Pulse dialing query

Once upon a time, a mechanical exchange would just have sent your connection ratcheting its way up the switch, one hop at a time at whatever speed the pulses came at, within reason. That was how the engineers at the exchange could spot someone trying to tap-dial their way around the requirement to put money in a payphone - it was easy enough for their well-attuned ears to pick out the sound of a switch moving at a different speed to all the others.

These days, the exchanges are digital and it's software that recognises the pulses rather than a direct mechanical system. I would imagine the parameters set in NTL's exchange software are a little less tolerant than that used by BT. This probably isn't something the person who refurbished your phone took into account. You may be able to get the mechanism adjusted so it moves a bit faster. Maybe it just needs a little 3-in-1?

[Digital Fanatic]

Just as a side note here. Virgin Media lines can support pulse, but it is not Supported as far as faults are concerned. i.e. if a problem occurs with pulse and switching to tone fixes the issue.

VM recommend you use a tone handset if possible

[mhl]

Chris -
Phone was refurbished only recently by a retired BT engineer. So it doesn't need the 3-in-1, and he's going to talk me through adjusting the mechanism.

Digital Fanatic -
This old rotary/pulse phone is likely to be largely an ornament (a Xmas pressie for the missus) but it would satisfy my technological whim if it could be fully functional. I would expect all of our calls to be made with a modern tone phone because of all the "press x if you want Y" , and the fact that we have come to rely on cordless handsets - so we shouldn't screw up your VM/NTL line.

[telephonesales]

Yes pulse works on the majority of Virgin exchanges but not all. Unfortunatly I have no way of telling which ones work and no one to call and ask.

[AndyCalling]

Cripes! A zombie thread! Run, before it eats the brains of the other threads!