Strange issue with TalkTalk - only connected when phone is off the hook

[frc]

I have some basic TalkTalk package here (in a city), and for a couple of months it was fine. Then I plugged a phone in as well, just a very simple corded one, and the connection kept dropping. There was a great deal of crackling and white noise through the phone, over the dial tone or during a call.

If the phone was on the hook when I turned the modem on, it would never connect. Once I lifted the phone handset and listened, I could then hear the faint noise of the modem doing something (a bit like an old dial up sequence of noises, but fainter) and then it would sync.

For the modem to sync the phone has to be plugged in BUT off the hook. Unplugged, or on the hook = no sync.

TalkTalk obviously assure me there's nothing wrong and there is in fact no noise on the line etc. I'm not here looking for tech support as much as an idea as to whether this has anything to do with TalkTalk or if it's likely inherent to my phone line?

The time will come soon when I may renew my contract, and I hate the trouble of changing ISPs (something always seems to go wrong) but would consider it if it may sort the issue out.

It's otherwise "OK" but not great. It does alright for me.

Thanks,

 

[frc]

Have you got mircofilters on all phone points? They should have supplied them with the router.

The microfilters basically separate phone and broadband on the line so it should sort the problem.

Yea, I use the ones they gave me. I have four in total, some issue with any of them.

EDIT: I only have one phone point, by the way, and it's in the test socket under the outer cover. Right by the front door.

 

[frc]

From what you describe and the fact you are working from the test socket would suggest a 'high open' fault. Basically the increase in voltage when the phone is off the hook bridges a (corroded) gap somewhere which makes it work fine. Log onto the Talktalk members forum (don't bother ringing them) and have a chat with the agents on there.

Very interesting - thanks!