Landline is down

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KellyP

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#169777 25-Mar-2015 13:51

For the past month or so I've been having random landline calls drop - some days would be worst than others. There would also be (at times) a lot of crackling noise on the line.

As of this morning my landline is down (i.e. no dial tone) - Have tried all the points. Have also attempted using a corded phone which I kept for emergencies, a Uniden FP098 and I don't get anything at all - not even the background noise, unless I use the optional 4xAAA slot. I'm assuming no power is coming from the exchange?

My VF UFB Cable service is unaffected (Ex TCL Cable wiring - in ChCh). I'm in a old house (Built 1908, phone wiring redone in late 1980s) with an aerial drop type connection. I'm thinking something has gone wrong here due to wear and tear. I do have wiring and maintenance on my VF service however I'm unsure if the aerial drop connection portion would be included in this.

Does it make sense than my landline is down but my UFB service is still up?

Thanks.

PeterReader

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#1267583 25-Mar-2015 13:51

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

Jase2985

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#1267595 25-Mar-2015 13:56

well if you phone line used the chorus copper network and your internet is via Vodafone cable then yes it makes sense that one could fail while one works

call you ISP and lodge a fault

KellyP

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#1267773 25-Mar-2015 16:41

Phone line back up again but I haven't touched anything. When it was down and you called the number, you got an engaged signal.

I should probably lodge a fault anyway.

yitz

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#1267796 25-Mar-2015 17:51

Very well could be corroded jack point.

KellyP

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#1267814 25-Mar-2015 18:12

yitz: Very well could be corroded jack point.

I did try all the jack points. Line was engaged even without a phone plugged in.

but just to be sure, could a malfunctioning jack point cause the line to go down on other jack points?

Lazarui

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#1267815 25-Mar-2015 18:19

James Bond:
yitz: Very well could be corroded jack point.

I did try all the jack points. Line was engaged even without a phone plugged in.

but just to be sure, could a malfunctioning jack point cause the line to go down on other jack points?

Short answer is yes, corrosion could be in a primary(master) as well or it could be down the road, in the walls etc.

chevrolux

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#1267816 25-Mar-2015 18:23

High resistance joint is causing your fault. Could be in a jackpoint or out in the network.

Either way, call your ISP and ask for a fault man to be sent out.

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richms

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#1267819 25-Mar-2015 18:25

Definatly jackpoints can.

If they get moist the furry corrosin crud grows in them. Only takes a bit to go between pins and the telco will see it as being off hook.

A proper demarc would allow you to isolate the internal wiring before calling in a fault. But we dont have those so you have to take the risk that its internal, and if you dont pay "wiring maintanance" then you get a couple of hundred in technician call out fees if it is internal.

Otherwise, get rid of the landline. do you really need it?

Richard rich.ms

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#1267821 25-Mar-2015 18:26

James Bond:
yitz: Very well could be corroded jack point.

I did try all the jack points. Line was engaged even without a phone plugged in.

but just to be sure, could a malfunctioning jack point cause the line to go down on other jack points?

Yes. If the 2 wires that make a pair either short together or short to earth. You will get the exact issue you are having. The phone exchange measures the voltage on the line. Normal idle voltage is about -48V.

When you pick up a phone. The voltage drops to -12v this tells the exchange that you want to make a call. When a short happens the voltage stays low. So the exchange thinks you have left a phone off hook. That is why you get an engaged signal.

Unplug all phones ect from all jack points. Then try calling your line again. If it is still engaged then lodge a fault. If it rings you have a faulty phone.

chevrolux

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#1267827 25-Mar-2015 18:44

richms: A proper demarc would allow you to isolate the internal wiring before calling in a fault. But we dont have those

What do you class as a 'proper demarc'? Because we most certainly have demarcation points.

KellyP

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#1267850 25-Mar-2015 19:19

Thanks for the replies.

richms: and if you dont pay "wiring maintanance" then you get a couple of hundred in technician call out fees if it is internal.

Yes I do have wiring maintenance so I guess I have nothing to lose

richms

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#1267871 25-Mar-2015 19:49

chevrolux:
richms: A proper demarc would allow you to isolate the internal wiring before calling in a fault. But we dont have those

What do you class as a 'proper demarc'? Because we most certainly have demarcation points.

One that when opened isolates the internal wiring and provides a test socket.

UK has them on their master sockets, there is a cover that is the home owner side and that has a plug into the other side.

US has them commonly on the outside of the house where the cable comes in.

NZ gets a ghetto white box with scotchlocs so homeowners cant easily isolate and test it.

Richard rich.ms

webwat

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#1267995 25-Mar-2015 23:23

richms:
chevrolux:
richms: A proper demarc would allow you to isolate the internal wiring before calling in a fault. But we dont have those

What do you class as a 'proper demarc'? Because we most certainly have demarcation points.

One that when opened isolates the internal wiring and provides a test socket.

UK has them on their master sockets, there is a cover that is the home owner side and that has a plug into the other side.

US has them commonly on the outside of the house where the cable comes in.

NZ gets a ghetto white box with scotchlocs so homeowners cant easily isolate and test it.

And its a pain for techs to test which side of the scotchloks is having the problem. I think the best way short of installing the whole "home hub" is to connect from demarc to a single jack that can be patched or jumpered into the rest of the network and/or moved to a residential gateway or fibre ONT if you need to ditch the old landline.

Time to find a new industry!