Talk-a-Phone ETP-400KE, Installation & Operation Manual

Basic Trouble-Shooting

VIII. Basic  Trouble-Shooting 

Problem Possible 

Causes 

My unit does not function 
at all.  I cannot call it or 
call out on it. 

1.  The phone wire is not properly connected. 

2.  Your unit has been struck by lightning or another very high voltage source.  Contact 

Talk-A-Phone's Service Department. 

3. There isn

ʼ

t enough power on the line (see Technical Requirements, page 3). 

I can hear the guard, but 
the guard cannot hear 
me. 

1.  The phone is on a PBX but is not programmed properly (see PBX/Configuration 

Codes, page 11). 

2.  The phone is on a PBX "ringdown" line that does not meet the power requirements 

(see Technical Requirements, page 2). 

3.  There is some other device on the line (e.g. auto-dialer, fax machine, etc.) 

4. The phone is programmed to play a message upon answering but there is no 

message recorded.  The guard hears 10 seconds of silence before 2-way 
communication.  The code for disabling this message is *70* (see Intelli-Voice Option 
Codes, page 9). 

I programmed in a 
message for the "V" 
option, but all the guard 
hears is silence. 

1.  Your phone doesn't have the Intelli-Voice option (model number doesn't end in "V").  

See FAQ #6, page 20. 

My phone does not hang 
up. 

1.  The phone is on a PBX but is not programmed properly (see PBX/Configuration 

Codes, page 11). 

2.  Your phone is on a PBX that doesn't provide a) a hang-up pulse and b) produces a 

re-order tone less than 30 seconds after hang-up.  Consult the party responsible for 
maintaining your phone system. 

The Intelli-Voice message 
begins playing before the 
guard answers the call. 

1.  The phone is calling a local extension off a PBX and the phone system is 

"answering" the call before transferring it.  Try programming the phone to get an 
outside line and call directly.  For more information, consult the party responsible for 
maintaining your phone system. 

2.  The phone is programmed to call a number that then routes the call to another 

number.  Try programming the phone to dial a number directly.

When the guard answers 
the phone he hears a 
series of tones before he 
can talk. 

1.  The phone is transmitting its unique ID. If you are using an EB-100, EB-200, or Talk-

A-Lert to identify the location of incoming calls, these tones are required.  If not, the 
code for disabling this feature is *49*. 

The phone gets dial tone, 
dials and then hangs up. 

1. There isn

ʼ

t enough power on the line (see Technical Requirements, page 2).

My auxiliary devices will 
not activate when I press 
*25* or *28*. 

1.  The guard phone is on a PBX that does not produce the necessary tones.  Try 

calling and activating the device from a standard phone line. 

2.  The auxiliary devices aren

ʼ

t properly installed (see Hardware Installation, page 4). 

3.  You must press * then *4** before pressing *25* or *28* to activate your device (or 

see Security Codes, page 8 to disable this feature). 

4.  You may have to enter * before pressing *25*