Voice Service and Equipment

[Pomapoo]

I have a Uniden phone with an answering machine built in.  It is NOT on the list of phones that have problems with Comcast.  I would like to be able to come home and see that I have messages, but I can't.  I have to pick up the phone to listen for the stutter tone.  If I turn my ansering machine back on then I can get messges, but I can't see them online as they aren't going thru Comcast.

Anyone out there have any solutions?

Thanks,

Doone

[Barmar]

What model is the phone? Does its manual say that it supports VMWI (Visual Message Waiting Indicator)? That's what you need for the phone's message light to tell you when there are new voicemail messages.

I suspect its message light is only connected to the built-in answering machine, not the phone line.

[Pomapoo]

I have looked all through my manual and can't find anywhere that it supports VMWI, but it apparently doesn't because when i turn off the answering machine on my phone I do NOT get any message indicator when I have messages. 

My phone is a Unikden TRU9485 which is not on the list of Unidens that don't work with Comcast, but I guess it doesn't.

Thanks for your help.

[Barmar · Accepted solution]

If you can make and receive phone calls, then it "works". If the light is only supposed to show if you have messages on the answering machine, it's not a failure when it doesn't show voicemail waiting.

I just found this in an Amazon.com thread about the differences between TRU9465 and TRU9485:

One VERY IMPORTANT difference (to me) is that the TRU9465 new messages LED will work with my phone company voice mail service. The TRU9485 (and all the other models equipped with a built in answering machine) DO NOT. According to Uniden's web site, it's an either-or. If you want to use your phone company voice mail on a TRU9485, then the only way you'll know you have new messages is if you lift the handset and listen for the studder dial tone. In contrast, the TRU9465 responds to the VMWI (voice mail waiting indicator) signal from the phone company.