Verizon Battery

Finally tracked down what seemed like an inconsistent beeping to a Verizon box in the basement.On the box there was a red light next to a low battery warning. We use Fios mainly for TV and internet. We also have a landline which is not used much. Is it necessary to replace the battery? And if we don't how do we stop the beep?


First, make sure the connection that slides over the battery terminal is tight. Sometimes a little push or jiggle, even if it’s already on there good, stops the beeping. (That has worked for me a couple of times when beeping started even though I knew the battery wasn’t that old.)

I’m no expert, but I’d think that a dead backup battery wouldn’t be a wise choice. If the battery really is a goner, a replacement is about $20.


About a year ago I called Verizon to tell them that my battery connector kept on coming off and the box was beeping. They replaced the box and the new one doesn't have any space for a battery. I asked the technician about it and he said batteries were useless - which they are. 

I was a happy camper. I had previously replaced two or three batteries.


So cramer if you have the box with no battery do you know if would still beep? In my set-up if I took the battery out would my Fios and internet still work?


The battery would keep your landline going for a few hours during a power outage.

A thousand years ago in the days of copper wiring, Ma Bell kept the system powered from central power stations full of batteries. The power was transmitted along the same copper wires that carry your voice. So you could just plug your phone in to the wall jack (or screw the wires into the plate)  and it would work.

I guess they're giving up on the idea of keeping a Fios telephone working in a blackout.


rhw said:

So cramer if you have the box with no battery do you know if would still beep? In my set-up if I took the battery out would my Fios and internet still work?

Your Fios and internet would still work but I think the box would still beep. I don't remember - I tried all of the tricks of the trade when I still had old one with a battery.  You can try to remove the battery and see what happens. 


mrincredible said:

The battery would keep your landline going for a few hours during a power outage.

A thousand years ago in the days of copper wiring, Ma Bell kept the system powered from central power stations full of batteries. The power was transmitted along the same copper wires that carry your voice. So you could just plug your phone in to the wall jack (or screw the wires into the plate)  and it would work.

I guess they're giving up on the idea of keeping a Fios telephone working in a blackout.

 Perhaps because they figure that everyone has cellphones now. We probably have five princess phones and would hook up a couple in the old days before FIOS. 


cramer said:

 Perhaps because they figure that everyone has cellphones now. We probably have five princess phones and would hook up a couple in the old days before FIOS. 

 Which version? Push button or dial?


@rhw :  what usually worked to stop the beeping with our old Fios box was to take the battery out, disconnect it, shake it vigorously maybe ten seconds' worth, reinstall it and push the button on the box that says "alarm silence" or something like that. 


mrincredible said:

The battery would keep your landline going for a few hours during a power outage.

A thousand years ago in the days of copper wiring, Ma Bell kept the system powered from central power stations full of batteries. The power was transmitted along the same copper wires that carry your voice. So you could just plug your phone in to the wall jack (or screw the wires into the plate)  and it would work.

I guess they're giving up on the idea of keeping a Fios telephone working in a blackout.

 Ah, the good old days!!  Let me tell you though, when installing a new phone jack back then, you never want to be stripping the wire with your teeth when the phone rings.

Ironically, it was my dad the engineer at Western Electric calling.


mrincredible said:

cramer said:

 Perhaps because they figure that everyone has cellphones now. We probably have five princess phones and would hook up a couple in the old days before FIOS. 

 Which version? Push button or dial?

That's a nice little collection you have there. 

Mine aren't princess phones: they're Trimline phones, like this. 

https://www.officesupply.com/technology/telephone-communication/phones-radios/analog-digital-phones/corded-trimline-phone-with-speed-dial-memory-buttons-white/p362155.html?ref=pla&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=&scid=scplp362155&sc_intid=362155&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzoPFiq--6AIVBXiGCh2dcQofEAQYBCABEgJ0pvD_BwE

In the old days you used to have to rent phones from AT&T. That was before you could buy them. When we were young marrieds everytime we moved (which was often in our early days) we would take the phone(s) with us. (Don't tell AT&T)  

I remember the days of the rotary phone. Those were the days before area codes. I still remember my telephone number from those days - 960.  If you wanted to make a long distance call you had to call the operator and she would make the call.


My parents were renting their phone well into the 1990s, I believe.


DaveSchmidt said:

My parents were renting their phone well into the 1990s, I believe.

Sounds about right.

I remember when I was growing up in the eighties you only had dial the last four numbers of someone with the same exchange. So I could call my friends around town as if we were all in the same office building. 

Then we had to start dialing the exchange but dialing "1" plus the area code pushed you into long distance.


I guess there has been a slight drift here. Do I need the battery back up at all and should I just remove it from the box in the basement? Or should I buy a new one for $40.00 or so? Anybody?


if its the same as mine, it is only back up for 8 hours for the phone...nothing else...and at that time, they made you pay about $70 for a new one...so I took it out and left it...everything works fine...no beeping.


You can get one from Amazon for about 15$ if you decide to keep the backup.


rhw said:

I guess there has been a slight drift here. Do I need the battery back up at all and should I just remove it from the box in the basement? Or should I buy a new one for $40.00 or so? Anybody?

This is the battery in our box: $17.75


cramer said:

I remember the days of the rotary phone. 

I found a rotary phone from the 70's and asked my kids if they could figure out how to use it. My high schooler made a few guesses, but none were correct. (I can't remember if my younger tried it).


The visceral satisfaction of concluding a conversation by dropping the weighty receiver back where it belonged, either carefully or with a slam, has yet to be replaced.


Can any of you imagine if we were all going through this with no power?

No communication other than with neighbors from 6’ away?

Sandy was worse than this in intensity because of that, but so much shorter-lived.



This has been a rough 20 years between 9/11, Sandy, and now CV...

Been through it all here on MOL. Glad for it Jamie and Dave. Thank you.


jimmurphy said:

Can any of you imagine if we were all going through this with no power?

No communication other than with neighbors from 6’ away?

Sandy was worse than this in intensity because of that, but so much shorter-lived.


 Never felt at risk during Sandy.


Steve said:

 Never felt at risk during Sandy.

Guess you didn’t live at the waterfront.

What I meant by the comment was from a comfort standpoint. No access to power or gasoline were significant inconveniences.


DaveSchmidt said:

The visceral satisfaction of concluding a conversation by dropping the weighty receiver back where it belonged, either carefully or with a slam, has yet to be replaced.

 I just throw my phone across the room, though I do aim for the couch.


jimmurphy said:

Steve said:

 Never felt at risk during Sandy.

Guess you didn’t live at the waterfront.

What I meant by the comment was from a comfort standpoint. No access to power or gasoline were significant inconveniences.

I meant more in terms of post-storm.  No power for 11 days and no gasoline for some of that time, but to the extent that once the storm passed, I was confident that my health was not at risk.  Here, it is.



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