What's wrong with my phone line?

Question

1. There was a storm last night.
2. The phone line is not busy
3. It appears to external callers the line is busy
4. The DSL internet connection is working fine
5. One phone is dead and the other one has no tone (you only hear a buzzzzzz and ocassionally a beep that sounds like a heart-rate monitor, unlike any phone tone I have ever heard).
6. The phone company says the line is fine (I called from a payphone).

The important part is that the DSL internet connection is working.

What's wrong? If the problem is with the wiring inside the house, then how come the DSL internet connection (which works through the same company that provides our phone service) is working?

Answer 1

You should have a "filter" on each phone for DSL. Probably something to do with that.

Answer 2

First I would try to disconnect all at the phone lines in the house including direct TV and modems, also unplug any cordless phones. This will allow everything to restart itself.

If that does not work try connecting directly to the phone line connection on the outside of your house. It should be in a box, there is usually a phone type plug in with a connector with lines running out of it for the different phone lines in your house, connect directly to where the other lines would connect to. This will let you know if the problem is in your house or if it is coming from the box.

I had this problems a few weeks ago and it cleared up as soon as I unplugged the direct TV connection and after a minute or so I plugged it back in and everything started working fine.

Answer 3

If you had a storm you may have gotten a surge on your line that damaged one of the phones or DSL filters. Narrow it down by unplugging everything and hook back up one at a time until you hopefully find the problem. Since DSL works it would seem the line is ok.

Answer 4

Chances are the storm caused one your phones to short out which would kill the dial tone all over, your dsl will still work however, unplug all your phones, that will release the short circuit and then plug one phone at time, if the lines goes dead a minute or so after you plug a phone, that means that phone is causing the problem, get rid of it. Visit the site below for more helpful information about fixing phone lines. Good luck.
http://www.fix-your-phone-line.com

Answer 5

Try resetting your modem. or take your phone to a friends house to see if they work OK. If not working then there is your problem if they do work call DSL company and have them check the lines.