Can I use my old answering machine when I upgrade from Copper to Fibe home phone?

[93ILU]

New fibe landline has been installed to replace coppers one last week. Since then my phone with answering machine does not work anymore. It is ringing non-stop. I want a true answer..is new fibe line not compatible with old answering machine. I do not want to be offer the voice mail of bell. I would like to know the technical issue. Tech on spot didn't know. 

[Peterborough Deb]

It sounds like you have a good understanding of what works on the Bell fiber optics system.  I was forced to change from copper and wire a couple weeks ago to fiber optics.  I had a land line which has been changed over also.  Tech had a bit of a challenge installing everything but it works.  Now I have a challenge with my landline services.  I have the call answer, call waiting and caller id function.  My phone kept ringing.  I tried the *94 but it would not change the number of rings.  I had to call into Bell to get this fixed.  Not sure why customers can not control this now.  Anyhow, I have Panasonic portable phones which work great however I no longer hear the fast beep if there is a voicemail nor do I see this displayed on my phones anymore.  What's the fix?

[dks]

Thank you for your question. You may need to set up Call Answer on your phone. You can find instructions here . If you have done that, I suggest you call Bell again and ask for your issue to be fixed. 1-866-310-2355. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

You have provided very limited details. In order to assist you further, can please provide us with the model number?

Please have a look at the following settings in your Panasonic answering machine manual & adjust the Initial settings > Voice mail. Select > Store VM access#. Select > Enter: *98P1234  (*98 to access messages and setup; P= Pause; 1234 is your password.) You may also need to add an additional P=Pause to increase the delay.

Let us know if this solves your problem.

Take care.

[Newbee · Accepted solution]

Old (I mean really old - had the drive belt(!) replaced once) Panasonic worked with Bell Lite service (which does not include answering service), but not with Bell Choice (which includes answering service.  I believe the problem is that the default Bell answering service pickup time is too short.  It kicks in before the home answering machine does.  So the home answering machine "thinks" the call is picked up or hung up) and does not bother to "answer".  My work around was to tell the Bell system not to pick up any of my incoming calls by dialing *93 on the landline.  The Bell system will recognize that you don't want their machine to kick in, and will let the call continue to ring until the home answering machine picks up the call.  Hope it helps.

[Tresk]

I have a Vtech phone answer system which does not seem to work with Bell, Why?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

You have provided very limited details. In order to assist you further, can please provide us with the model number?

Please have a look at the following settings in your Vtech answering machine manual & adjust the Initial settings.

Most Vtech answering systems are compatible with Bell Home phone on fibre.

To start off, please:

1. Verify your Vtech model number & reference the installation & setup instructions for it.
2. I trust your answering machine is turned on, set to record messages & that old messages have been erased to allow space for new messages.
3. How many rings is the answering machine programmed for before it picks up the call?
4. Which Bell Home phone package do you subscribe to? Bell Home phone Basic or Choice.
5. Do you have Bell Call Answer as well as your answering machine. If so, make sure it is programmed to answer at least 2-3 rings after your answering system or turn off Call Answer by dialing *93
6. Make sure that your base unit is plugged in to a working jack. (If you pick up the handset & use the talk or speakerphone button, you should have dial tone.)
7. Select Menu on your handset & scroll through the Settings & the Initial setup & adjust accordingly.
8. Check on MyBell that you have selected and activated the appropriate features
9. If you have more than one handset unit, make they are plugged in to an a/c outlet, a signal is displayed & that the batteries are fully charged.

If after verifying all of the above, you're existing Vtech answering system should be in working order. If you have dial tone at the base unit & your features are still not working, then I would contact Bell Customer Service - tech support & ask them to check your line ensuring all of your features have been activated & in working order.

Please call: 1 866 310-BELL (2355) or dial #611 from any Bell mobile device.

Thank you for contacting the Bell Community Forum.

Take care

[Tresk]

Thanks, Yep, I've done all that and set it up both manually and from the Menu but still no go. I had the same machine when I was with Eastlink and it worked fine. No I do not have Bell Call Answer. I will do as you suggest and call Bell tech support. I just posted this to see if anyone else had had the same problem and a solution at the ready.

We have Home Phone Choice. 

[WelshTerrier]

@Tresk Thank you for replying. If you have Bell Home Phone Choice, Call Answer is a feature that is included with the package. You can confirm this by logging in to your MyBell account.

If it is shown on your account, you could choose to turn the feature off / on or you can remove the feature in its entirety. 

To remove Call Answer, Login to your MyBell account & Select > Home phone. Select > Manage my package. Select > continue. Select > Voicemail. Select > No thanks. Follow the prompts to continue & save.

If you wish to just turn Call Answer off / on, simply follow the steps in the web link that I have included below.

There are also settings in this document that will allow you to use your Vtech answering machine & Call Answer.

It now becomes a matter of choice.

How to use Call Answer on my Bell Home phone : What is Call Answer?

If you are still experiencing issues, I would contact Bell Customer Service Tech support & ask them to check your line & reconfirm / reset your Bell Home phone Choice features.

Take care.

[Peterborough Deb]

It has been fixed.  

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Glad to hear everything is now working. Thank you for updating the community on the status of your Panasonic phones.

Take care.

[LLL3]

Thanks, that worked like a charm!

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

Glad to hear everything is now working for you.

Thank you for reaching out & letting the community know.

Take care.

[Disgusted on the Black]

I don't think you have a land line any more.  Your phone is plugged into your modem , correct?  Your phone now depends on the internet I assume, when the power is off you will have no phone, happens alot in rural area!

Fibre optics, 5 G, new and better, if it works in your community.  I was told I no longer would have a land line, only internet phone.  Land lines are gone when you give up your copper phone line and get a fibre line.  Good luck to us all!

Disgusted on the Black

[Disgusted on the Black]

When your copper phone line is take out and you get fibre line, you now have a internet phone,  ...not a land line!

Apparently we do not have a choice!

[Disgusted on the Black]

You now have an internet phone, not a land line.