View Full Version : Phone jack problems
partera78
Oct 3, 2010, 09:09 AM
Hi,
WE have 3 jacks in our home -2 are working as we get a dial tone and can call out.
However the third one in the kitchen is not working-just hear air when you plug it in.
THe worst of it is though that we are not getting all our calls.We are only getting a few of them and the callers say it just rings and rings.
And the Caller ID is working on only some of the few calls we are getting and not on the rest!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
partera78
Oct 3, 2010, 09:10 AM
Also, called the phone company already and they said they see no problem with the line when they did the test.
joypulv
Oct 3, 2010, 11:31 AM
You could probably fix this yourself if you can locate the problem. Or any handy person, carpenter, computer installer, you don't need an electrican or phone co person. Ask family, friends, and neighbors.
Did you just move in and the problem came with the house, or is it a new problem where you've been?
Have you changed/bought any phones, answering machines, or caller IDs?
What type of phone is in the kitchen (it's features) and have you tried one of your other phones in that jack?
Is the jack a box on the wall that you can remove the one screw, and can you see which color wires are attached to which others?
Please answer below.
partera78
Oct 3, 2010, 11:41 AM
Thanks for responding! Have tried 3 different phones in the jack that doesn't work-all cordless phones.Have always used those and they worked fine before.Have been in the house almost 4 years(30 year old house)-this is a new problem that has developed the last coupel months.friends and family are wuite frustrated that they can't get through.
I believe I can removed the jack box with a screw-yes it's on the wall.
joypulv
Oct 3, 2010, 12:05 PM
Look for a loose wire starting at the panel in the cellar and each of the 3 jacks if they are wired in tandem. It's OK to touch the bare phone wires.
You haven't added any new phone equipment anywhere in the house, right?
Who supplies your internet, and have you had that all this time too?
Stratmando
Oct 4, 2010, 05:13 AM
Unplug the jack in the kitchen and look closely at the contacts, they should be Gold, Not black or green, also look at the end of the line cord that plugs into the jack, should be gold.
Do you have a known good wired phone you can use to test with?
You can get shocked if someone is calling in, not bad, just don't be on a ladder. Just touch 1 wire at a time.