Telkom blocking Skype Phones?

[TimTDP]

I have a Dualphone 3088 (No PC required) Skype phone connected to my Telkom line. It has worked superbly for the last 2 years. About a month ago my Telkom phones would not work. My ADSL line (they are on the same line) continued to work. If I disconnect the Dualphone the Telkom phones work!

Have Telkom blocked Skype phones?

 

[Shake&Bake]

Eish, this ought to be good.

 

[cornestoltz]

stupid question maybe, but do you have POTS filters on the phones?

 

[TimTDP]

There is no such thing as a stupid question!

I do have filters on my phones

 

[digital]

i should not be a problem,skype is ok on pc and it always was.What is the point of blocking the phone and not blocking skype on pc.Check your hardware or your line.

 

[TimTDP]

Skype on a USB port on my PC works well
The dualphone connects directly into the Telkom line. No PC required

 

[thisgeek]

Your dualphone is probably borked.
Have you tried it on another line?

 

[bekdik]

Have you tried another POTS filter?

 

[Pizzamann]

I remember back in the early 90's when my 14400 dialup modem had the ability to cut off the Telkom handsets on the same line once it started dialing and connecting to a BBS. Maybe a component inside the Skype phone packed up and causes the same symptom permanently.

 

[Leftfoot]

Sounds like the Dualphone is shunting (short-circuiting) the Telkom line. (ADSL would still work in most cases but the Telkom phones would die - no DC power from the line)

I dont think a lot of these type of devices have great lightning protection in them. In a lot of cases they simply have one MOV (METAL OXIDE VARISTOR) in them to try to protect against spikes comming in from line. These will somtimes go short circuit after an event (lightning) and never restore. They can be cut out (in most cases) sorting out the problem but leaving the device open to the elements.