On Wed, 20 May 2009 20:28:56 +0100, geoff had this
to say:

In message , Neil
writes
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:26:38 +0100, John wrote:

I want to use a regular headset (earphones & mic) with my landline
phone. The headset would plug into the socket on the phone instead
of the curly lead.

I'm in the UK and the cost of ready-made telephone headsets are
about £30 or £40 which is a bit steep for me.

So I guess it should be possible to modify an ordinary headset to
terminate with a 4P4C plug which would then go into the curly lead
socket on the phone. I'm hoping it's almost as simple as:

(a) replace the mic in the original handpiece by the mic in the new
headset

(b) replace the earphone in the original handpiece by the earphone
in the new headset.

What special considerations are there about headphone/mic impedance
or about any additional components which may be needed?

Is there any constructor info or a simple circuit diagram for this?

Did you find a solution to your request?

Take a look at
http://www.jabra.com/sites/jabra/uk-...bragn9120.aspx

Yes it's expensive! But I've got one here unused - the box is a bit
tatty but all the bits and manuals are present. You can have it for
£45 including carriage.

I bought a Photonics one new for £65 a couple of months ago

But I thought the OP found £30 a bit steep...

Traditional headsets/handsets were fairly conventional in the days of
rocking armature receivers and carbon transmitters (and even the early
electret transmitters), and one could swap readily from handset to
headset.
Modern 'technology' seems to outlaw all this and demands that you buy
a 'high-tech' substitute...

--
Frank Erskine