landline ring test

bt used to have a ring test by dialling 174 and waiting for the engaged tone, then replacing the handset.
as i'm on virgin cable this does'nt work, so was wondering if they have an equivelent or is it a case of ringing it from a mobile?
and does the bt test still work on bt lines?
cheers
nrg

Ringing from a mobile is the better option as it verifies more of the system.

The automated ring backs typically tests only the equipment specific to you line and a small section of the common equipment. It would still show your line as working ( for local calls ) when the local exchange was disconnected by fault from the rest of the network. ( no long distance calls )

I use the line test number 17070 on a normal Bt line, this gives quiet line test and ring back option. I think telewest was 156.

elsmore1 said:

I use the line test number 17070 on a normal Bt line, this gives quiet line test and ring back option.

Click to expand...

If you have caller ID disabled as a default (as we do) you need to dial 1470 before dialling 17070.

If you don't, the ringback option is not included in the automated response.

To the OP: If no such test exists on a cable phone, just call it from a mobile.... the cost of calls from a mobile to a landline, with inclusive minutes and all that, really is negligable these days

As far as BT is concerned, 174 is long gone, as is 1267 which was used for ringback in many areas in the past.

The 175 test system is still operative in many places, and performs a basic line test (battery, earth, insulation etc.) before ringing back.

The ringback on 17070 actually creates an incoming call to whatever CLI was received, which is why it's not available if your number is withheld. It will also fail if for some reason your outgoing CLI is not the actual number of the line (e.g. you have a second line in an office which is configured to send out the main business number instead of its real number - the ringback call will come in on that main number, not the line you called on).

175 actually holds up the line to do the test and ringback rather than creating an actual call to it as 17070 does.

No idea what NTL/Virgin/Telewest etc. use.

17070 is the line designation number, dial this and you get an automated voice telling you the number of the line you have dialed from.
I used it a lot when working for Paypoint, some lazy shop assistants used to plug the paypoint machine into a different socket, putting the machine out of order and giving them an easy shift.

Wotan