Phone Line Problem

janp

janp

janp

Associate
Joined
20 Dec 2006
Posts
1,203
Hi,

Wondering if anyone can help. I've got a problem with my phone line, and was going to see if I could fix it myself before I call BT/Virgin.
Outgoing calls are absolutely fine, but incoming calls only ring once and then the person on the other end of the call just hears a crackling sound.
Last night I opened up the main socket, and plugged an old school phone into the test socket, this worked fine for both incoming and outgoing calls. This leads me to believe that there is problem with one of the connected devices, or one of the extensions.
I'm going to go round tonight and disconnect all the devices from any sockets (Sky boxes, Intruder alarm etc.).

I'm just wondering if I'm going about this the right way, and if anyone has any ideas that might assist.

Thanks for your time!
 
If the connection is okay using the test socket BT/Sky won't be interested.

Continue with what you're doing. Disconnect everything and start reconnecting things until the problem reoccurs.
 
Youll get charged by openreach if they do come out.

Do as you say and isolate each item until you find the root issue.

Something on the circuit must be stealing all the power.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I unplugged everything but the intruder alarm last night, and still had the same problem. I'm guessing it must be the alarm, I couldn't disconnect it as it seemed hard wired in. Fortunately I work for the company that service my alarm, so I'll chat to them today.
 
I've spoken with the intruder alarm company, and they're telling me that the problem is caused because I don't have an ADSL filter on the extension connected to the alarm panel.
The thing is I've never had any form of broadband on that line, I'm on 100meg cable now, and previously my ADSL was a completely seperate phone line. They've told me I'll still need an ADSL filter, even if I dont have ADSL. That can't be right surely?
 
If there's no ADSL on the line you don't need ADSL filters.

I'd guess that whoever you spoke to wasn't listening and gave the answer to what must be a fairly common problem for people that do have ADSL.

Did you mention broadband when you spoke to them?
 
bremen1874 said:
If there's no ADSL on the line you don't need ADSL filters.

I'd guess that whoever you spoke to wasn't listening and gave the answer to what must be a fairly common problem for people that do have ADSL.

Did you mention broadband when you spoke to them?
Click to expand...

I made it quite clear that no form of broadband has ever been on that line. They were adamant I would require one.

Thinking about it, would there be any way to check if broadband is active on a line? I'm just wondering if perhaps it's been enabled on my line by mistake?
 
Have you got an ADSL filter spare? If you have route the entire line through it at the master socket.

It shouldn't matter anyway. ADSL filters are there to stop voice devices interfering with the ADSL, not the other way around.
 
Well I've disconnected every single device, including the intruder alarm. I've tried different handsets, and I still get the exact same problem.

What would be my next step? Removing extensions from the master socket until the phone line works? Sorry I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to Telecoms.
 
Could you not just test call from each BT extension until you find the bad extension?

Or use a cable tester to check integrity of each cable...
 
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