Office phone system question

[CarolAnn]

Do we have any phone techs here?

We have several AT&T 4-line 954 phones in the office, and I find that I need to turn up the volume with my declining hearing.

Problem is, the volume doesn't hold - I have to turn it up EVERY time, EVERY call, and EVERY page. As a result, sometimes people talk too fast and I loose some of what they say before I get the volume up where I need it.

Will other phones work on this system, and how can I tell if a phone will HOLD the volume setting before we buy it?

Thanks!

[JakeLeg]

i found this link to a list of AT&T phone user's manuals, all downloadable in PDF format.

i think your phone is on the list.

didn't look at the manual, but maybe it'll contain some helpful info.

http://telephones.att.com/telephones_ui/support/dsp_manuals_list.cfm

[CarolAnn]

Thanks, you two! There's a volume button - up or down, but it doesn't have any memory like the newer phones, and doesn't stay up. Drives me nuts! Since I answer their phones for the whole office, I have to put people on hold, page the one they're calling so they can pick it up. It's not a sophisticated system, but I work for a nonprofit org that has no money for better stuff.

I was just hoping there was a phone compatible with the others that I could get that has good volume on it. (Or does it even have to be compatible?!) Seems to me that any phone with a hold button and good volume could plug in and work fine with the rest?

[JakeLeg]

Yeah, that could be quite a problem. My mother in law was a telephone operator at the phone company, and ended up retiring when her hearing started to go due to meniere's disease. so, i kinda understand, secondhand, your problem.

unfortunately i don't know the answer. figured i'd do a quick search and came up with that link.

In my office, we have a phone system that is outdated and you cannot get new phones. every time one breaks or we get an additional employee, the tech dude has to buy a used phone from some sort of clearinghouse. i asked him about your model, but he is only familiar with our system out of necessity. our system will allow you to plug a normal telephone into the jack, and you will be able to make and receive calls, but without the features of system phone, like call transferring, paging, hold, etc, etc..

[Koolibri_Rantso]

The AT&T 954 series comprise what is called a "KSUless key system". They were marketed for people that were too cheap to buy a "real" business telephone key system. They are pretty much "junk".

I know they take some batteries in each instrument to maintain the dialing memories but I can't remember if they have anything to do with the phone retaining the volume setting. Best I remember, they require 3 x AA cells. You might put some fresh batteries in the phone and see if that works. If it doesn't, it's a "design problem" that is only correctable by purchasing a "real" telephone system.

I have installed a number of Nortel (Northern Telecom) "Norstar" key systems. Standard configurations of the KSU (key service unit) are 3x8, 6x16, and 8x24. (The first number is the maximum number of lines and the second is the maximum number of extensions.) There's some other decent key systems out there, but I'll swear by the Norstar series. Real quality and trouble free (both KSU and telephone instruments)! Of course they require professional installation whereas the "KSUless" systems like you have were designed for "self installation" by the average rube.

If your employer depends on his telephones and intends to stay in business I suggest he "suck it up" and buy a "real" telephone system.

Bob

[CarolAnn]

Thanks, all, for your input on the phone issues.

Actually, last Wednesday I was fired from that job. The reason given was that the chairman of the board called and was "incensed" that I didn't recognize her voice.

I was still punching the "up" volume button when she said her name, and she was furious when I asked her to repeat it.

So much for no discrimination for someone with a hearing disability! :P

Since I have only a partial hearing loss, this job was my first introduction to what deaf people must go through when people are intollerant of their disability. Earlier that week, I told my boss I was bringing in the manual for DreamWeaver and she asked me if I had bought DreamWeaver for Dummies! :-X

If she hadn't fired me, I probably would have croaked from a stroke!