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newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 285
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 10:51 am: | 
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Just got back on line after lightening came through our phone line and fried the modem (I now know I can plug that line into my surge protector - duh). Anyway, we've still got phone issues. When people try to call, they get two rings and then it goes straight to a busy signal. Verizon checked once and just said they heard a dial tone so that's that.
Anyone else had this happen? We're calling verizon yet one more time....sigh.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8358
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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I have consulted my personal Verizon Technician (aka "The Guru").
She says that it sounds like a ground, a high resistant short or an equipment problem, which could be anywhere (outside cables, inside the house, your phone). It could have shorted out more than your modem.
High resistant short: everything seems fine, but Verizon would have to send voltage thru to fix. Phone lines are low voltage, so it can be just enough to do what you describe.
If you don't have phone line insurance, make sure it's not in the house before you call back.
Can you call out (doesn' necessarily mean that it isn't the phone)? Does your new modem work? Do you have a phone that was hooked up to the same jack as the fried modem?
Unplug all your phones and call in from your cell. If it's still busy, you know that it's not your phones, it's either the wiring in your house or outside. If the call goes thru (no busy) plug the phones back in one at a time until you find the culprit.
If you find that it's in the wiring, let me know & The Guru will give some more advice on next steps. |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 319
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 1:17 pm: |
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Do you have a phone box outside? It is usually a gray box installed by the phone company. If you have one plug a phone inot the jack in the box.If you do not get a dial tone then it is the wiring outside,if you get a dial tone then it is the wiring on the inside of the house. Like greentree said unplug all your phones from the jack and electrical outlets for a few minutes. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 288
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:36 am: |
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Thanks for all the help! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 8383
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 11:50 am: |
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So, are you working again? You can't just say "thanks" and walk away.....  |
swato
Citizen
Username: Swato
Post Number: 188
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 2:15 pm: |
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If your incoming phone box is outside of your home open up the subscriber side of the gray box with a screw driver and check for water damage and or oxidation on the wires. This can cause grounds, shorts, or line static.
Swato
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Josh Holtz
Citizen
Username: Jholtz
Post Number: 531
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 2:33 pm: |
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I have recently dropped my DSL service with Verizon - for probably the same reason. My line at its origin (1000 ft away from the house) constantly shorted due to rain. I would experience dead lines, high static, busy tones, etc. After about a 1 1/2 years of frequent problems they finally sent a cable technician who knew what he was doing and he essentially ran all new lines (other technicians were not willing to do this or were not given the time to do it by Verizon). My phone line (which housed the DSL signal) has been perfect since - but I switched my broadband service over to Optonline to avoid any future problems. |
newtoallthis
Citizen
Username: Newtoallthis
Post Number: 289
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
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Sorry about that. Turns out a fix by Verizon to our nighbor's phone line over the weekend appears to have magically fixed ours, too. Of course, Verizon never showed up for our appt, but at least they showed up next door
The lightening hit the line behind our houses that then connects to our separate lines. I have no idea what was fixed, but am glad it is...We got a call today (a day after the appt they never responded to) to say they had fixed the problem at 8am y'day. Very frustrating since the Verizon ppl we spoke to had no records of any such fix. We found out is was working again when someone called us. |
Erik van de Pol
Citizen
Username: Evdp
Post Number: 5
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 3:13 pm: |
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Unfortunately Verizon is notorious for this, several people in my area (Tuxedo Park) have mentioned similar problems. We've had verizon tehcnicians come over numerous times, and even if we pointed out the freaking missing cover on the junction box located high on the pole they would not do anything about it, only check the local cabling.
We endured (only?) several months of lousy DSL and impossible phone conversations due to the static, until they finally sent out a technician who knew what he was doing - he even gave us the completely corroded and shorted out piece of cable that was in the (open) junction box.
At the very least you should insist on being credited for the period in which your service was not working as it should.
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