phone problems.

My fixed landlline phone recently became inoperative and I have made numerous attempts to isolate the problem.

What I find strange is my PC modem is connected to the same line as my phone and this has been the case for many years...so no issue with that.

I disconnected my PC from that telephone line and connected my fixed phone to where I had disconnected my PC but the phone would not work.

I then installed some phone software to my PC so I could use my PC as a phone but each time I dial out I do not get a dial tone from my PC and the phone fails to connect the call.

Any suggestions?

 

Hi Roy66, Maybe a silly question but have you plugged your phone into a neighbours phone jack to ensure the phone is OK? I've had intermittent drop out when connected to web sites and it was a bad soldered connection at the telephone exchange, yet the phone still worked alright. We had been experiencing this problem both on dial up and when we went to broadband. Telecom kept saying there was no fault at the exchange when they did their electronic tests but one of their technicians finally did the manual work and we've had no further problems for over three years now. Neil.

 

Thanks Kiwi..an elderly gentleman like myself....1936 eh!

I have 2 different types of phones, each of which I have physically connected to the PC telecommunication line and both would not work.

Your suggestion is a brilliant one ...if you have neighbours close by and if so they are friendly ones.

I might just push the barriers on that one then again I can go to a Telstra office and ask them if I can plug in.

Seems to me that basically you have 2 lines to your phone..1 for inward and 1for outward.
I do a lot of handiwork stuff for myself in all fields that is why I have carried out the tests mentioned but this has me stumped.

Best follow your advice anyway and try my phones on someone elses line.
I'll chuck it in the car today and see if I can get a hookup with someone.

Thanks champ
roy66...should 72 eh!

 

Hello Roy66,

Does the phone/handset have it's own power supply? If not, it will need to draw power from the connection.

Ring the telco (Telstra?) and ask them to test the line. They will test it to the nearest connection outside your home, after that, you should check the connections around your home. If you have have had a long rain period like we have, look for water/moisture in the connections.

NB: there is a small amount of power in the lines, so be careful, or ask someone that has experience checking them to help.

Matt

 

Thanks Mattman,

In this instance it is regrettable that I am not with Telstra as if Telstra does a test to the nearest connect outside the premises and find no problem then I'm up for $150 for their visit.

Before I make that call to them I want to exhaust every possible check but so far I haven't yet plugged my phones into my neighbours socket or anyone else's.

1 Phone has its own power and the other would be powered by the connection. Neither one works.
I have sprayed each terminal with WD40 to disperse any moisture.

The mystery to me is that off the very same connection/terminal/line..my PC ADSL operates OK..?????

Oh yeh I forgot to mention...I got hold of a brand new phone and connected that also but wasn't able to get a dial tone either.
Once I check my 2 phones on someones connection I should know for sure the next step to take.

 

Hi Roy

Don't use the line that comes with/from the phone to test in the modem wall jack.

Unplug the end that connects to the modem stright to the bottom of the phone (unpluging the one that is now connected to the phone first).

If this works the lines to both phones need replacing???!!!

What are the odds?

Mike

 

Hi Roy, I see you have the same parasites in Aussie that we have here in NZ. I was threatened with a fee (something between $50-$100) if it was not Telecoms fault. I took the gamble as all our neighbours phones were OK. Hence my first suggestion to check with those around you to see if they have any problems with their phones. Do you have any private telephone contractors who would probably cost less to do any checks? Also I would be wary of spraying WD40 into electronic connections. There are special electronic cleaner sprays available which leave no residues. As Matt has said, there should be a residual current flow in your phone line which is provide by either battery or transformer direct from the exchange. It's low voltage but may have a few amps behind it. If you have a decent DVM you could possibly test for current with that. I plump for the Techos to check because if a fault is found they will also fix it. lol Neil from the long white cloud.

 

Like I've said I have connected each of the 3 phones to the jack to which my external ADSL modem is connected.

None of the phones will operate from that jack, in fact not even a dial tone yet my modem functions OK sending and receiving packets over the internet.

Ist that a mystery or what????

 

I know what you said Roy!

But what I asked is did you use the line that was attached to the phone to connect to the jack on the wall that the modem uses.

If so. Then use the line end that was pluged in the modem and plug it directly into the port on the phone to test. Don't use the line that came with the phone.

If you did it this way then you did not make it clear.

Mike

 

Hi Mike,

I Got the phone and placed a new connecting cord to it.
I then using a single to double adapter put the single end into the modem.
I then connected the in line to one port in the double adapter and waited for the modem to re-connect to my ISP and my PC functioned OK.
I then connected my phone with its new lead into the other port of the double adapter and it "shorted out" my ISP connection and my PC effectiveness to connect to the internet.

Next..if I connect the phone with its new lead into the wall socket that my PC is using then there is NO dial tone on the phone either...same socket for PC and Phone.
PC works..Phone doesn't.
Assumption...phone no good.
BUT...got the neighbours WORKING phone carried out the same procedures but still NO dial tone?????

 

OK with those details then I understand.

Try 1 more thing. If your modem has a second port, plug in your phone while leaving the modem connected to the wall.

Other than that get friendly with the neighbors!

Mike

 

I'll be out of contact shortly, but when things get sorted out i'll let you know....Thanks to ALL

 

I'm having a little trouble following this thread re: what got plugged into what, but thought of something that should be checked out once I read that you are using an ASDL modem and not a telco modem.

On a regular phone cord, the wires at each end are reversed. Look at the two modular ends and orient them the same - on one end you will see red on the right and green on the left while the other end will have green on the right and red on the left.

Now, look at the cord that came with your ADSL modem - the ends are the same - red and green will be on the same side on both ends. If you try using the wrong cord with the wrong device, you'll find the device doesn't work.

Maybe you already were aware of this. Maybe not. Check it anyway to make sure its not something this simple.

 

Hi Rockster, Roy has already tried a new cord between phone and jack and tried his neighbours phone as I read it so to me it looks like a faulty line connection at the jack. Broadband uses the outer shield on the phone cable and the phone uses the center wire?? The ADSL Router is powered by a step down transformer and sends a signal to the exchange independent of the phone line hence you can make phone calls while connected to the internet?? All phone cords I have, have the same termination at both ends and we use only 2 wires to enable phone use (red & green). RJ45 connectors are probably different. Neil.

 

You don't mention that you are using line filters for the phones. My ADSL requires a filter for every phone, answering machine, etc and it sounds like you have an extension line to another part of the house, that will also need a filter. You should have received filters with the ADSL modem.

The last few phone line problems I have dealt with were not in the wall jack, but under the house in connections and junction boxes for extensions to other rooms.

Matt

 

Yeah! I misunderstood most of it!

No mention of DSL and I was assumeing a phone 56k type modem.

Mike

 

Yeah, I go back and re-read Roy's activities and I'm still not sure what is getting plugged into what. Nice clarification Matt - I just assumed Roy's reference to a two port adapter was in actuality, a DSL filter. Shame on me - we all know what happens to those who ASS/U/ME.

 

Thanks all for your time and contributions.

I have bitten the bullet and gone wireless for my PC and phone.

This has worked to my advantage as all local and long distance calls are free on the wireless contract and the overall monthly costs are cheaper than my previous ISP.

So I have gained with cheaper internet charges as well as getting all long distance and local calls free.

Sorta pleased we could not resolve the problem.

Thanks
Roy66