No Dial Tone Created 17 years ago2007-05-15 10:08:31 UTC by satchmo satchmo

Created 17 years ago2007-05-15 10:08:31 UTC by satchmo satchmo

Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 10:08:31 UTC Post #222052
In the off chance that one of you may be an expert on phone jacks, you might be able to help me out.

We just activated our phone service at the new condo, but only two of the four phone jacks have a dial tone.

How do I go about troubleshooting and fixing this?

I Googled already, but I didn't find any useful tips.

Anyone?
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 10:33:58 UTC Post #222054
Tried calling (no pun intended) the phonecompany?
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 10:38:17 UTC Post #222055
Tried calling (no pun intended) the phone company?
Yeah, but after I found out that they charge $90 per hour to send a service person out, I have second thoughts.

I want to see whether I can fix it myself, and possibly save a few hundred dollars.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 12:05:30 UTC Post #222066
your phone company should be able to do a line test... for free. They get you to hang up and then it rings weirdly, then they call you back telling you if there's anything wrong
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 13:21:05 UTC Post #222071
It might just be a problem with the actual jacks! Anyhow, you wouldn't need four phonejacks if you use wireless phones.

Installing new jacks is a bitch, but you could try that. And you could have yourself a problem with rats.
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 13:29:43 UTC Post #222072
yeah... rats, that was my first though! :P
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 13:54:39 UTC Post #222073
It's pretty ironic that they CALL and tell you if there's something wrong! :D
If there is something wrong they can't do that! ^^
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 14:03:51 UTC Post #222074
you might need a device called a 'filter' on each connection...

this happened at my pals place once. he just got some 'filters'..

i hope that helps
prably at a radio shack or similar store
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 14:55:21 UTC Post #222075
Are you using DSL?

If so, you need to do as Hydeph, said. Filters are only for DSL users.
Luke LukeLuke
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 16:00:05 UTC Post #222088
Yeah if you have DSL you need filters on ALL of your sockets, if you plan to use a non-DSL device on them.
m0p m0pIllogical.
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 21:13:29 UTC Post #222135
do you need 4? i thought youre a family of 2?
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-15 22:07:48 UTC Post #222137
There's the possibility that the wires could just be shot. There should be a screw you can remove to inspect the inside of the jacks; if there's wires that aren't attached to the jack you can try to re-attach them (you'll probably have to solder them on), but you can probably just replace the whole thing for cheap with a new jack from radio shack or home depot or something.
RabidMonkey RabidMonkeymapmapmapfapmap
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-16 00:54:57 UTC Post #222142
I can't use wireless, because I need that jack for DSL.

And no, I don't have filters yet, but I will. The priority is to get a dial tone first from that jack.

Here is the picture:
User posted image
Rabid, you could be right. I'll have to check all the wire connections in the upstream jacks in the series to make sure that the connection isn't broken in the previous links.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-16 01:32:09 UTC Post #222145
Satch. go to your distribution block. it is probably in a utility closet or it might be unfortunately located centrally in the condo complex... ask maintenance to check it out if you can't find it in your condo.
it will look like this
User posted image
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-16 04:02:06 UTC Post #222169
Is that really meant to help him? :P
Seventh-Monkey Seventh-MonkeyPretty nifty
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-16 04:22:45 UTC Post #222174
The punch blocks are probably centrally located in a building such as a condo unit or apartment building (it's more convenient to have one huge punch block or two as opposed to one for each unit) and unless they're properly labelled (they rarely are) or you have a booklet labeling the block and it's locations you're out of luck. I'd think it would be a local problem (bad jacks) as opposed to a problem with the punch block (if they're left alone they'll last for quite some time) but it's always a possibility that two of the four jacks for your condo are disconnected from the block.

I can't really tell from the picture all too well, but it does look like it's seen a lot of use (paint on the cables, etc) so I'd guess the jack's just gone or wired improperly. If your efforts to fix the problem fail you should probably talk to management; generally in condos they should have their own maintenance people who'll repair problems with the unit or subsidize the costs of repair. (And maybe it is a problem with the punch block, in which case they'll take care of it for you.)
RabidMonkey RabidMonkeymapmapmapfapmap
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-16 12:03:33 UTC Post #222219
[/quote]Yeah, but after I found out that they charge $90 per hour to send a service person out, I have second thoughts.[/quote]

That sucks.. :|
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-16 14:57:08 UTC Post #222243
A little offtopic here..

@SariBous's avatar: Buckethead FTW
m0p m0pIllogical.
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-18 01:17:44 UTC Post #222506
Yeah, I found that already.
User posted image
And the problem has been solved.

My wife bought a new jack plate, and after hooking up the same way, it works now.

The jack was just too old.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-18 16:00:43 UTC Post #222566
I wouldn't be too sure. When my aunt moved into her apartment, they didn't have any of her jacks hooked up to the block.

Kasperg the architect will probably tell me I'm wrong but in all the new houses I've ever been in, the phone company refuses to hook up the jacks unless they have phones attached. I asked, and they said something about preventing people from stealing the service. : That doesn't make much sense to me though
Posted 17 years ago2007-05-20 18:05:56 UTC Post #222765
A jack costs less than $5.

If someone really wants to steal the phone service, it's pretty easy and cheap to do so.

Not installing jacks is just an inconvenience to new home owners.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
You must be logged in to post a response.