Hi,

Any ideas on where I can find a cable for the telephone socket that will allow me to use my UK phone here?

I went to Inter-discount, and they suggested RJ-11, which didn't work.

The electric part is no problem, I can easily plug-in and charge the phone with an adapter.

However, the telephone cable part of it has another configuration. If anyone has successfully managed to get their UK phone to work here, could you please let me know exactly which cable should I buy and is there only a particular store that sells it.
Many thanks.

It won't work here, at least I don't know anyone who could make it work. You will need to go and buy a Swiss phone.

there are UK->Swiss adaptors but I don't know where to get them nor how expensive they will be.

What you need to do is get a new lead that plugs into the base unit of your phone and into your swisscom wall socket. Then your phone will work. I managed to do it with my Irish phones without problem.

Oh... you can get the leads you require in Media Markt.

Thanks, do you know the name of the cable? And is it easily available in all Media Markts or in a particular branch. Thx. again.

he's likely talking about an RJ11 - RJ11 with Swiss adaptor on the end. Be interesting to see what the phone is - regular simply wired or DECT something-or-other....

Sorry, I can't remember the name of the cable, but providing the socket on the phone itself is the kind of one that looks like a small LAN socket (same as the phone connection on your computer if you remember dial up days!!!) then is should be available almost anywhere. I got it in the Media Markt in Dietlikon, if thats of any use to you.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific but maybe if you bring your old phone to media markt they will be able to point you in the direction of the correct cable.

I'm not sure if some phones are wired up differently at the RJ-11 end (though I can't think why).

I never found a cable that would work with my BT phone when we first came to CH although my generic "Made in China" phone worked without a problem.

If you manage to get it to work, let me know! I just brought a UK phone over and I thought would simply be a matter of sticking an adapter on the end.. but now it all sounds v complicated.

I don't wanna buy a new phone. I like my nice UK phone. Incidentally, mine is shaped like a frog. Its important that I keep it that way...

Hi all !

The problem you are having is this:

All RJ11 plugs have 4 connections in them, only 2 are ever used for ringing and voice transmision.
BT in all their wisdom decided to use the 2 outer connections, while the rest of mainland Europe uses the 2 in the middle !!

So what u need is either a Uk to Europe adapter or a connector kit where u can cut off the original RJ11 and rewire a new one using the two external wires (usually White with blue lines and blue with white lines) and connect them to the center two connections.

(I'm an electrician here in Switzerland, so i know what im talking about, just in case ! )

Hi Marcus,
Great to hear there's an electrician in town!
Hmm. The problem with my phone is that I think the wire is connected directly inside the phone so I can't just switch the cable. If I can find an adapter to stick on the end of my UK cable, that would be best..it does sound to me like it would not be so bad to rewire myself.. if I could just open up a connnector and repatch the wiring.. hmm...
OK, so if I was to just buy a little converter that would convert the UK to Swiss wiring, where can I get one? Is it the same as the US ones? I think i've seen some of those lying around the place.

Hayley

I think i've seen these adapters in most electrical shops, (Interdiscount, Jumbo, Mediamarkt etc...). But if not try your local electrician, must of us keep things like that in stock, (well i do anyway !)

OK... so just to confirm,
the UK phone connector is called RJ45 and I need it to convert to RJ11?

no; what Marcus said was that they way the pins were put into the RJ11 socket for UK use was using the outside pair of connectors (RJ11 has 4 connectors). Swiss phone connections need the inner pair wired. So the cable will look the same but have different pin-outs.

If you ask him nicely, he'll make you one. I'm sure he has a crimping tool or two

Humph. I think there are two issues here..
Firstly, the shape of the connector in my phone is different from the hole in wall.. so I think i'll need something just to go from one shape to the other.
I guess what marcus was talking about was that it's not enough just to buy the adapter to go from one shape to another because the wires also need changing.. right?

you will need a RJ11-> Swiss phone connector too, yes.

Hurry up, I've been calling you all morning!

One thing that can help is a Line Find, these are invaluable when you're on the road with a modem. They can also help in snagging connections:



I'm not sure if you can get them at Mediamarkt, they are certainly available at ARP (a bit pricey but pretty good)

Why not give up and just use Skype?

If you get the right adapter it should do both, cross the wires and give you swiss plug on the male end and the uk plug on the female end....

If someone does want one made up, just let me know. For a small fee to cover the post i'm sure we could come to an arrangement.