Telco Problem

[lil Jimmie]

In the last month I have had three instances in which the phone line was dead, no dial tone no nothing. Called telco with cell phone to see what was going on. They said they would see if they could find a problem on their end. Well I checked every phone in the house, unplugged every thing but the alarm system even checked for dial tone at the box where the line comes into the house and still no dial tone. After an hour or two the phone worked again. Today it happened again the wife called and reported the problem they told her that they would check into it. I came home at lunch and unplugged all lines and reconnected them and the line was back up. Telco called back leaving a message on voicemail saying that they checked the lines to the house and found nothing that it had to be our phone jacks. I don’t think that it is the phone jacks or the phone lines in the house because this just started within the last month. Any suggestions on what I should check?

TIA

[bob]

Next time wait for the dialtone. If the lines are all being used then you will not get a dialtone until someone hangs up.

[lil Jimmie]

Thanks Bob, but thats not the problem. No one is on the line when this happens.

[bob]

Dial tone is provided by your local telephone company.

There are 2 wires that come from your house - but they do not go all the way to your phone company. They go to a junction box. That box serves everyone in your area. From the box the signals are combined and run over the same wire that connects to the phone co.
Only so many people in your area can be using the phone at the same until that wire is full. At that point you will not get a dial tone.
This often happens during an emergency when everyone picks up the phone at the same time.

Sure it could be a wire problem but that usually would not just work and not work without inbetween static.

One of your phones may be faulty too.

[SARGE]

If you unplugged at dmarc and had no dial tone, it's not an inside issue. When line was dead and you called telco on cell phone, did they say a problem detected when testing? That's first thing I look at, is how line tested at time you called. The fact you've done the homework would make one less possible for the tech. Has anyone actually been to your premises? Even though line is working, a tech can see a "marginal problem", providing he cares and has the correct equipment.

Depending on network, you probably have your own 2 wires from jack all the way to your own switch in office. Some neighborhood boxes are fed by fiber, in which case you have no problem on that portion, or everyone would be down. Get a tech out and ask alot of questions.

[lil Jimmie]

Sarge, I have checked a known working phone at the dmarc and there was NO dial tone. Telco has been working in the area the past few weeks. No one has been on site to my knowlage, but they claimed they checked it this afternoon. Although I don't think so because no one was home and three rottweilers own the backyard. When line is working it is clear and no background noise, modem get a 49333 to 48000.
I know many of the Techs that work for local telco but You never know who will show up for service call.

[bob]

If telco has been working in the area they may be causing the problem.
BTY, a copper T1 can carry 24 lines from the box to the phone co. Fiber may be what telco is installing there now.
If you did not unscrew the incomming red and green wires from the DMARK (where it comes into your house) before you tested then the problem could still be inside your house.

[lil Jimmie]

I had removed the phone lines to the house when I tested at the dmarc so I'm sure it has to do with telco but I hate it when they won't own up to it.

[bob]

Ask them if you have a direct hardwired link to them.
Let them explain to you why it is not their problem.
You know what the posibilities are - ask them how it could be your problem.

[SARGE]

Every tech likes to "see" the problem, whether telco, mechanic or a/c repairman. If problem doesn't exist while testing, what to do? You wouldn't pay for a tuneup to cover the bases, if intermittent problem continued, nor have a new compressor installed to later find it was a loose wire. Telco is actually much simpler, as it costs the customer nothing.

The important part is knowing how your line is testing when not working. When you call in, most telcos run a test right then and it goes on the repair ticket. If you call in after line is working, tests might say tests okay. If your line is going short, line will go dead. If it's going open, most of the time it will be noisy while working. I said "most of the time". Depending on your network, you could have a plug-in at a remote location going south, or the equipment in the office. You need to call while dead.

[lil Jimmie]

Thanks Guys, I have replaced my phones and will replace lines in a few days, I have been wanting to replace the lines anyway as they are not where I would like them anyway.
Next is the modem but I can live with that!
As for the problem.... I guess I'll wait and see.

[luisr]

Has anyone cared to check whether the dmarc is working properly? The one in my phone line shuts down everything past it if anything is plugged in the jack inside the box. This jack could be faulty. These boxes vary widely but they normally have two compartments, yours and the telco's. If you can get into the telco compartment (mine is just a hex screw away) try checking for a dial tone from the wires themselves before the test jack.

If you have dial tone from the wires and the line is dead inside then the dmarc is bad.

[SARGE]

True, in which case telco will replace at their cost. Most folks don't go as far as you do; some techs don't either