I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.

wrote:
I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.


You've got a corroded wire somewhere shorting the line out when the ring
voltage is applied. Truth to tell, although you're getting a dial tone,
and able to dial out, the line probably has some noise on it, right?
Clicks, pops, static...that kind of thing?

I've had this happen a few times. The last time, some water got into
the Customer Interface box on the outside of the house. The proper
troubleshoot is to unhook the modular phone plug in that box and
substitute a working telephone. (On the newest boxes, the plug is
harder to find. You swing out a little terminal board to which the
lines are connected). If the phone needs to be plugged in to
electricity, this more complicated. Use a simpler phone, or run an
extension cord outside.

In any case, if the phone now rings when you call your number (from a
cell phone?), the issue is inside the house. One problem I've had is
forgotten phone jacks getting 'watered' along with the house plants.
Eventually the contact wires corrode and short out. Replacing the
offending jack is the only option in that case.

If you're comfortable doing so, disconnect all but one jack at the box
outside, and repeat your experiment (calling the number from another
phone). When the problem reappears, you've isolated the problem. It
can be tough to trace the wiring from the box to the jack, so it might
be easier to physically examine each phone jack inside.

jak

your cellular phone doesnt use the wires in your home. it is completely
wirelesss through cell antennas scattered around the countryside.

your private wired local carry around portabe phone (your cell?) that u may
get perhaps 300 feet from home with is not a "cell"phone.

if u have a multi terminal commercial phone junction box in your "home", you
may have a poor connection at one of the wires to terminal joints. they are
almost always just push-in type. they get loose and you get all sorts of
troubles. corrosion fron salt air make things worse(if you live near
oceans)

& with the phone company crooks tryng to charge you up to $60 buck per
quarter hour to'diagnose" your problems, i do advise you to be cautious when
calling them.

anything you do to complicate the trouble will cost u dearly.

if you have so many wires as u describe, u have a business connection,

or you may have an existing DSL or high speed service that is as yet still
working. a simple dsl filter may be the solution to this problem also. some
phones will operate very strangley withot a fiolter

even the phone you use is suspect. try it at a neighbors home. (get to know
them, they are valuable allies against poor phone service representatives)





wrote in message
ups.com...
I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.

wrote in news:1165250313.219717.51370
@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com:

I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.



When you went outdoors and were able to receive a call at the network
interface, do you mean that you unplugged the house wiring at the
interface and plugged in your phone? If so, it sure sounds like you have
a problem with the house wiring.

A phone jack can go bad after years of use. (A short or intermittant in
one jack can cause problems on the line.) Try disconnecting one jack at
a time and testing to see if the problem goes away. (Unscrew the jack
from the wall, completely disconnect all the wires from the jack.) If
you find one that makes the problem go away, replace it with a new jack.

If you've disconnected all the jacks in the house and still have the
problem, then it's the wiring in the house. If you *really* understand
the connections at the basement panel, you can try disconnecting the
various branch circuits to try to localize the problem. (Hint: Draw a
clear diagram of all the connections before you start!)

Best of luck.

"Jim Land" wrote in message
. 3.44...
wrote in news:1165250313.219717.51370
@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com:

I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.

I had this problem once due to a faulty caller ID device. The ring voltage
caused it to short out when ringing voltage was present, but it was open
circuit otherwise. Also be sure there is not an alarm system or something
else on the line that may not be connected directly to a visible jack. Any
satellite receiver connected

David

Jim Land wrote:
wrote in news:1165250313.219717.51370
@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com:

I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.



When you went outdoors and were able to receive a call at the network
interface, do you mean that you unplugged the house wiring at the
interface and plugged in your phone? If so, it sure sounds like you have
a problem with the house wiring.

A phone jack can go bad after years of use. (A short or intermittant in
one jack can cause problems on the line.) Try disconnecting one jack at
a time and testing to see if the problem goes away. (Unscrew the jack
from the wall, completely disconnect all the wires from the jack.) If
you find one that makes the problem go away, replace it with a new jack.

If you've disconnected all the jacks in the house and still have the
problem, then it's the wiring in the house. If you *really* understand
the connections at the basement panel, you can try disconnecting the
various branch circuits to try to localize the problem. (Hint: Draw a
clear diagram of all the connections before you start!)

Best of luck.

You might save some time by simply examining each jack (assuming you can
find them all--not easy, sometimes). I had this problem when an unused
jack that had been mounted 'hole up' got covered by plants. In the
process of watering the plants, some water inevitably got into the hole
and corroded the contacts until the corrosion 'grew' together, causing a
partial, intermittent short. The phones worked okay--some noise, but
usable--for dialing out, but the ring voltage was enough to get the
corrosion to conduct.

The end result was exactly as the OP described. Note that this sort of
problem could occur anywhere in the system where moisture is present,
and bare wires are close together; but is most likely in the jack itself.

Use a small mirror and a strong light to look into the hole.

jak

In our house, I once traced an intermittent problem to a jack mounted on the
basement wall. Apparently the moisture had corroded connections enough to
bridge & short under the right circumstances.

WT

"Jim Land" wrote in message
. 3.44...
wrote in news:1165250313.219717.51370
@l12g2000cwl.googlegroups.com:

I just moved into a new house and have a problem with the phone system.
We get a dial tone and can make calls, but when someone tries to call
us they get a ring which then breaks into static; the phone doesn't
even ring at our house (This happens, by the way, if only one working
phone is plugged into a jack or even if no phones are plugged into any
jacks in the house, so it's not a problem with my phone.) I took a
phone outside and plugged it into the jack at the network interface and
was able to receive a cell phone call fine, so I'm guessing the problem
is in the house.

Last night I opened an access panel in the basement to check the phone
wiring coming into the house -- quite a tangle of wires! -- and, with
assistance from various websites on the Internet, was able to finally
make some sense of all the connections, though the problem wasn't
immediately apparent.

I'm hoping someone could tell me what might be causing this. Can a
problem at one of the jacks cause a problem with the whole system even
if no phone is plugged into that jack? Or is the problem more likely
to be with the wires coming into the house? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any insight or suggestions.



When you went outdoors and were able to receive a call at the network
interface, do you mean that you unplugged the house wiring at the
interface and plugged in your phone? If so, it sure sounds like you have
a problem with the house wiring.

A phone jack can go bad after years of use. (A short or intermittant in
one jack can cause problems on the line.) Try disconnecting one jack at
a time and testing to see if the problem goes away. (Unscrew the jack
from the wall, completely disconnect all the wires from the jack.) If
you find one that makes the problem go away, replace it with a new jack.

If you've disconnected all the jacks in the house and still have the
problem, then it's the wiring in the house. If you *really* understand
the connections at the basement panel, you can try disconnecting the
various branch circuits to try to localize the problem. (Hint: Draw a
clear diagram of all the connections before you start!)

Best of luck.



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