A wired retro handset has no app, no pairing and no battery, so setup is one step and most problems come down to the plug, the volume or the phone's audio routing. This is the checklist we send people who email support@dialbop.com, written for the DialBop™ handset but true of any corded handset that plugs into a phone.
Setup
- Push the plug fully into the phone. USB-C and Lightning plugs click home; a 3.5 mm jack seats with a small push. Half in is the most common reason for silence.
- For a Lightning order, seat the included Lightning-to-3.5 mm adapter in the iPhone first, then the jack into the adapter.
- Make or take a call. The handset rings when the phone rings. Press the round button on the inside of the handle to answer, and press it again to hang up.
- Set the volume with the + VOL - rocker on the edge of the handset. The phone's own volume buttons work during the call as well.
No sound in the handset
- Check the plug is all the way in, and look for lint in the phone's port. Pocket fluff stops a plug seating and is easy to pick out.
- Turn the rocker up. It sets the handset's own level and it may be at the bottom out of the box.
- During a call, tap the audio or speaker button on the phone's call screen and choose the wired option (iPhone shows it as Headphones). Phones usually switch on their own when a wired device is plugged in, but a Bluetooth car kit or earbuds that are still connected can win the argument.
- If the phone was on a Bluetooth headset when you plugged in, disconnect the headset and try again.
The other person cannot hear me
- The microphone is in the mouthpiece cup, the end with the cord. Hold that end toward your mouth, the way a landline handset sits.
- Check the audio route as above. If the phone is still using its own microphone, the caller hears you from arm's length.
- Your voice carries the warm, boxy tone of an old telephone. That is how the handset sounds and it is not a fault. A caller who hears nothing at all, or only crackle, is a fault; see the guarantee below.
It does not ring
The phone plays its ringtone through the handset earpiece when it is plugged in. If you cannot hear it, check the phone is not on silent or in a focus mode, then turn up the ring volume in the phone's sound settings.
Video calls and calling apps
The handset is a wired headset with a microphone as far as the phone is concerned, so FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom and similar apps use it once it is plugged in. Prop the phone up, hold the handset and talk. If an app keeps using the phone's speaker, look for the audio-output button inside that app's call screen.
I cannot charge while it is plugged in
A USB-C or Lightning handset occupies the charging port, so you cannot charge on the same cable at the same time. Charge before a long call, or use the 3.5 mm version if your phone has a headphone hole.
I ordered the wrong plug
Before the order ships, email support@dialbop.com and we change it. After it arrives, an adapter can often bridge the gap. Adapters vary, so email us your phone model and the plug you have and we will tell you which one works, rather than buying one blind. Choosing the wrong plug is not a fault, so it is outside the guarantee, but we will still help.
When it is a fault
Silence on both ends with the plug fully seated and the route set, a microphone that never picks up, a button that does nothing, or damage in the box. Email support@dialbop.com within 30 days of delivery with your order number and a photo or a short video, and we replace the handset free. The refund policy has the full terms.
Still deciding which one to order? The plug guide matches every current iPhone and Android to a plug, and the DialBop™ handset is ordered with the plug and colour of your choice.