Grandstream HT801 and Caller ID with BT Decor 2500

[#1]

Hi

I am using the HT801 with a BT Decor 2500 phone and can't get Caller Display working.  My VOIP service is with A&A (thanks to all the help I got from the users on this forum) and I have followed their configuration guide.  When I call the Decor from a mobile, it's number is shown correctly on the Decor's display.  So far, so good.

However, if, using the Decor's Save Entry option from the Calls list, I save that number in the Decor's directory and call again from the mobile, the same thing happens: the mobile's number is displayed on the Decor and the associated entry in the directory is ignored.

I am at a loss and wondered if any users have a similar setup, especially the 2500 model of the Decor, with Caller Display working.

Many thanks in advance.

[#2]

@Michael_0  it sounds like the basic Caller display is working , since its shows on the display.

Is the Decor 2500 storing the number in the same format as that showing on the display e.g with/without the +44

You should be able to see/edit the stored numbers in the directory

[#3]

@Michael_0 

Are you saving settings after you have added the callers name etc? If you select the caller from the phone’s directory to call it back does the name appear?

[#4]

@MisterW Yes, the Decor shows the incoming number correctly.   I have never seen the Decor display +44 for an incoming number regardless of the value used for the HT801's configuration setting of "Replace Beginning '+' in Caller ID with:".  The Decor always shows a single leading 0.

The number I use on the mobile to call the Decor starts with +44 but I don't know what the mobile network operator does with it when the call is within the UK.

[#5]

Yes, the Decor shows the incoming number correctly.

That would indicate that Caller display is working

but what does the Decor show as the stored numbers when you view/edit the directory ?

[#6]

@Baldrick1 Yes, I save the settings after adding the caller's name.  In fact I have tried it both ways: saving the number in the Decor's directory from the received calls list and also creating an entry in the Decor's directory for the mobile number which I then use to make the call.  In both cases, reviewing the entry in the Decor's directory looks correct, it just doesn't work 😖

[#7]

In that case, it would seem that the Decor is not displaying exactly what it receives as the caller id, but it using what it receives to match the directory. I suggest experimenting with the stored numbers , try using the 44 , 0044, +44 and the 0 variants and see if it matches any of those

[#8]

@Baldrick1 In answer to your question about selecting the entry in the Decor's directory, yes, I see the name I added to the entry and the entry works as, if I use it, the correct number is dialled and the mobile rings.

[#9]

@Michael_0 

Another way of possibly checking out @MisterW's theory is to enter a landline number in the directory and get the number holder to ring you.

[#10]

@MisterW Thanks, yes, I have done quite a bit of experimentation, including some of the variations you suggest except I'm not sure how to get the Decor to store a + in the number field of a directory entry.  I have done some tweaking of the HT801's configuration too but the only thing that seemed to have any effect was "Number of Beginning Digits to Strip from Caller ID:" which, when set to 5 or higher stops the Decor from displaying a number at all.

[#11]

except I'm not sure how to get the Decor to store a + in the number field of a directory entry

The + is actually short for 00 so try that instead i.e 00 44 <number without leading zero>

[#12]

@MisterW Thanks for the suggestion of entering 00 44 etc. but the Decor's behaviour is unchanged when I do this.  As well as setting these variants on the Decor I have tried dialling both of them from the mobile but it's all the same.

I am starting to think that it's an incompatibility between the Decor and the HT801.  I pulled an old AEG STYLE 15 phone out of the loft and plugged that into the HT801 and it works fine, matching incoming numbers with correctly with directory entries.  Sadly, the family hate the shrill ring tone of the AEG.

[#13]

I am starting to think that it's an incompatibility between the Decor and the HT801.

It does seem like it. Strange that the Decor displays the number correctly but doesnt match it against the directory ?

It might be worth checking on the HT801 that the Caller ID Scheme setting is set to SIN 227 - BT

[#14]

@Baldrick1 There is a detail that I haven't added to this discussion which is that I have been putting up with this problem for months.  I finally decided to try and bottom it out so thanks for your suggestion about putting a landline number in the directory and getting them to ring me but I've done that quite a bit to no avail.

[#15]

@MisterW Yes, the scheme is set to SIN 227 - BT.

I don't know the technicalities of the CLI system and its many variations but I can see that there is more than just a caller's number sent from the HT801 to the Decor when a call is incoming.  For example, if the Decor has just been powered on its date and time are wrong but when an incoming call is received the calling number gets displayed plus the date and time jump to their correct values.

Perhaps it's that either the Decor isn't processing the CLI sequence correctly or the HT801 isn't formatting the CLI sequence in the same way as the BT exchange does, thus confusing the Decor?  Either way, I think I'm out of luck.