No Dial Tone for 56K modem on multiple business line

At work, the closest telephone line connection is for the multiple line telephone. The single phone can connect several telephone lines. When I take out the telephone and connect my computer, I get no dial tone. So, I can neither connect to the internet or use the computer fax.

If I drag the computer downstairs to the stand alone fax line (a single telephone line), everything works just fine.

I don't really care about connecting to the internet. I want to be able to use the fax in my computer. I don't want to print stuff out and walk to the other side of the building to send faxes.

Any fix? BTW, I'm using Windows ME and K6-2 350 MHz.

 

If the phone line you're trying to connect with is a multiple line do you have to hit a button or number on the phone when using for voice to choose a line? If so you would have to do the same with the computer. If this is the case you will find a setting, I believe, under modems in the control panel that will allow you to make an entry to hit a number to get a tone.

 

The phone line is one of those that has a single dial in number with several lines. So I don't know the number of anything but the main line.

 

Hi Ray,

I thought(?) Jay was on the right track. For a multiple business line system you need to dial a single digit to get an "outside line ". At work we have to dial 0 to get a dial tone to a place an outside call (without the digit, you just call other phones on the system).

Try going to Control Panel > Modems, then click the Dialling Preferences button. There (Dialing Properties) you should see "When calling from here; To access an outside line: For local calls, dial... "

Matt

 

With no dial tone, don't think your going to get access. At my old business, I ran into this same situation. Our multi-line phones could access all the lines, but a single line device could not. You can get around this, but requires special equipment or access to the physical lines. I was very fortunate, the phone Demark point (the terminal box the phone company attaches to the outside of your house or business) was outside of my office window. Opened up the box, each incoming phone line (two wires called a "pair ") was labeled with the corresponding phone number assigned. I chose the the phone number I wanted to be on, with a 2 wire cord wired it out with a phone jack on the other end. Another point of access is in front of the main phone brain (old days called the PBX) terminal box. An yet another point of access is the wall jack itself. Open up the box, you could find 4,6,12+ small wires (remember, lines always come in pairs).

 

ONE IMPORTANT UPDATE
When you access / use a phone line outside of the multi-line phone system you have no control to others jumping on your line. A multi-line phone prevents this. Think of it at home with one phone line and two or more phone extensions. Anyone can jump in on your call. In your case, an outbound fax can be interrupted by anyone trying to call out on the line your using. Same goes when your your surfing. Your modem connection will be fried when others jump on your line. If your in a very small office, let others know you are using the line, you can work around it. Also, choose a line that is the last in the "Hunt" assignment. Simply stated, when inbound calls are received, it is the last line used if all other lines are in use.

 

This appears to be the problem. The computer modem is analog. The voice telephone system I want to use is digital.

To get the computer modem to work, many telephones have a DATA PORT. This port gives a dedicated analog line when needed.

If the telephone has no data port, an externa digital to analog converter is necessary. This is a device that apparently hooks to the receiver of the telephone (wire, not the old fashioned cradle). This device is too expensive for what I want to do.

 

I wanted to get an idea of what you are looking for.
These of any interest?
http://windowsmarketplace.com/prices.aspx?itemId=1911326&stext=analog digital converter
http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/modem.htm#data

Get an old computer and set it up permanently downstairs.

Get the downstairs line extended upstairs.

Matt

 

Matt, those were my ideas exactly. I work for a small nonprofit agency and it would freak people if I set up a ocmputer downstairs. Almost everyone is worse than computer illiterate!

 

Ray, sort of know what you mean. I have a friend who is in charge of a section of a charity. They use 1997 model Compaq computers connected to the main network. I would like to be able to upgrade their computers and give my time for free, but being Compaqs they have to use Compaq parts and I don't know how their network is set up (they also pay top dollar for outside IT to work on their network). Best I can do is donate printers I have reconditioned etc. I do whatever I can to keep my friends personal computer running. He always says "Matt, you know heaps more about these things than the clowns that are sent to repair them, on big dollars" (He actually wants to get me employed there to run and maintain their computer system).

I can't think of any other ways around your problem without spending too much money.

Matt