I want a test phone - where to buy?

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DonGould

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#127478 12-Aug-2013 09:55

The day has finally come that carrying around my old POTS phone for doing random testing has passed. (Actually my test phones keep going missing or breaking).

I want a proper test phone/butt.

Where do folk recommend buying one? What should I pay? What brand? What features should I be looking for?

D

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#875716 12-Aug-2013 11:17

Pinch one off a Chorus tech :-P

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DonGould

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#875734 12-Aug-2013 11:33

Lias: Pinch one off a Chorus tech :-P

ROFL.... lol... love it!!!

Doesn't seem like a very friendly thing to do, but you get points for humour! :)

D

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Downhillnz

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#875750 12-Aug-2013 11:41

Yeah get one. I think they are around $300. Best thing ever!!!!

DonGould

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#875756 12-Aug-2013 11:49

Downhillnz: Yeah get one. I think they are around $300. Best thing ever!!!!

ya, what did you get and where and what do you like about it?

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Lias

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#875770 12-Aug-2013 11:54

DonGould:
Lias: Pinch one off a Chorus tech :-P

ROFL.... lol... love it!!!

Doesn't seem like a very friendly thing to do, but you get points for humour! :)

D

Actually given most if not all Chorus techs are now self employed contractors it would be a pretty crappy thing to do, but it was good for a laugh.

Tried Ebay?

DonGould

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#875775 12-Aug-2013 11:59

Lias: Actually given most if not all Chorus techs are now self employed contractors it would be a pretty crappy thing to do, but it was good for a laugh.

Tried Ebay?

Yip it was good for a laugh and no I haven't tried ebay.

I'm aware I really want one that 'talks NZ ptc'.

I don't really care if it isn't telepermited, but I do care that it works as expected so it needs to be the right line levels.

I'm quite keen to support a local supplier, as I can claim the GST back, so there's no real benefit for me buying from over seas just to avoid GST.

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chevrolux

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#875777 12-Aug-2013 12:00

If you are happy to spend the money get a Fluke butt phone. Or go to your local Stewarts/Radcliffe Electrical and look for the Aegis sets they carry. Both are really nice units. You will be looking at $250 plus.
There are someone cheap chinese ones around but they flog out really quick. Personally I love my home made phone because that way I dont care if I loose it or break it.

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Downhillnz

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#875778 12-Aug-2013 12:02

Well I work for Transfield. So they supply it. But we order thru Rocpac. Try them.

I like most is the broadband and data circuit detection. Makes my life easy

DonGould

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#875782 12-Aug-2013 12:07

Downhillnz: Well I work for Transfield. So they supply it. But we order thru Rocpac. Try them.

I like most is the broadband and data circuit detection. Makes my life easy

Oh really?!

What models does that come on... and has Transfield just issue them... where's that van parked ;)

Seriously, people were winging on the Au NOG list a while back about just that data issue. Does it upset the line sync when you go across the line?

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DonGould

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#875784 12-Aug-2013 12:08

chevrolux: If you are happy to spend the money get a Fluke butt phone. Or go to your local Stewarts/Radcliffe Electrical and look for the Aegis sets they carry. Both are really nice units. You will be looking at $250 plus.
There are someone cheap chinese ones around but they flog out really quick. Personally I love my home made phone because that way I dont care if I loose it or break it.

Radcliffe is close, so yes that sounds interesting. Does the Fluke do the data detection?

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chevrolux

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#875791 12-Aug-2013 12:20

I'm not sure about that. The only DSL testing kit I have used has been on a Dynatel which pretty much has a full on modem with PPP dialler in it.
I have seen the odd butt phone that knows there is DSL on the line. From memory they needed a battery though which puts me off. Personally I dont see the point in having that facility as the way I figure all it can do is detect the frequency. It can't know if it is actually a stable DSL line.

DonGould

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#875796 12-Aug-2013 12:23

chevrolux: I'm not sure about that. The only DSL testing kit I have used has been on a Dynatel which pretty much has a full on modem with PPP dialler in it.
I have seen the odd butt phone that knows there is DSL on the line. From memory they needed a battery though which puts me off. Personally I dont see the point in having that facility as the way I figure all it can do is detect the frequency. It can't know if it is actually a stable DSL line.

Very useful to me to just know if the DSL is getting to the jack point quickly.

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Downhillnz

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#875808 12-Aug-2013 12:57

Mine you can hear the broadband data when the modem is sync'd o the cust end. It runs a 9v batt. And it makes a data noise when it detects it and doesn't interfere with it unless you hold down one of the buttons.

It doesn't interrupt the DSL sync when you go across it. Not sure how it works but it does none the less.

DonGould

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#875864 12-Aug-2013 14:41

Ok...

Redpath - $400, $500 and $600. Fluke were $600

Radclifs didn't have stock, but were $300.

So might be having a look further afield!

$250 seemed like a good budget.

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DonGould

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#875865 12-Aug-2013 14:45

chevrolux: Personally I love my home made phone because that way I dont care if I loose it or break it.

How do you make them?

Having just been to Redpaths and Radclifs... $300 to $600... that's a bit more than the $250 budget that was being talked about...

How do I know which ones of those Chorus vans are Transfield ;)

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