Telepones

[Hazel]

Telephones - Science? Technology? Whatever. I am certain there is someone here who knows about telephones. I have a question which puzzles me greatly. What is going on to make it impossible to hear some callers while others come through fine.

I have people call me whom I can hear with no problem at all. Then, others (mostly businesses but an occasional friend) whom I cannot hear at all. No matter how much I say "I can't hear you" and they say "is this better", I still cannot hear them and finally just hang up. This makes me think my phone needs a new battery. When I've about decided to buy a new battery, someone will call and be heard perfectly?

It is not just on a battery phone, though. I have two hardwired phones and have the same problem on those. I'll switch while they hold on but it doesn't help. I cannot hear them.

Does anyone have any idea about this? I'd surely like to know. It used to be because callers were using head sets and had the mike pushed away from their mouths. But, this is now becoming more prevalent. It must be more than just a distant mike.

Thank you.

[Jack by the hedge]

Probably a fault at the local exchange. Have you reported the problem to the telephone company?

I'm out of date with phone exchange technology, but the ('80s era) analogue exchanges I used to fault-find on had a common fault which would produce this sort of intermittent problem: A line card might occasionally develop a fault on one of its 10 possible line connections. The connections were assigned in rotation as necessary, so every 10th caller who tried to dial out would be assigned the faulty line. You got to recognise the "every so often..." type of fault report.

[LTC8K6]

Yes, that is a telco equipment problem. Call them.

[Hazel]

Probably a fault at the local exchange. Have you reported the problem to the telephone company?

I'm out of date with phone exchange technology, but the ('80s era) analogue exchanges I used to fault-find on had a common fault which would produce this sort of intermittent problem: A line card might occasionally develop a fault on one of its 10 possible line connections. The connections were assigned in rotation as necessary, so every 10th caller who tried to dial out would be assigned the faulty line. You got to recognise the "every so often..." type of fault report.

I did not know that. Thank you very much. I can TRY to call them. I say "TRY" because I know I'll just get that automatic connection where a robot then checks and says "no problem".

Nevertheless I will try. Thank you.

[Cuddles]

It can also be a problem at the other person's end, and not necessarily even technology related. For example, my parents have two phones on their landlines, one which is just a basic phone with wires and everything, one which is cordless and can be carried around the house. On the former, there are never any problems. On the latter, if they're in the wrong room it can be virtually impossible to hear them because of echoes and things like that.

Businesses often seem to have similar kinds of problem. Workers in call centres usually seem to be packed in close together, so you can have other conversations interrupting yours if the people nearby are talking too loud. They also often seem to have trouble getting their microphones set up properly, and they'll often either be too quiet or have the gain much too high, presumably because it's a different distance from their mouth than it was when set up.

So rather than being a single problem, it could be a whole pile of different problems from different people. One person has a broken phone, one is in a noisy room, one has their volume turned down, and so on. All you see from your end is a bunch of people you can't hear properly, so it seems to be connected when it isn't really at all.

[Hazel]

Yes, in one case, I am sure it is "them". I've had enough of this from my dentist's office to feel sure it is them. There are two women there and I cannot hear either of them. I have an appointment there tomorrow and I intend to see exactly what they are using.

It is almost always a business office from which I get this. I do have one friend that I cannot hear but she has a very soft voice.

Time to stop blaming my phone and just say "I can't hear you" and hang up? :-)

[Olowkow]

Many businesses use the earpiece/microphone "hands free" combination which works very nicely in some circumstances, but if the user is not aware of how it should be used, it will create problems for the person on the receiving end. I have noticed many times that I just can't understand/hear and I can picture the little tiny mike tube that should be near the speaker's mouth probably under his chin, or up at his forehead. I've also had some calls when the audio is very distorted, which is a problem with equipment on their end, not mine.

[FattyCatty]

I did not know that. Thank you very much. I can TRY to call them. I say "TRY" because I know I'll just get that automatic connection where a robot then checks and says "no problem".

Nevertheless I will try. Thank you.I hate talking to robots/computers.:( Usually, if you say representative, you will get a real person.

[Hazel]

I hate talking to robots/computers.:( Usually, if you say representative, you will get a real person.

Right. That works with my bank and any number of places but not with the repair line at ATT. Well, it didn't work in Kansas City. I've not yet tried it in Saint Louis. Might work here.

But, I tend to agree with those who say the trouble is at the other end. Some education neede?

[Professor Yaffle]

I'm probably way off base, but might it be possible you have some hearing loss in a specific frequency? This can happen without you being aware of it but would be more pronounced on the telephone where the voice quality isn't so good, and you don't have visual cues. It would only affect you when certain people (whose voices use a lot of that specific frequency) were calling.

Just another avenue to think about.

[Hazel]

I'm probably way off base, but might it be possible you have some hearing loss in a specific frequency? This can happen without you being aware of it but would be more pronounced on the telephone where the voice quality isn't so good, and you don't have visual cues. It would only affect you when certain people (whose voices use a lot of that specific frequency) were calling.

Just another avenue to think about.

Yes, indeed. That is one of my thoughts. If I could hear these people in person, I'd probably pick up on that more. See what pitch they normally talk in. That is harder to deal with. Although I occasionally have a man I cannot hear. Generally, though, they'll do something that brings in their voices fine once I say I cannot hear them.

But, yes, you are absolutely on base there.

[back2basics]

iPhone 4 was released a little while ago. That probably why its more prevalent now ;)

I say this not as a hater, but as a sufferer.

Millions were sold and I know it’s not just me who has this problem.

[Hazel]

iPhone 4 was released a little while ago. That probably why its more prevalent now ;)

I say this not as a hater, but as a sufferer.

Millions were sold and I know it’s not just me who has this problem.

iphone4? Is this a cell phone? One of those big "ear rings"? (double pun there).

I know next to nothing about cell phones. I only bought one just last month because I am sometimes out alone and need to call a cab to get home. It's a nice little one. Quite simple. No internet, games, or other falderol. Just a way to make an emergency call.

Does all that show how simple-minded I am? :boxedin:

[Emet]

iphone4? Is this a cell phone? One of those big "ear rings"? (double pun there).

I know next to nothing about cell phones. I only bought one just last month because I am sometimes out alone and need to call a cab to get home. It's a nice little one. Quite simple. No internet, games, or other falderol. Just a way to make an emergency call.

Does all that show how simple-minded I am? :boxedin:

Nah. I have an old cell phone. No camera, and I don't sent text messages. I have no need for a pocket computer. My battery finally died after 5-7+ years, and I was able to find a replacement--not made by the original manufacturer, but it has a 2 year warranty. I could have renewed my contract with my cell carrier, and gotten a newer, free phone. But my cell phone suits my purposes, and the new battery was cheap.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

[Hazel]

Nah. I have an old cell phone. No camera, and I don't sent text messages. I have no need for a pocket computer. My battery finally died after 5-7+ years, and I was able to find a replacement--not made by the original manufacturer, but it has a 2 year warranty. I could have renewed my contract with my cell carrier, and gotten a newer, free phone. But my cell phone suits my purposes, and the new battery was cheap.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

I keep thinking the time will come when we will all realize we are better off without all these gadgets. We'll probably feel so relaxed that our muscles will sage and our bones collapse. I know I let down gently when I shut down this computer at end of day. Such a pleasant feeling.

Shock? I dispensed with a television set when our fair city went digital. Nothing there worth looking at unless I am willing to shell out $80 a month for cable which I am not.

Oops! Getting off topic here but feels good to admit that gadgets are not the end-all, be-all of life.

[quarky]

Here I thought a telepone was a new sub-atomic particle.