If your landline isn't working, it's best to diagnose the problem as soon as possible. You should determine if more than one landline is malfunctioning, and check all devices connected to the landline, from message answering machines to fax machines, to find out where the problem is.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Testing One Phone That Has No Dial Tone
Step 1. Unplug the phone if it doesn't work
Unplug the telephone cord from the plane physically from the wall.
Step 2. Find a working landline
Check your other landlines and see if they still have a dial tone. If neither phone has a dial tone, skip this section.
Step 3. Unplug the plane and telephone cord
Remove the working phone from its jack.
Step 4. Mount the non-working aircraft
Connect the non-working device to the same jack that the working phone uses. Use the phone cord used on the phone that doesn't work.
Step 5. Check the dial tone
If the phone has a dial tone after connecting, it means that the original wall jack is faulty. If the phone still does not emit a dial tone, it means that your telephone is faulty, or the cord is not working.
Step 6. Try a different phone cord
Before deciding that your phone is faulty, try connecting the cable from a working phone to a phone that doesn't have a dial tone. If you hear a dial tone, it means only the phone cord is damaged and needs to be replaced. If it still doesn't work, you need to buy a new phone
Step 7. Consider repairing the wall jack
If the phone works on another jack, it means that the damage is on the original phone jack. Try contacting your telephone service provider to find out if this malfunction can be repaired free of charge. If not, try to fix it yourself or pay for the services of a qualified technician.
Method 2 of 3: Diagnosing All Phones That Have No Dial Tone
Step 1. Avoid troubleshooting during a thunderstorm
If you lose dial tone during a thunderstorm, do not use any telephones. Your life is in danger if you hold your phone during a lightning strike. If telephone service drops during a thunderstorm, you should wait for the telephone service technician to fix the broken line.
Step 2. Check all the phones in your house
If none of the telephones in your home have a dial tone, your telephone service provider may need to send a technician to fix it. If some phones have a dial tone but others don't, the wiring system in your home may be faulty and need repair. This damage is usually not covered by the telephone service provider. So, you need to fix it yourself or use the services of a technician.
Step 3. Make sure all your landlines are connected
If one of the planes is not connected for too long, your phone line may have been locked. Checks all phones, and if you find a plane that isn't connecting, wait a few minutes for the line to no longer be locked.
Step 4. Disconnect each of your landlines one by one
Each time you disconnect the phone, wait 30 seconds and check the dial tone on every other phone in the house. If you hear a dial tone, it means that the source of the problem is with the handset or the last phone device that was disconnected. If you do not hear the dial tone, reconnect the phone and move on to the next plane.
Step 5. Look for the NID (Network Interface Device)
The NID is the box that the telephone service provider puts up when the phone is first installed in a home. The NID may be located outside, where the cables enter the house, or it may be inside the house in the utility area.
- The NID outside the home is usually near the power meter or where the electrical wires enter the house. The box is usually gray, but it may also be the color of your house
- In-home NIDs are often found in apartments and condos, and are usually located in kitchens. The indoor NID looks like a larger, more complex telephone jack.
Step 6. Open the NID using the “Customer Access” slot
You may need a flat-blade screwdriver to open it.
The indoor NID does not need to be unlocked to be accessible
Step 7. Disconnect the cable attached to the test jack
These jacks are usually labeled “Test Jack,” but are sometimes not labeled at all. Most NIDs have only one jack within the subscriber access area. On the outdoor NID, the test jack can be found in the upper left corner of the box once opened. On in-house NIDs, the test jack is usually along its bottom edge. Disconnect the cable connected there.
Step 8. Connect the phone and working cable to the test jack
If you're not sure you have a working phone and cable, try borrowing one from a neighbor.
Step 9. Listen to the dial tone
After connecting the phone to the test jack, pick up the phone and listen for the dial tone.
- If you can hear a dial tone, it means that something is wrong with your home wiring system.
- If you can not listen to the dial tone, call the telephone service provider and have a technician dispatched as the fault is in their device or wiring system.
Step 10. Replace the wires in the test jack after testing
Make sure you replace the cable connected to the test jack after the test is complete, or the phone lines will not connect to all the phones in your house.
Step 11. Try repairing your own phone wiring system
Telephone service providers usually do not cover the cost of repairing the wiring system in your home. If you feel confident, try to fix it yourself. This can be challenging for some people, but you can save a lot of money compared to paying for the services of a repair technician. You will need to check the connection from the NID to the cables leading to all the phone jacks, as well as the jacks themselves.
A malfunctioning jack will cause interference in all landline jacks
Step 12. Call your telephone service provider if you can't get a dial tone on the NID
If you do not get a dial tone while connecting to the test jack, you will need to contact your telephone service provider for a technician to repair your phone line. You shouldn't be charged, but you may need to wait until a technician arrives.
If you can't reach your telephone service provider because your phone is dead and you don't have one, try borrowing a neighbor's phone or using a pay phone
Method 3 of 3: Resolving Static on Phone Lines
Step 1. Disconnect the phone devices one by one while listening to the phone
The first thing to do to deal with static is to methodically disconnect every device connected to the telephone line, including other telephone sets, answering machines, DSL modems, fax machines, dial-up connected computers, and alarm systems.
Step 2. Listen for the static until it disappears
Every time you disconnect a device, listen for static on the phone line. If the static stops, the source of the problem is in the last device removed.
Try plugging the source device into a different jack if possible
Step 3. Test the source jack of the problem with the phone or other device
it is possible that the jack itself is the source of the interference and not the device. If static returns after connecting a phone or other device, this jack will need to be replaced.
Step 4. Try changing the channel on the cordless phone
If you experience static or other interference with your cordless phone, there may be too much signal on the frequency. Look for the Channel button on the device or post. Change channels until you find one that is hassle free.
Step 5. Move or disable the device causing the interference
Some electronic devices interfere with the frequencies used by cordless phones, and switching these devices on or off will help restore the signal.
- Try keeping cordless phones away from the kitchen as microwaves often interfere with the signal.
- A home wireless network with a speed of 802.11b/g operates on the same frequency as your cordless phone (2.4GHz). You may need to upgrade your router so that it supports 5GHz wireless.
- Baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, and other cordless phones can cause signal interference.
Tips
- Network Interface Device (NID), also referred to as Subscriber/Network Interface (SNI) or Point of Demarcation (Demarc), is a box that is often gray and usually located outside buildings, where telephone service company cables originate., lightning protection is installed, and your telephone wiring system terminates (usually this abbreviation is read as an acronym, i.e. “nid” or “sni” instead of “nid” or “sni”) An important feature of the NID is the test jack with a short telephone cord. Disconnecting this cable disconnects all internal cabling systems from the telephone service company's network. This way, you can connect a “working” phone to the NID to make sure the service is still live in your home/business. If so, it means that your “service” is still good and the damage is in the cable system or the device inside. (See the lockout line, below.)
- Line lockout can get in the way of troubleshooting landlines. When the telephone line is left unplugged for two minutes, your line will be locked out by the telephone service provider. This prevents your line from using up resources that inflate your phone costs. Many faults in the wiring system or telephone equipment cause central office equipment to “act as if” your telephone is being picked up. When this happens, your phone line will be locked. The troubleshooting implication is that the channel may not be clear for a few seconds after You find and solve the problem.
- If the phone stops working after a thunderstorm, it's possible that lightning strikes the phone line and the electricity damages the phone. The location of the grab may be far from your home, but electricity is running through your phone lines.
- Home and small business telephone wiring systems are typically installed using one of the following topologies:
- Star or Home Run – each jack has a cable that extends back to the NID.
- Daisy Chain – the cable from the NID connects from one outlet, to the next outlet, then to the next outlet, etc. This method is called a “ring” topology even though it doesn't actually resemble a ring because the connection doesn't return to the NID.
- The combination of the two. You may find opposite triggers from one point along a daisy chain, or some outlets reconnect to the NID while others are part of the Daisy Chain
- If the phone does not emit a dial tone, make sure that none of the plugs/buttons are in the wrong position (eg halfway between the two positions). Please note that if you are using some VoIP services, and dial tone does not work on some phone lines (although this is rarely the case).
- Telephone service providers often offer “cable system maintenance” packages. This package covers repair of cables that are up to standard but are already defective. More importantly, this plan prevents you from paying a “non-productive delivery” fee if a technician finds that the problem is in your home. Or, to be more precise, if the technician doesn't find the problem outside your home (the dial tone is good on your network interface)., this package is a waste, but it's better to pay for it. You pay the telephone company to be quiet, be nice, and help you in times of trouble. The payoff is no one is to blame.
- If you think the phone is broken, ask a friend if you can take the phone home and try it there.
- Make sure the ringtone and dial volume is on and loud enough.
Warning
- Do not work on the telephone wiring system during a lightning storm as it is life threatening. The telephone cord extends out of the house. Cables above and below ground are still vulnerable to being struck by lightning. Telephone service companies install lightning protectors outside the home, but the main function of this device is to protect the network from indirect lightning attacks (when lightning strikes close but not directly on the cable line). A direct attack will start a fire, scorch the phone or power outlet, and even kill you if you're holding the phone or working on wires. If you need to make a call during a thunderstorm, we recommend using a cordless phone or turning on the loudspeaker to avoid contact with electricity.
- The industry term for ring voltage is "jingle juice." You will only need to touch the cord or the internal parts of the ring phone one time to understand it. You may sometimes receive harmless but annoying shocks while working on telephone wires, especially if the phone rings or is pressed (for rotary phones). The shock will be worse if you stand on a wet or uninsulated surface. If you touch both wires at the same time, or any other body part accidentally touches an embedded metal object, e.g. pipes, drains, deep freeze, etc.
