US Telco Support > AT&T > AT&T U-verse > Radio in Uverse line??

reply to Madtown

Re: Radio in Uverse line??

True, I wish they would just switch to e-mail so it would be just so much easier for all of us.

reply to Thecloser
If you're on U-verse VoIP service, then the radio interference is getting in between the analog conversion in the RG and your phones.

Do you have any house wiring being back-fed by the RG? If so, try plugging your phone directly into the RG and see if the interference is reduced. Also, if you have a couple of different phones, try them. Changing the antenna conditions could help you out.

If you don't notice a change with this, then the pickup in occurring inside the RG, and AT&T is going to have a hard time helping you out, despite the rules for home electronic equipment:

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may
not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept
any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.

Yes, I am on Uverse VoIP service, and plugging the phone directly into the RG, does seem to help, but I tried it with our WIRED phone, so, since this seems to help, I will try it with our cordless phone since by process of elimination, it HAS to be the cordless phone... and it is a DECT 6.0 phone ( thought it was supposed to PREVENT interference??!!!)

Any device that has electronics built into it, or your inside wiring can cause the trouble, just like others have stated it could act like an antennae and back feed into your inside wire. I would try one phone at a time, unplug all other phones, till you find out if it is a wiring issue or a phone set. A friend of mine had an old TV in his house that picked up a local radio station. He made complaints for a year to the radio station, they even turned their antennae on the tower to try and eliminate the interference. He ended up buying a newer TV and the trouble went away. (he did not have U-verse)

I had the phone company install a Radio Interference filter at my house years ago since I live by a radio tower.

reply to Thecloser
Yes, try with your cordless phone next.

If you hear interference in the cordless phone, it isn't coming from interference to the DECT radio signal. It could either be coming in at the phone line between the RG and the base where an RF filter might help (the likely place), or it is getting picked up inside the phone at the microphone and/or speaker paths (much less likely for AM radio). You wouldn't be able to do anything about those last paths; it would just be a poor design in the phone.

Even if the interference goes away with the cordless directly on the RG, be aware that feeding the house wiring is likely to bring the problem back since that wiring would be the antenna.

If you can't find an acceptable arrangement, try an RF filter. Maybe you could even get AT&T to send you a couple.

reply to Thecloser
Wow! Very interesting to see that someone else had this problem.

I've had a similar although slightly different symptom. I would be talking on the phone, then after a random period of time there would be a very distinct "click" (like someone picking up an extension or something) and then I'd start hearing static. Sometimes it was minor, sometimes it was terrible. Finally, one day I listened closely and could hear that it was a radio station.

AT&T tested the line & claimed there was a bridge tap that needed to be lifted. They twice scheduled a tech to work on it, but I don't know if they ever did.

The static problem has largely gone away, but I still consistently get that distinct "click" at some random point in every call. Short of thinking the FBI is tapping my line (and at the risk of hijacking the thread) could these problems be related?

reply to Thecloser
I get the exact same thing. A few minutes into a voice call, I get a sports radio station. I'm sure it's something acting as an antenna, but why is it clear for the first few minutes of every call? You think it would always be there.

I get it on both the wireless phones, and hardwired phones. I'm going to try plugging the hardwired phone directly into the RG and see if it helps.

I've been on the line with AT&T support a few times, but they have been no help.

reply to Thecloser
You need to setup a repair appt to have a tech come out. Make sure that you request that the tech brings RF filters. I've done several installs and repairs in the Parchment, MI area, and I have had to install filters at almost all of them due to RF interference. This is a common problem for the area, even with POTs.

reply to landrick
EXACTLY! It happened again when we got a call today, and after a period of time, it 'clicked' and there was the radio station...

and no worried, i am just glad to see that I am NOT the only one who has this problem...

And I tried to plug it into the RG directly, and it doesn't work when I place a call, but rather when we GET a call.... and in response to GRpremTech, I will have the wife call ( if she hasn't already) and just have them come out instead of doing it over the phone ( wherever the office is ) ...and heck have them call using their phone...

reply to Thecloser
Your RG is acting as a powered antennae. With traditional POTS service, bonding in the cable sheath keeps RF down. However, with VOIP, the DT is created at the gateway, the outside line shielding has almost 0 to do with the radio signal. While all phones are subject to interference (read the handy little FCC notice on the back/bottom of your phone, it must not create harmful interference, but must accept it) a decently built one will have minimal problems. The best solution for RF with VOIP is to have an in-line filter placed either at the RG location, or in the NID, depending on your wiring configuration.

I understand how it can be RF interference (I've heard that in phones over the years), but, as Dr Plasma said, what I'm curious about is why it's clear for a few minutes, and then there's this extremely distinct "click." I mean, it's very pronounced...like a relay closing (or opening, I guess.) It seems like the volume drops slightly when that happens, too. As I mentioned before, my static seems to have nearly disappeared, but I still get that click, and my inquisitive nature just wants to understand what causes it...

reply to Thecloser
As a wise man once told me "If it doesn't make Tip and Ring sense, its in the C.O" of course, that was a long time ago, so I would have to guess he would include CPE at this point too...

reply to Thecloser
AM radio interference is considered to be active line noise (ALN) in the Uverse world. AM broadcasts interferes primarily intrude the copper plant when pairs are exposed without the protection of a sound sheath, ground and/or bond.

A weakness in the shielding anywhere along the cable can pose problematic to VDSL. Remember noise travels laterally. Open sheaths, broken bonds will allow noise to intrude the cable and cause troubles to effect Uverse subscribers in the entire cable.

The most common resolutions are for AT&T to repair any open bonds, grounds and sheaths. Make sure the drop to your house is shielded and the Uverse prem tech should check the surrounding neighborhood for circuits with greater AM penetration.

If you have Uverse video/TV and it is affected with freezing or pixilazation, then you may have a broader problem with ADSL and VDSL crosstalk.

reply to SECraft
OMG my wife called the same number that she called the last time, and explained that it is still happening, you can hear the radio, and he said " Hold on while I get you a ticket number, I'll be back in 2 minutes", and no sooner as he put her on hold, he came back and she says, as soon as you put me on hold, it kicked in... and thank goodness he heard it, and ( I still can't believe it ) there was someone AT THE DOOR not even 2 hours later!!!

He installed a filter directly at the RG, then connected the phone line to it, and it seems to have fixed it!!!

Thank you very much to all!!

reply to Thecloser
No applause, just throw money.

$$$ $$$