retrieving answering machine messages from abroad
 

I have been unable to retrieve my messages from my US machine while travelling in Europe, preumably because their phone tones dont match ours. Have others had this problem? Solutions?

You can buy a US touchtone dialer that you just hold up to the speaker on the phone you use from overseas. I have done this with a touchtone dialer I acquired in 93, but I have not see one anywhere in years.

I forward all my phone calls/messages to the voice mail of my (AT&T) cell phone.
Then I can listen to all the messages by calling my cell phone # and code.

Fourth item on this page:
http://www.phone1000.com/phone/Misce...cessories.html

I know nothing about the website or the company behind it.

When I've had a problem it's been for one of two reasons, first was because many telephones overseas don't pass tones once you are connected to keep you from using a dial around system, and second they pass very short tones, so you may have to hold the keys a bit longer. But in most cases, it's not been an issue.

I too now use my cell phone when overseas, I'll first try a regular phone because the rates are lower (with an international calling card), if that won't pass the tones then I'll call on the cell.

I think the touch tone dialer that the 2nd post mentioned is the answer. I have not had the problem you described in Australia or UK.

I will be in France, mostly corsica and aquitain. Last time I tried to collect my messages from the US it didn't work. So I don't know what to do this time??

Believe it or not, I used to have a machine I could fool by sort of singing the appropriate tones into the phone. I'm sure that I don't have perfect pitch, but it worked.

You might give it a try, listening to the tone sequence, and then trying to sing them into the phone. But, do it when no one's looking! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Which brings me to a better inspiration. If you carry a walkman, mp3 player, etc., just make a recording of the tones you need and play them back as needed!

JP

In 1989, I had the same problem. But over the past 14 years, no problems at all. Although it would help to chech that the switch on the phone is switched from pluse to tone. I also carry a small hand phone with me that I bought at radio shack along with a cord and double jack.

It may have been the phone system of the place you were staying at.