lskohn
join:2000-08-17
Chicago, IL
| Generic tech question-dsl but no dial tone on one extension?
Before I call AT&T or have to pay for customer-side-of-NID repair:
Our DSL is line-shared on xxx-xxx-0504, and we have the fax machine on 0504 also. The fax machine and DSL modem plug into the same outlet, with a filter of course. Fax and DSL have coexisted without problem for a long time, but faxing stopped wroking yesterday. DSL has worked fine all along. Troubleshooting today discloses that there is dialtone on 0504 at the NID, and at the two other (unused) jacks to which 0504 is wired. Only the jack in my office has no dialtone, ergo no fax...but DSL from that jack continues to work.
Sigh. Aside from shifting the fax machine to a jack with dial tone (thank heavens we switched to a wireless all-in-one), any suggestions for a not-sophisticated but willing D-I-Yer on how to find the dialtone problem, before I have to call either AT&T or a private telephone guy? House is 120 years old and much of the phone wiring predates our 1997 purchase of the house. Or should I just bite the bullet and call in the experts? |
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| On the jack that has no dial tone did you check for dial tone with a device other than the fax? The fax might be dead and not able to receive the dial tone.
It was unclear from your description if you had tested there with a second POTS device or only tested with the fax. |
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lskohn
join:2000-08-17
Chicago, IL
| Yes, to troubleshoot, I unplugged the fax AND filter (and dsl modem) and plugged an extra handset I have around for just such occasions directly into the jack. Handset got a dial tone at the NID and on the two other jacks, but not at this one.
Fax is now set up and working (with another filter) on one of the jacks with dial tone; dsl continues to work fine on the jack that gets no dial tone.
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d_l
Barsoom
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-08
Reno, NV
| reply to lskohn
A short to ground can cause loss of dial tone, but allow the DSL to function. I can't say how to find something like this other than the obvious step of looking at the connections on both ends of the extension line for some wire accidentally touching your POTS wires or connectors. |
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StillLearn
Premium
join:2002-03-21
Streamwood, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to lskohn
I would pull out the voltmeter, and see if there is voltage drop at the no-dialtone jack. There should be about 48 volts when no phone is offline, and maybe 10 volts, or so, across the line with an off-hook phone plugged in. If you see lack of voltage, that should make for easy troubleshooting.
DSL might be able to work thru an open with enough existing capacitance, but it will probably will not be at full speed and reliability. |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
clubs:
 ·AT&T CallVantage
| reply to lskohn
Because your other two extensions on the exact same circuit have dial-tone, you can pretty much rule out a short or ground.
You most likely have an "open". DSL will sometimes work over a circuit with 1 entirely open wire (clean, broken) or a "dirty open" (corroded, loose). Dial tone will not work at all over a clean open, but might work intermittently over a dirty.
The first thing you should do is examine the jack closely for smashed pins. Remove the jack from the wall and check for broken / loose wires or corrosion.
If the jack is O.K., you should do a visual inspection of the wiring for that extension. Look for the obvious (animal chews, carpet tack strip, outdoor damage). If the extension is not "homerun" back to the demarc, you will have to segment and isolate at each place it stops (last working jack in the chain is always a good start).
If you can't visually track the extension, you probably need to call for help.
--
Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America. |
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lskohn
join:2000-08-17
Chicago, IL
| Sigh again. "Dirty open" seems likely.
I moved the fax machine to the jack with dial tone, installed HP's bloated software on the computer in that office, got it up and running (and receiving and sending faxes). Then I took an older printer/fax back to my office, plugged it in and on a whim connected it to the jack AND attached the handset - and there was a dialtone. The difference? 30 minutes of dry weather. Since the jack is on the third floor, with a straight run down to ground level outside, this requires extension ladders I suspect. The jacks are probably not in series, by the way - we may have had the installers do a split down by the NID to run up to my office, since one jack is on a north wall, and one is on the south. |
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ex bell
@cgocable.net | Like PE said only one side of circuit needs continuity. Up here at least, tip side.
As you got dial tone the next time around check the centre pins in the jack for corrosion. Green look to them. May have cleaned off on contact. |
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