Extremely noisy phoneline

[Simon]

Just to add to my ever expanding list of things going wrong at the moment, for the last week or so, I have had intermittent but extreme noise on my phone line, to the point that I can barely hear what the other person is saying.  It's a 'shhhooshh' rather than a crackle, and it's also been affecting my broadband today, as I've had several dropped connections, one, most infuriatingly, while I was in the middle of purchasing concert tickets, with limited time to complete the transaction.

I have a 'trio' DECT phone, which only requires the base to be connected to the phone line, and also a standard corded phone, which is connected via a socket doubler, to the same socket as the DECT phone, which is an ADSL faceplate.

I've removed the corded phone, and the socket doubler, so as to connect the DECT phone to the socket on it's own, and also disconnected it's other handsets, and the noise remains.  I've also tried the corded phone in the socket on it's own, and the problem still remains, so I don't think it's either the DECT or the cordless phone causing the issue.

I haven't yet tried a handset connected to the test socket, but that is on my agenda for tomorrow.  Assuming that is OK, is there any obvious doubt that this could be anything other than a BT line fault?  After testing with the test socket tomorrow, I intend to raise the fault with IDNet, with whom I have my phone line.

[Clive]

Try changing the ADSL filters Simon.  That worked for me. 

[Steve]

If a filter change doesn't solve it , it's looking like a voice line fault which perversely may be good news for your broadband if it's fixable.

[Simon]

Haven't got any filters.  The only socket used is an ADSL faceplate.  None of the other sockets have anything connected to them.

The line is actually as clear as a bell right now. 

[Clive]

I've got filters hanging out of all my sockets and it was one of those that caused the whooshing.  The little BT connector box on the window sill may be corroded inside and you could ask for that to be replaced. 

[Simon]

I haven't got one of those either. 

[Clive]

  

[Simon]

 

[Gary]

Have you done a quite line test with a corded phone? Or contacted whoever provides your phone line and get them to do a line test?

[Simon]

Yes, Gary, the quiet line test is very noisy!  As I said earlier, tomorrow, I will try the corded phone in the test socket, then contact IDNet who my line is with.  The problem being, the noise is intermittent.  It's as quiet as a mouse at the moment.

[Gary]

Yes, Gary, the quiet line test is very noisy!  As I said earlier, tomorrow, I will try the corded phone in the test socket, then contact IDNet who my line is with.  The problem being, the noise is intermittent.  It's as quiet as a mouse at the moment.

I had an intermittent line issue, it showed as a battery fault and was fixed really quickly IDNet were really on the ball. 

[Simon]

Hopefully that will be the case. 

[nowster]

Or it could be like my parents' line, where there are so many potentially dud joints on the four mile run (half overhead, half underground) that BTO have given up trying.

[Gary]

Or it could be like my parents' line, where there are so many potentially dud joints on the four mile run (half overhead, half underground) that BTO have given up trying.

They had to repair three on mine, they are generally accessible via a cover in the road or grass verge, its not hard to remake a joint. I have watched my Engineer friend do it, fascinating stuff with so many wires.  BTOR don't generally 'give up' unless the cable itself is in bad condition and needs replacing, and even then will keep trying until it is.

[nowster]

They had to repair three on mine, they are generally accessible via a cover in the road or grass verge, its not hard to remake a joint. I have watched my Engineer friend do it, fascinating stuff with so many wires.  BTOR don't generally 'give up' unless the cable itself is in bad condition and needs replacing, and even then will keep trying until it is.

They do if they think it'll take more time than the appointment slot they've been given. If there's just a light crackle (not good for ADSL) on the line they consider it to be good enough for voice.

[Simon]

My line is still clear this morning, so no point really contacting IDNet, as they won't be able to hear that something is wrong.  What's the betting the noise starts up again over the weekend? 

[Steve]

Perhaps there was a localised fault in the area which has been repaired.

[Simon]

Indeed.  Like the satnav, the Magical Fixit Fairy seems to be appearing on demand at the moment! 

Now, I have this problem with my lottery numbers not working...   

[Clive]

   We'll do our best for you Simon!

[peasblossom]

It worked for Simon but I think it's move to mine. I have a dodgy broadband connection too. No master socket to test with btw, but I did unplug the modem and the phone was still noisy. Worryingly, my two 'test' phones were silent. Uh, oh.

[Simon]

Looks like you may have found the source of your problem, PB. 

[Gary]

My line is still clear this morning, so no point really contacting IDNet, as they won't be able to hear that something is wrong.  What's the betting the noise starts up again over the weekend? 

They don't listen for noise they do a copper line test, as Steve said it could have been fixed but if its still a faulty it should show up with a line test.

[peasblossom]

Looks like you may have found the source of your problem, PB. 

It seems not, Simon. Broadband now appears to be ok but phone line is still as noisy as ever. 

Edit to add: er, actually it might be that after all. Sigh. Broadband connection wobbled again just now.