Noise on phone line - unusable when router switched on

[wiltshirejohn]

See - I told you I'd be back asking stupid questions.

Good news x 2 :  ADSL hooked up two days earlier than promised.

                        Broadband internet connection works fine (not looked at speeds or
                        anything like that just yet).

Bad news x 1:    The telephone line is unusable due to noise (sounds like an untuned am radio).


I first setup connecting to my desktop using ethernet - no problems at all.  However,  I wasted all afternoon trying to set up the Dell laptop. Problem solved by uninstalling then re-installing the device driver for the integrated Intel radio...  spittt!

Anyways.. the real problem is this phone thing.  Yes I've moved the router down to the front door, disconnected all the house wiring from the telephone circuit and plugged the router and one corded phone into a microfilter and then the microfilter directly into the test socket on the BT box.

I have tried the microfilter supplied by Netgear and also the extra one supplied by IDNet

Anyone got any ideas???

          Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Inactive]

Hi WJ, a formal welcome to IDnet.

I'm no expert on these matters, but do you have a Sky Receiver with a phone line connected to it, if yes, pull it out and try again.

Someone better qualified than me will soon be along to give further help.

[Rik]

Hi John

Welcome to IDNet.

Does the noise stop when you unplug the router? Have you tried a different phone?

If it stops when you unplug, it suggests a filter problem, but I have heard of a rare and obscure line fault which can cause the problem.

[wiltshirejohn]

Hi Inactive, as I said, I'm connecting directly to the test socket in BT's master plate - nothing else attached to the line apart from filter, router and phone.

Hi Rik, yes when I unplug or power down the router the noise goes away. At first I thought -filter-  but two different ones?

        Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Rik]

yes when I unplug or power down the router the noise goes away. At first I thought -filter-  but two different ones?

What sort of phone(s) are you using, John? It is possible, but rather unlikely, that you could have got a bad batch of filters - I'd be inclined to try the ADSL Nation xf-1e, if this doesn't cure it then it has to be a line fault.

[colirv]

What you need is someone in Wiltshire to lend you a different router/modem to try.

<makes note to add Wearside to location in personal profile>

[Inactive]

Hi Inactive, as I said, I'm connecting directly to the test socket in BT's master plate - nothing else attached to the line apart from filter, router and phone.

Yes I realise that, but there has been a lot of people that have simply forgotten about the Sky connection, some did not even realise that their Sky Receivers were connected to the phone line, as I said, I am not an expert, just trying to be helpful.

Glad you can discount my Sky theory anyway...it was a bit of a long shot.

[wiltshirejohn]

Hi colirv - yup I'm working on it.

Rik, I've got two old BT Viking handsets plus a BT dect (can't remember the model). All give similar results.

BTW I've tried the BT line test (quiet option) and to my untrained ear the line really is quiet.

It seems to me that I've either got two faulty filters (different manufacturers) or a faulty Netgear 8334G (brand new supplied by IDNet).

Got to go now - that bl**dy grass won't cut itself. I'll check in again later and then call IDNet in the morning.

      Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Rik]

There remains the possibility of a line fault, John, but you will need IDNet to raise it with BT. They aren't there today, though, you'll have to email, or phone them tomorrow.

[lozcart]

Does your router have a wireless facility, if so is it turned on. I wonder if its channel is somehow causing interference?

Could try turning off wireless or changing the channel and see if it helps.

[Rik]

Good thinking. It shouldn't happen, but computers have never understood the concept of shouldn't.

[wiltshirejohn]

Thanks for all the suggestions folks but it's now Monday morning and I'm back in the slave pit  so I can't investigate further until this evening.

I'm going to give support a call and see what they think.

      Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Rik]

Keep us posted, John...

[wiltshirejohn]

Hi Rik
    The delightful young lady at IDNet said the first thing to do is get BT to test the line but SSHHH...   don't mention broadband!!

   Well, I called the BT fault line  - (snigger - ain't that most of 'em) - and after about one hundred and forty seven button pushes the automaton (whatever happened to real people?) announced
"There is an EXCHANGE FAULT".

So I went to call home (I'm in the office) to tell my good lady what's going on and find that they've cut the bl**dy line off completely!   

The BT website fault tracking page says they will allocate an engineer to the problem tomorrow pm.

     Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Rik]

Hi John

Not exactly what you want to hear but at least it sounds like BT will fix it for you.

[wiltshirejohn]

Glad you can discount my Sky theory anyway...it was a bit of a long shot.

Meant no disrespect Inactive. All suggestions are welcomed... um, errr not those though....

We don't have this Sky thing anyway.  I don't watch much of the ordinary telly either.

In fact, I think the best use for that haunted goldfish bowl in the corner is to hold up my framed photo of Lord Reith - long may he spin in his grave!

[Rik]

In fact, I think the best use for that haunted goldfish bowl in the corner is to hold up my framed photo of Lord Reith - long may he spin in his grave!

After the way England played in Marseille, I'm inclined to agree with you. 

[wiltshirejohn]

Hi John

Not exactly what you want to hear but at least it sounds like BT will fix it for you.

I sincerely hope so as it was their cable knitters down at the exchange  that broke it. >>>(Goes off in a grump)

     Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Lance]

It sounds a lot like what I was experiencing when my old linksys router was starting to fail, with noise on the line etc.

I would certainly try another router if you can.

[wiltshirejohn]

YEEEHAAAAWW

We now have broadband connected AND a working telephone line.

As I think I said earlier, the automated line tester thingie reckoned it was an exchange fault. Somebody else obviously thought that they knew better.

I got a call from a cable knitter on his mobile asking for directions to my house (only one day late!). He eventually called back 2.5 hrs later to say he'd fixed the fault - back in the exchange!

Now to wait out the ten days 'line training'.

Question: Is it worth noting any stats yet, or should I wait the ten days?

     Regards - wiltshirejohn

[Rik]

Glad you're sorted, John.

Stats are always interesting, it's worth monitoring the connection during the 10 days so that you can nip any problems in the bud.

[Lance]

Great news John!