese. They are quite obvious because each end of the lead has identical connectors which are the same as that which plugs into the English phone. The English leads have two different sized connectors and it is the larger wall socket connector which will not fit the Portuguese sockets.

It is easier in practice than it is to try and explain!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 04, 2005 8:51 am

Thanks Steve

I think in the UK it is difficult to imagine a Portuguese Telephone wires connection socket and how it differs from the UK phones.
Your patience is much appreciated.

Kind Regards

md 600 driver · Post by **md 600 driver** » Wed May 04, 2005 6:56 pm

if you look at the modem telephone socket on you computor that is the same as port telecom sockets steve a

Aardvark · Post by **Aardvark** » Thu May 05, 2005 9:14 pm

Adapters are readily available in the UK at computer shops, travel depts and places such as Maplin Electronics (since they are needed by laptop users on their travels) and these can be used to convert phone cables. The Portuguese telecom sockets are the same as those used in many countries including USA.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 06, 2005 7:19 am

Please can you tell me which model of telephone /Answermachine can I buy in the UK that will work here in the Algarve.......I have been told that they dont all work and a model type or number that does work would be helpful as my Portuguese aint that good and I get very confused on that answering service.

Original guest · Post by **Original guest** » Fri May 06, 2005 3:10 pm

MAny thanks Aardvark anything technical scares me shitless

steve · Post by **steve** » Fri May 06, 2005 3:35 pm

I had a BT Diverse 2000 series which worked perfectly at my house near Vale de Milho and when the handset developed a fault I replaced it with a BT Diverse 5250 (cordless) which has also performed faultlessly out here. I did try a cheaper BT machine not in the Diverse range which would not record messages on my line but subsequently worked OK when I gave it to a friend near Algoz.

I bought the phone from DSTrading in West Kirby and it cost £79.90 delivered to a UK address. DST have a web site at www.home-phones.co.uk and they list a number of answerphones. I e-mailed them to ask their advice as to what would work in Portugal and they steered me away from one I was interested in because they thought it might be too sensitive for the PT system. In the end I chose the BT Diverse 5250 because the earlier Diverse model had worked so well.

Before the cynics mount their chargers let me make it clear that I have nothing at all to do with DST and my only contact is as a satisfied customer.

Despite people's assertions to the contrary the only answerphone I have seen out here is a version of the Phillips Fax machine which is very expensive unless you are also in the market for a fax.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri May 06, 2005 3:48 pm

Very Good........I'll get one.........Thank you

Aardvark · Post by **Aardvark** » Fri May 06, 2005 5:56 pm

Re earlier point. To access PT voice mail Dial *200 and listen.Press 1 for new messages, 2 gets you phone numbers of callers, 0 to reply to callers, 5 to delete message and 6 to save. This is the simple version. You can set up a pin, record your own message, check messages from another destination etc

steve · Post by **steve** » Fri May 06, 2005 10:16 pm

Aardvark Fine in theory but in my experience and that of one or two friends the reality is more hit and miss. Often messages did not pop up until much later and sometimes never appeared at all.
With an answering machine you know when you come into the house whether anyone has left a message by the flashing light. Also you can use the system to screen calls before deciding whether yoiu want to speak to the caller.