Weird Line Issue

[grim]

So my line is perfectly stable and has been so for the past 3 years that I've had it but recently it has started to loose sync whenever the telephone handset is picked up.

I've had a Telkom technician out that replace the splitter with a new one that has 1 pair of wires wired to the phone and the other pair to my ADSL router, this improved my line stats a little but hasn't solved the problem.

I've tried 3 different POTS filters and 3 different handsets none of which has made any differance.

Also it doesn't loose sync everytime it's picked up only sometimes.

Using routerstats to monitor my router, I see that my SNR drops to 0db when the handset is picked up.

Anyone got any ideas of what could be causing this?

 

[henry1103]

Also had this problem, do the following tests:

1. unplug all phones from your home, so only the router directly to your wall (no filter). Then use a cellphone to call the house and see if you lose connection.

2. If 1 passes (no connection lost), connect the router directly to your wall (no filter), and connect the telephone through a filter to the wall:
router -> wall
telephone -> filter -> wall
then call the house with a cellphone, and pick up the telephone and see if you lose connection.

3. if 2 passes, then leave it like that... (worked for me)...

4. if 3 fails, try with a different phone (if you have). is it cordless / wired?

 

[grim]

Also had this problem, do the following tests:

1. unplug all phones from your home, so only the router directly to your wall (no filter). Then use a cellphone to call the house and see if you lose connection.

2. If 1 passes (no connection lost), connect the router directly to your wall (no filter), and connect the telephone through a filter to the wall:
router -> wall
telephone -> filter -> wall
then call the house with a cellphone, and pick up the telephone and see if you lose connection.

3. if 2 passes, then leave it like that... (worked for me)...

4. if 3 fails, try with a different phone (if you have). is it cordless / wired?

It only looses sync when the phone's handset is physically picked up, it's fine while it's ringing.

Router is connected directly to the 1st port on the splitter at the moment with the phone connected to the 2nd port on the splitter via a POTS filter. Connecting the router to the POTS filter doesn't help.

I've already tried with 3 different phones, doesn't make a difference.

 

[henry1103]

It only looses sync when the phone's handset is physically picked up, it's fine while it's ringing.

Router is connected directly to the 1st port on the splitter at the moment with the phone connected to the 2nd port on the splitter via a POTS filter. Connecting the router to the POTS filter doesn't help.

I've already tried with 3 different phones, doesn't make a difference.

From what I recall, everything that is a router/modem plugs directly to the wall. All others (telephones) need to connect through a filter. Doing so fixed this issue for me.

 

[InTheCube]

From what I recall, everything that is a router/modem plugs directly to the wall. All others (telephones) need to connect through a filter. Doing so fixed this issue for me.

Correct. Only analogue devices (telephones, fax machines, alarm systems, etc) need a filter, to filter out the DSL signal, because these devices don't know how to handle the DSL signal. The ADSL modem/router, already has a built in filter that filters out the analogue signals (like voice), so it doesn't need to pass through a filter, or it should pass through the port on the filter specifically labelled DSL (this is just a pass-through, no actual filtering takes place, or sometimes the analogue signal is filtered out, depending on the type of filter you have).

If you've already tried several telephones and filters, then next step is to ensure that your modem is not the culprit. Borrow one from a friend/colleague - your router could be causing the problems. The built-in filter could be damaged, or some other hardware internally might be faulty. If you've ensured that your modem is not the problem, then the problem lies somewhere between the jack on your wall, and the Telkom exchange. You could be having a short somewhere, wires touching, or the port at the exchange is faulty. This is up to Telkom to resolve - only they can do it.

If Telkom fail to resolve this, I would apply for a whole new telephone line, new number, with ADSL, forcing them to connect you along different circuits and ports, and lay new cabling where none exists. If this sorts your problem out, I would cancel the old line. You will obviously lose your telephone number, but perhaps you can ask Telkom to transfer your old number over to the new line.

Don't cancel your old line until the new line is in place and working 100%, otherwise they will just re-use the same wiring and ports, and you'll be stuck in the same situation. It will obviously cost you a bit, but if you take out Telkom Simple or Closer, all installations are free, and on some of the deals they even throw in a new ADSL modem, which you don't need to return if you cancel the service. Sounds like an affordable viable solution to me.

 

[grim]

Getting a new line is a bit extreme, it's not a major issue as I hardly use the phone. Someone will call it maybe once or twice a week.

Haven't tried a different router, will try that next.

 

[InTheCube]

Getting a new line is a bit extreme

Extreme solutions for extreme addicts. Hahaha..