I live in an older duplex that has only one phone jack in the whole place. I'm no longer getting a dial tone, but the DSL (which is obviously plugged into that same jack) still works. The phone company says they get a dial tone at my box outside. I have tried different phones and my TiVo on that jack, and get the same results-- no dial tone, but something that sounds like an extension is off the hook from the phone and a "failed, no dial tone" message from the TiVo. If there's a short, why does the DSL still work? When you call my phone number, it goes directly to voice mail.

First unplug everything, but computer, try a phone.

Maybe not a short, but a load(phone off hook)may be another phone on your line off hook. May be accident or intentional. Listen to the noise, neighbor?
If Phone company says you have dial tone outside, Then you have DSL filter at Incomming? Look for voltage, if telco gets dial tone, should be about 48 volts DC,
If off hook or busy, maybe less than 9 Volts DC.
Strange when you call your house it rings busy, but they say you have dial tone?
Can you unplug your line at Test point, then call, if it rings and rings then inside wiring.

I live in an older duplex that has only one phone jack in the whole place. I'm no longer getting a dial tone, but the DSL (which is obviously plugged into that same jack) still works. The phone company says they get a dial tone at my box outside. I have tried different phones and my TiVo on that jack, and get the same results-- no dial tone, but something that sounds like an extension is off the hook from the phone and a "failed, no dial tone" message from the TiVo. If there's a short, why does the DSL still work? When you call my phone number, it goes directly to voice mail.
I should add the following:

I have a filter on the phone. I have tried two different filters, as well as plugging the phone straight into the jack and I get the same results each time.

I never have the TiVo and the phone plugged into the jack at the same time. There is only the DSL and the phone OR the DSL and the TiVo plugged into the jack at any given time.

I do not have an alarm system, or anything else which would also be using the phone line.

The phone and TiVo modem did work fine up until a few days ago.

Thanks in advance for your answers!

How about the line cord, also look in jack, at the gold pins, not green or black.
Remove jack, and measure voltage. Pins at jack can short between each other, look carefully and see if 2 have crossed.

Thanks for your suggestions, Stratmando!


First unplug everything, but computer, try a phone.

Ok, I tried that and it didn't help.


Maybe not a short, but a load(phone off hook)may be another phone on your line off hook.

I'm not sure how-- I'm positive I only have one phone jack in the house, so another phone is not the problem.


If Phone company says you have dial tone outside, Then you have DSL filter at Incomming? look for voltage, if telco gets dial tone, should be about 48 volts DC, If off hook or busy, maybe less than 9 Volts DC.

I'm not at all electronically inclined. I don't know how to check this. I do have a DSL filter, and I've tried using two different filters as well as plugging directly into the wall. Same results each time.


Can you unplug your line at Test point, then call, if it rings and rings then inside wiring.

Good suggestion. I unplugged everything from the jack and called my line from a cell phone. Still goes straight to voice mail.

Did you look in jack at pins and try different line cord?

I did try a different cord. No help. I'm on my way out and don't have time to look inside the jack but I will when I get home.

You said earlier, sounded like phone off the hook, and you live in a duplex, People can accidentally or intentionally hook up to your phone line, by accident?
I would look in thephone jack with flashlight(Where you plug in line cord), Then remove wall plate and look at wires, and look at wires outside from telco, in the box, if a place, unplug and plug in your phone for test, then plug removed line, back in.