How to switch to tone mode. How to enable tone mode

Many companies, be it a cellular operator or a large online store, today offer to use a convenient menu when making a call by pressing the dial keys. For example, do you want to buy a product? Press one. Should you consult a specialist? Press two. Etc. When making a call, you can usually hear that the phone needs to be switched to tone or tone (these are the same thing) mode. How to do it?

Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, DTMF, or tone dialing, is a two-tone, multi-frequency analog signal used to dial a telephone number. Many PBXs can receive a telephone number in tone form, but only if the PBX is replaced with a digital one. Other PBXs are capable of receiving a telephone number only in pulse mode. Pulse mode is a method of dialing a telephone number, in which the digits of the dialed number are transmitted to the telephone exchange by sequentially closing and opening the telephone line, and the number of pulses corresponds to the transmitted number, with the number 0 being transmitted in ten pulses.

As for our main question, everything is very, very simple. Let's say when you make a call you are told to put your phone into tone mode by pressing the star. If you're calling from your smartphone, don't press anything because it defaults to tone (tone) mode. This applies to any smartphone, including iPhone:

Or, say, Xiaomi:

And even if you click on the same star, nothing will happen.

As for landline phones, the situation is different. To switch to tone mode from pulse mode, it is usually recommended to click on the asterisk (*) icon. Pay attention to the image of the Panasonic phone, where the inscription Tone is clearly visible under the asterisk, which indicates that you need to press this particular button.

Some phone models have separate buttons, for example, T or P. And some modern landline phones do not have tone mode support at all. To be fair, we note that such models are rare.

Articles and Lifehacks

We often hear a proposal to switch the device to this mode by calling, for example, the support number. Unfortunately, many users do not know what is tone mode in a phone and why it is needed. Let's try to figure this out, and also dwell on how you can switch your device to this mode.

What is tone mode on a phone? Its implementation in the Russian Federation

Let's start with the fact that there are two telephone dialing modes - pulse and tone. The first of them, pulse, has already become outdated and is therefore rarely used. This is especially true for landline phones, since the mobile device is already set to tone mode by default.

The pulse mode appeared first. It was typed like this: one click, number 1, two clicks, number 2, and so on. Subsequently, the tonal mode appeared. Its advantages include the fact that it is faster than the pulse mode. If we use it, it is much more convenient and faster for us to dial phone numbers, use various services, etc. Please note that numerous operator services are supported only in this case.

So, now more about what tone mode is in a phone. Essentially, it is a 2-tone analog multi-frequency signal that is used to dial a number. In English it sounds like dual-tone multi-frequency, and therefore we can often come across the abbreviation DTMF. The tone signal is used when manually dialing while working with interactive services (for example, with voice prompts), or during telephone signaling between devices in automatic mode. In this case, the signal and telephony correspond to each other.

This regime has existed since the 60s of the last century, but it was introduced in the Russian Federation only in the 80s. Until now, many of the domestic telephone exchanges perceive only pulse signals. Thus, tone dialing is only possible where a digital signal is already used. Sometimes it is even provided as a paid service. In any case, it is not required.

How to switch a cell phone to tone mode?

By default, this mode is already activated on our mobile device. However, if we need to translate it, we should know how. In particular, this applies to devices with touch screens, although there are known cases of problems when converting ordinary push-button phones to DTMF.
Immediately after the connection on the touch device has started, we should press a special soft key, which will give us access to the keyboard. Next, enter the sign + or *, or any combination of these buttons. After this, DTMF mode will be activated.

It is also recommended to pay attention to the menu that is available to the owner of the touch device during the call process. Often the transfer to the desired mode is carried out through it. Right during the conversation, select the item to enter a telephone number, and in the dialing menu that appears, enter the appropriate key combination to activate DTMF. You can find it using the instructions for the device.
If we use a regular push-button telephone, right during the call we press and hold * or +.

Note that all modern mobile devices are switched to tone mode by default. However, if such a translation is required from us by an answering machine or a support specialist, it is obvious that this setting has been previously changed. This applies not only to mobile devices, but also to home devices.

If our cell phone does not allow us to enter data from the keyboard during a conversation, it is recommended to contact a service center. Problems may also be related to the firmware or the presence of viruses.

Often, when contacting support or calling a hotline, the subscriber is urged to switch to touch-tone dialing. As a rule, this happens when trying to call a multi-channel number, which requires pressing numbers on the handset of the phone to confirm the choice. It’s not difficult even for a beginner to understand such nuances.

What is tone mode on a phone?

Telephone communication is a complex thing, but at the same time incredibly interesting. For this reason, before switching the phone to tone mode, it is worth understanding its essence and considering what other dialing options are available. Telecommunication technologies are moving far ahead every year, and even now modern devices only support tone type. For devices released earlier, you still have to switch between two:

pulse, which involves closing the telephone line in a special way, where each dialed digit corresponds to the number of pulses.
tone, using an analog signal to dial the required combination of numbers.

A user who does not understand the intricacies of this topic will be able to distinguish these methods of entering numbers by ear. Remember the old rotary phones: when you scrolled the disk, you heard some clicks that varied depending on the number. Some devices released even 10-15 years ago still have the ability to switch to pulse mode. Another input method will give itself away as a difference in the pitch of the signal, which will depend on the key pressed. The advantage of tone digital input over pulse input lies primarily in the speed of dialing and connecting with the subscriber.

Touch tone on a landline phone

With the passage of time and the development of internal telephone networks, the abandonment of outdated pulse dialing seems quite logical. Multifunctional office phones, similar to those produced by Avaya, do not even have the ability to change modes. This is understandable, since in large companies work is constantly in full swing, and the speed of dialing to a client or partner is important.

Home devices will make you worry about how to enable tone mode on your phone. For example, the list of characteristics of the wired model of a Panasonic device states that both options are available. In some cases, pressing buttons is not enough to switch between them, and you should contact your communications service company for help. It is a mistake to believe that absolutely all radio telephones, unlike wired telephones, have only tone dialing. Voxtel Select series devices support both methods of transmitting a telephone number.

Tone mode on a mobile phone

It is more profitable to make calls to long-distance hotlines, where you have to listen to an answering machine for a long time, from a mobile phone. Most devices are equipped with only one input method, so the question of how to switch a cell phone to tone mode does not arise. To switch to the extension line of the desired operator, you will need to press keys with certain numbers, which is only possible with the tone option. A person dialing a call center number will hear a characteristic signal, indicating that communication has been established with the selected operator.

There has never been a pulse connection on mobile phones, since this is a feature of telephone networks for landline devices, and the modernization of Russian telephone exchanges has made it possible to abandon this option forever. However, it may not be necessary to switch between input methods, but to enable the desired type of connection that was disabled for some reason. Without activating this function, some devices will not allow you to dial a number.

How to put a mobile phone into tone mode

If we answer this question in general and in relation to each gadget, but there is only one answer - nothing! By default, all phones support and operate in tone mode and do not provide any other selection options. However, there are exceptions to the rules: you cannot transfer to another set, but you can simply turn off the existing tone set. This instruction explains how to switch to tone mode on a mobile phone with touch controls:

Dial the phone number.
Once the connection is established, bring up the on-screen keyboard.
Press the star or plus key. For different gadget models, you may need to hold these buttons for a while.

This algorithm will also be effective for owners of push-button phone models. Here the situation is even somewhat simpler: you don’t need to open the keyboard on the screen. Having reached the dialed number and heard a request to turn on tone input, which was probably turned off, you only need to press and hold one of the keys (usually “star”, “pound” or “plus”) until a characteristic signal.

Switching a landline phone to tone mode

The internal structure of home communication devices, like telephone lines, determines the choice of mode change method. In most cases, this can be done without leaving the apartment or private house. How to put your phone into tone mode in the classic way is described in the following instructions:

Pick up the phone if you have a corded one, or press the call key on your radiotelephone.
Hold the star button for a second.
Try pressing the number keys: if they make sounds that are different in tone, then everything is done correctly.

Another option is suitable only for some models:

Inspect the tube from all sides for the location of additional levers on it.
If you notice a switch with the Latin letters P and T, meaning pulse and tone dialing, then move the lever to the T position.
You can check by pressing the number buttons.

Video: Tone mode

The question of how to switch the phone to tone mode often takes people by surprise when trying to contact support or when ordering various services.

The fact is that to work with new communication systems and various services, it is the tone mode that is needed. What it is, why it is needed and how to enable it on your phone will be discussed today.

In total, there are two dialing modes on a telephone: pulse and tone. The difference between them is that pulse dialing occurs using alternate line interruptions, while tone dialing occurs using digital signals.

Pulse was invented first, and in our time it is considered old, but nevertheless it is still found in some devices. The principle of its operation was to interrupt the lines at which clicks occurred (number 1 - one click, number 2 - two clicks, and so on).

An old home device with a rotary dialer “used” this mode.

The invention of touch-tone dialing made it possible to speed up networks and make the dialing process more convenient. Plus, this opened up many possibilities, in particular voice prompts (like telecom operators), telephone alarms and others.

In this order, each button is assigned a specific tone (or signal), which, when a number is dialed, is sent to the operator and processed properly.

Despite the fact that most devices immediately operate in tone mode, and pulse mode is already a thing of the past, sometimes there is still a need to switch between them, which often raises the question of how to enable tone mode on the phone.

Check and switch

Switching mode.

Now that digital signals are used everywhere, almost every landline phone operates on tone schedule by default. And yet, to get started, you need to determine in what order the device is currently operating and whether it needs to be changed.

This is done simply. You need to bring the handset to your ear and, by pressing any key, determine what sounds are heard when pressed.

If you hear short beeps, this means that the tone dialing mode is turned on, and there is no need to switch it. If there are clicks, it means that the device operates in a pulse mode, and this mode needs to be changed.

The easiest way to put your phone into tone mode from Panasonic (the most popular) and other companies is to hold down the “*” button for a few seconds. If that doesn't work, try "#".

If the corresponding order has been activated, then the inscription ton or t should appear on the device’s screen. If nothing happens, you can test again by listening to the sounds when you press the buttons.

You need to understand that not all devices are equipped with a function for quickly switching functions. On some models there are special “P” and “T” buttons for this purpose.

In some cases, you need to press the appropriate combination of “*”, “#” and “-”. You can learn more about this only from the instructions for the phone, or you can go to its settings (if provided), and there look for an item that switches the phone to a different dialing order.

Translation into tonal order can also be problematic for touch models on your mobile phone. In order to configure the function you need, after connecting, you need to use a special key to access directly the keyboard itself. When it appears, press the star and plus, after which you can put the cell phone into tone mode.

During a conversation, press the keyboard to display the number dialing menu. Then enter a custom combination of numbers that is specific to your device. You can find this information in the phone review or in the instructions for using it.

Today you learned how to switch a cell phone to tone mode and how this can be done with a landline device at home.

Master's answer:

Any number on the phone can be dialed in one of two modes: pulse or tone. Pulse dialing is typical for landline telephones with a rotary dial, while tone dialing is used in modern telephone models.

The default settings for your landline phone are Pulse mode.

How to put your phone into tone mode?

It can be identified by the characteristic crackling sound in the handset while typing. At the same time, when dialing the number 1, you can hear one crackling sound in the handset, when dialing the number 2, two, etc. When dialing by tone, a beep is heard while pressing.

When contacting a service where during a conversation you need to press certain keys on the telephone to get to the corresponding menu item, a device with pulse dialing will not work. To turn on the tone mode one-time, you must press “*” and the required key. The tone mode will be disabled during the subsequent call to the autoinformer.

Any device can be switched from pulse mode to tone mode (read the instructions for your phone model). For example, Siemens Gigaset telephones can be switched to tone mode using the following combination: press the call button, then call the function by dialing “10”. In the menu that appears, press the “1” button.

If you have, for example, a Voxtel landline telephone, you can switch it to tone mode in the following way: by selecting the “programming” button, press the combination “*-2-2”. When the signal sounds, press “*”, then the “programming” button. In DEXT-based devices there is a key for switching dialing modes.

Modern models of Panasonic telephones have a switch on the base (it is located on the side). To switch the device to tone dialing mode, you need to move the switch to the “tone” position. If the model is outdated, you need to go to the telephone menu, select “call programming” and select “Tone key dialing mode” from the list. However, it should be noted that such an item may not be on the menu. In this case, for clarification, please refer to the instructions for this telephone set.

In ordinary city telephones, there are two types of dialing: the so-called pulse, known since the days of rotary telephones, and tone.

Currently, it is generally accepted that pulse dialing (when the number of pulses and interruptions corresponds to a particular dialed digit of a number) is a relic of the past. Nowadays, tone dialing (in which a number is dialed using special tone messages) is increasingly used.

We switch the phone to tone dialing mode - definition and two simple methods

However, quite often telephone exchanges do not support tone dialing.

Instructions for switching your phone from tone mode to pulse mode

Some phone models do not natively support touch tone mode. For example, rotary telephones are designed only for pulse dialing. If you have a similar device, you can safely use its functions.

Almost all modern telephones have a dialing mode switch. It usually represents a moving slider switch. It also always has a “Pulse/Tone” switch, which corresponds to pulse and tone modes. Turn the switch to the “Pulse” position. So, your phone has changed its dialing mode.

If your phone model does not have this switch, then the “*” (“asterisk”) key present on the numeric keypad of your telephone will perform a similar function of switching modes. Pressing again will return the phone to its previous dialing mode.

Sometimes, after changing the mode, you need to lower the handset onto the lever and lift it again. That is, during a conversation, switching the device from one mode to another is almost impossible on some phone models.

If you have a DECT phone (that is, a phone that has a wireless handset), then the settings for dialing modes are contained in the settings of the “base” to which the handset is “attached”. Access to the settings is possible directly from the handset of the telephone, or from the control buttons on the “base”.

Read the instructions for your telephone. It will certainly contain information about setting up the device, including switching to tone or pulse dialing mode. You can also find instructions on the manufacturer's website or sites created to help users.

How to put your phone into tone mode, what is it? Switching to tone mode on your phone

What is tone mode on a phone?

pulse, which involves closing the telephone line in a special way, where each dialed digit corresponds to the number of pulses.
tone, using an analog signal to dial the required combination of numbers.

Touch tone on a landline phone

Tone mode on a mobile phone

A person dialing a call center number will hear a characteristic signal, indicating that communication has been established with the selected operator.

How to put a mobile phone into tone mode

This instruction explains how to switch to tone mode on a mobile phone with touch controls:

Dial the phone number.

Once the connection is established, bring up the on-screen keyboard.

Press the star or plus key. For different gadget models, you may need to hold these buttons for a while.

This algorithm will also be effective for owners of push-button phone models. Here the situation is even somewhat simpler: you don’t need to open the keyboard on the screen.

How to enable tone dialing on your phone?

Having reached the dialed number and heard a request to turn on tone input, which was probably turned off, you only need to press and hold one of the keys (usually “star”, “pound” or “plus”) until a characteristic signal.

Switching a landline phone to tone mode

Pick up the phone if you have a corded one, or press the call key on your radiotelephone.

Hold the star button for a second.

Try pressing the number keys: if they make sounds that are different in tone, then everything is done correctly.

Another option is suitable only for some models:

Inspect the tube from all sides for the location of additional levers on it.

If you notice a switch with the Latin letters P and T, meaning pulse and tone dialing, then move the lever to the T position.

You can check by pressing the number buttons.

Video: Tone mode

Technologies

What is dial tone on a landline phone?

Landline (wired, home) telephones for their intended purpose are now used less and less, giving way to radio-based mobile devices. Since the latter, in most tariffs, does not require a monthly subscription fee, the cost of using them is even lower than that of their stationary counterparts. At first glance, it may seem that no questions can arise when using wired phones, since the technology is old and well-studied. But this is true for the developer, and not for the average user of such a phone.

For example, sometimes companies and banking institutions indicate a toll-free telephone number in their contact information, by calling which many issues can be resolved. Usually, an answering machine on the other side of the line picks up the phone, asking the subscriber to press certain numbers (turn the dial) during the conversation. Unfortunately, for many, the call ends here, since the answering machine does not react in any way to actions on the phone, ignoring button presses. Why?

The reason is simple - there is a pulse and tone mode of the phone. Surely, everyone has heard strange clicks or beeps that accompany pressing numbers or dialing a number using a dial. The beeps are tone mode and the clicks are pulse mode. Let's look at how dialing occurs in old rotary phones.

When the dial is rotated to the required distance and automatically returns to its original position, special electrical contacts are closed: each closure forms a click-pulse; by counting their number, you can determine the digit being dialed and, accordingly, the number. This “counting” is carried out by the equipment at the station (ATS). Simple and effective. In newer phone models, the contacts are replaced with a special pulse generator, which, by the way, can also be switched to tone mode.

Subsequently, pulse dialing was replaced by a more technologically advanced tonal (tone) dialing. In it, dialing is carried out not by digits, but by modulating alternating current with the desired frequency. Each number (button) has its own signal tone. Then everything is the same: the PBX perceives a combination of tones and converts them into a dialed telephone number. The tone mode is more noise-resistant (errors in dialing are now entirely dependent on the attentiveness of the owner, and not on the state of the network), and also allows you to connect with the subscriber more quickly. All modern phones are tone phones; they may not have a pulse mode at all.

By the way, it is believed that the tone mode provides higher sound quality.

How to put your phone into tone mode

This is only half true. To work in tone mode, both the telephone and the PBX must support it. Trying to use a new phone on a pulse PBX will not give any advantages (if, at all, the device works). Stations designed for tone mode are digital (or mixed), as opposed to analog pulse. Hence the improvement in sound.

A programmable pulse generator allows you to switch the phone to tone mode and operate both pulse and tone communication networks. Let's assume that the subscriber is served by an analogue telephone exchange. To put your phone into pulse dialing mode, you usually need to press and hold the “*” (asterisk) button for a few seconds. If this does not help, then turn the device over and examine the bottom cover - often there is a small toggle switch for selecting a mode. Switching to tone dialing is performed in the same way.

Now let's return to the example given at the beginning of the article. Owners of rotary telephones connected to analog stations may forget about communicating with an answering machine that requires pressing any buttons, since this is impossible without additional equipment. Of course, there is a way out - this is a special set-top box that generates tone signals into the network, but you will have to forget about convenience.

Technologies
CDMA phones - what are they? CDMA mobile and landline phones

If we decipher the full abbreviation of these four letters (CDMA) in detail, we will get the following words - Code Division Multiple Access. And even when we decipher this meaning, translating it into a language we understand, m...

Law
What is the visa regime? Ukraine, Russia - visa regime 2014

Today there are quite a lot of people who one way or another need to face crossing the border, so they have to apply for a visa. It should be noted that some people don’t even know about such a thing as a “visa”...

Arts and entertainment
What is tonality in music? The key of the song. Major, minor

Before analyzing a particular musical composition, the performer first of all pays attention to the tonality and key signs. After all, not only the correct reading of notes, but also the holistic nature of the piece depends on this...

Computers
What is TTY in a mobile phone?

Some phone users, delving into the settings, come across an incomprehensible abbreviation TTY or the phrase “Teletype mode”. Also, the status bar of the smartphone may contain a characteristic symbol...

Computers
What is Windows 7 Safe Mode?

A user of a Microsoft operating system who does not know what Windows 7 safe mode is can be called lucky. This software solution turned out to be so effective that it lasted...

Computers
What is “sleep mode”, what are the differences?

Modern computers are equipped with a huge number of functions that are not always fully understood by the typical Windows OS user. One of these options, which at first glance does not raise any special questions...

beauty
What is foundation for dry skin?

Foundation is an indispensable part of the cosmetic arsenal of any woman who tries to choose the best cream to look flawless. But when buying the most expensive products, we don’t always pay attention...

Technologies
What is HDR in a phone camera? High Dynamic Range - expanding the dynamic range of a digital image

The desire of smartphone manufacturers to make their products more attractive to buyers has led to the fact that it is now quite difficult to find a device that does not have a built-in digital camera. Des...

Technologies
What is DFU mode? iPad: how to activate DFU mode?

If you have had any problems with the software on your iPad, or needed to erase all information from the device, you know what updating and restoring are. In the same case...

Technologies
What is a flexible screen? Advantages of a flexible screen phone

The appearance of a modern mobile phone is firmly “stuck” in the minds of most people. If we are asked to imagine a modern device, we will probably see something like the latest models...

If you have landed on this page, then you probably need to get an answer to the question, how to install tone dialing on a mobile phone?

How to turn your phone into tone mode

First let's figure out what this function is "tone dialing" and why it is needed. Any cell phone user sooner or later has a situation when it is necessary:

obtain information on a specific operation from the service provider (operator);

call the bank's hotline;

order a ringtone for a call.

In these and many other cases, dialing in tone mode is required. Mobile devices for cellular communications are equipped with two modes - tonal and pulse. Pulse dialing is already outdated and practically not used. Its essence lies in the number of presses on the button: one press - number 1, two presses - number 2, and so on.

On modern mobile phones, tone mode is installed by default, and pulse mode is not available at all, since it is slower and more inconvenient than tone mode.

How to enable touch tone on your phone

It was already said above that on modern devices the tone mode is set by default, but in phones with a touch screen the keyboard does not always light up. In addition, the operator may ask the interlocutor to switch the phone to the desired mode, which means that the setting was not saved in the phone.

Therefore, the user needs to know how to display the keyboard on the mobile phone screen. When you press the call button and hear a dial tone, press the soft key, which will turn on the on-screen keyboard. After that, press * or +, that’s it – the DTMF mode is active.

The owner of a touch phone should pay attention to the options available during the call. Sometimes the transition to tone mode is carried out through them. During a conversation or listening to information, press the number entry item and enter the desired combination of buttons.

This combination must be indicated in the instructions for the device. If these recommendations do not help put the device into tone mode, it means that it is infected with a virus or there are problems with the firmware. In this case, the owner needs to contact the service center.