How To Fix your TELEPHONE LINE, landline phone FAULT finding and REPAIR.

Hi, this 'How To' video shows you what to do if you have a fault on your telephone line, it covers how to fault find and repair which can save you a serious amount of money on call out charges. It shows examples of common faults such as no dial tone, noisy line, permanent engaged tone and many others. Basic fault finding can be done with no specialist tools and a simple process of elimination to point out the faulty phone, skybox or faulty extension wiring.
If you need telecom products please visit: www.mymatevince.com

[@theluckymanfrom]

Thanks for the video. It helped me fix a no dial tone and the funny thing about this is that a cable company service rep came out a few days ago and was unable to help us. I was about 10 minutes into your video when I began to brain storm and was able to trouble shoot the issue. It turned out to be a bad phone in the kitchen and after disconnecting it we were able to get a dial tone on all of the other phones too. Thanks from Ohio across the big pond. All the best to you!

[@arnoldbrunton4144]

Many thanks to my mate Vince. I called TalkTalk three time when my phone line, seemed to be permanently engaged. They wanted to charge me £65 callout to check the problem. After watching your excellent video I realise there would have been an additional charge because the fault was internal. Using information gained from your video, I found and fixed a fault on a bedroom extension. Thank you for your help. Arnie

[@Mymatevince]

Arnold Brunton Well done Arnie, excellent news!!!!All the best Vince

[@gyproc86]

Good video mate, very helpful, thanks. I have done these jobs in the past but this is a good reminder.

[@Mik3Bravo]

I work as a customer help advisor with BT, and wish all customers with a fault on their line saw this first. The number of times customers would rather risk the £129.99 charge than try their landline phone at a friend or family's house is disappointing. I'm so glad you produced this Vince. If you can use a test socket or can investigate please do. If you can't because you're disabled or elderly then BT wouldn't charge the £129.99 charge anyway, I imagine other service providers wouldn't either.

[@patriciadowling8012]

Buchanan _MJ q

[@23695angel]

Well, unfortunately they haven't fix the problem and the company want to charge $95.00 dlls per hour, I said no, thank you.

[@cristianroman1810]

Pppppp0p0ppppppppppppphppipppppgppppppppp

[@HA05GER]

The fallout fee is a joke I used to work for tiscali just as it got bought by talktalk customers would rather cancel than taking the risk. If the engineer turns up and is there 5 mins £125 ithink it was then is an absolute joke.

[@Chris180Z]

Thanks so much. I am a fairly new BTOR engineer and it is nice to refresh the memory on thing we were taught in training as I am very forgetful. Thank you so much! I have sent this channel to other new starters as a good channel to study :).

[@Mymatevince]

Chris Z Thanks Chris, I appreciate that.Good luck with the job.All the best Vince.

[@beadsandbobs]

Cheers your explanation of what could be wrong and how to fix it! Is fabulous, you are an Angel.

[@trevneuzerling4708]

Very well explained , thankyou very much from western australia :) problem ended up being a faulty modem for internet as it wouldnt reset or accept password but through process of elimination i now know what it is for sure :)

[@ritawilliams8754]

Thank you very much for this video it help me with my house phone. Every time I would make a phone call out no matter who I called. Business calls the doctors calls it always had a busy tone. But when I would call on my cell phone no busy tones. So my landline phone it's working good because I did what you said to do on the video. Thank God for using you to get this information out. Thank you.

[@wambugugeorge6088]

Thanks Vince this video is amazing very helpful

[@vicz7511]

Excellent vidio,well presented,expertly explained,all in all all anyone needs to know.

[@soniawheeler2409]

Thank you very much! You saved me $100+ . It was just plugged into the wrong line. Line 2 was wrong thanks to my better half. Should have been plugged into Line 1.Cheers mate!

[@sicereluv75]

Many thanks Vince.YOU are a star.

[@TVJonesey]

Quality info You know your stuff Thanks

[@jonnyrfry]

Thanks you saved me a fortune :)

[@kuldeepkhanna1115]

Thanks a lot, great work, quite detailed....keep up the good work !

[@keepitreal4387]

Thank you for making the video was very helpful Awesome.

[@sallylands5298]

Very helpful! Really don't like BT. Thanks so much.

[@mikado1950]

Great advice and very clearly explained. Thank you.

[@danphipps615]

Your my mate now Vince. What a cracking video. I pulled an extension cable off the skirting board before preparing for painting and the cordless phone in that room wouldn't work. A message said fault on line. When I checked the extension cable, a pin on one off the clips had been punched through the cable. BT said a oner for a call out so i looked up your video. I will get a new cable and let you know how I get on.

[@Mymatevince]

Cheers Dan.

[@brettwatts5301]

Thanks mate Iv looked at a few vids and yours is the best

[@Daniel-zr9xq]

I can not thank you enough, its very well explained to dummies level. its one more PINT again from my self. cheers

[@malcytull]

Nice one Vince, I bet BT is the one with the thumbs down LOL, thanks for posting.

[@wahidakhatoon2498]

😂

[@mohammedahsan3977]

Hello there I have to say BIG THANK YOU TO YOU for saving me by watching your video as it as saved me money by not calling phone company!! after how you explained what to try out I did exactly that and it’s worked for me 😃👍 and my phone is working again thank again 🎉🎉🎉🙂

[@keribangrebus7823]

thank you for your good information

[@drewboyd8877]

Great informative video. Many thanks Drew.

[@johnnyspor]

Hello Vince , I am in Canada , we had our internet upgraded, and the gentleman did a fine job. But within 2 days we realized there was no phone service. We let the telephone company know about this, they said they would send someone the next day. I than got curious as i normally do snd looked it up online. That is where i discovered your video.. After watching your video, in a part of it you say think about what your doing , look at everything involved. So thast's exactly what i did. Within 10-15 minutes I found the fault. When the installer was working he needed some extra line, i guess to make the connection or to make it a little easier to work with. Whoever installed the original service when the house was built did not leave very much cord in case repairs were needed . He ended up pulling oon the line without removing the staples that held it to the 2x4 stud, which ended up cutting through the line, shorting the 3 wires. So if you callws me it was a constant busy signal if you tried to use the phone you heard no tone. After taking the staple out and separating the lines the phone worked with no problem. I was very impressed by your video and the advice you had to give. It helped me do the job. Thank you sir for making this video it was a tremendous help. Thank you John D from Canada .......

[@ThePositivePirate]

Awesome video thanks mate :-)

[@Comeonthehoops]

Great video Vince. I have carried out all the checks you have advised and the test socket is dead. However, if I ring the landline from my mobile- it rings and I can hear the chat on both phones. However, the broadband ( which works ok when the line is landline is dead) resets itself , but works after it does so. After circa 20 mins - the landline goes from working - back to dead, until another incoming call arrives. Driving me crazy.

[@AbdyantiquesCoUkTelephones]

Brilliant! I always point people at your explanation when they contact us about a potentially faulty vintage GPO telephone, so that they can identify if its a line problem or a real fault with the telephone :-)

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks :-)

[@robajob39]

I've called bt three times, all times they said no fault, and call out was chargeable. Luckily three engineers did there job properly, two times it turned out the exchange was faulty. The other time the green box at the end of the road had been damaged due to road works, and vibrations damaging wires and loosening them. It is all very well showing how to fix, but sometimes it is their responsibility, they just never want to send anyone out.

[@kathryntinkler8841]

Brilliant !

[@clintonsaleo-an9449]

Very nice. Excellent video sir.

[@baljeet50]

excellent!

[@kathleenstacey8901]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@ButterFly-jm2fb]

Brilliant, saved £85 callout charge. Phones went dead after fitting new Skybox. Unplugged box and phones all work.

[@ahaddow404]

Very helpful, thanks.

[@momzilla9491]

Thank you for all of the background information necessary to deal with the interior telephone wires. There is a lot to keep track of. "Can't tell the Players without a Program" I like to say. If I could please ask you to clarify something for me? Are any of the interior wall wires live? I need to cap an old and very ugly wall extension and am afraid of an electrical shock. Cab I just tuck the old wires back into the wall before capping, or should I do something else. Thanks from Moms all over the world!

[@kevinbeck6785]

Big Thank You for a brilliant video, which has helped me to fix phone and line

[@DTMFITNESS]

Thanks very much for posting this video Vince. Cheers again all the way from South Australia

[@Mymatevince]

Denis Themenace Thank you! South Australia is a lovely part of the world.Wishing you all the best Vince.

[@wahidakhatoon2498]

Thanks for sharing I will try this 😊 I hope it will 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@katrinaschaanning5107]

Excellent video! I've minimal wiring, (BT phone line and broadband), and can receive calls but cannot make calls. The BT Hub middle light of 3 sometimes fades and no one can call. Suggestions?

[@sherryhesner5940]

Well done. Thank you. 😉

[@pennyoflaherty1345]

Thanks 4 your time & help Trent/ Australia

[@HappyDiscoDeath]

It's interesting watching a telephone troubleshooting video from the UK; I'm in Idaho in 'Murica

[@5avgeorge]

Very nice explained thanks lot

[@mickybetts7957]

Handy vid! Wondering if you could help me with a dilemma? In a few days window fitters will be ripping out my old ones and installing double glazing. But my landline cable goes through the old frame so it will be cut or damaged. If cut can I desire the two ends of the cable? Maybe twist the wires together? Or does it need putting into the phone connection outlet thing? If so, is there a way of doing it without those specialist pliers type tools you have there? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Ps, my talk talk connection outlet box looks a little different to ones you have. I used to have one with that line/test socket but got a newer model fitted last year. Called a Master socket 5c. Has sloped top and 2 plug holes on front. ??

[@xyzvision]

Hi Vince, Great Video. Very Informative. Our fixed landline dial tone in rural Australia suddenly disappeared several weeks ago after very heavy rainfall and since then it randomly comes and goes e.g. it can be 5 days with no dial tone, then it will suddenly return for a short period of time on one day during the day followed by another short period of dial tone again during the next day, then no dial tone at all for several days again. Then most recently, commencing Friday morning through until Sunday (after days and nights of no dial tone at all again) , the pattern changed to having a dial tone for about 10 hours during the day (dial tone disappearing at night and no dial tone overnight, returning around 7am in the morning). There is what sounds like a busy tone (or fault signal?) when we call our landline. Does this sound likely to be an exchange issue or wires from telephone exchange fault to you? (We had all our cabling re-done by licensed technician when getting extension sockets installed about 3 years ago so, there is nothing wrong with our telephone handset or cord and nothing else (not even another handset) was plugged in when no dial tone was first discovered).

[@vanessasimpson1332]

Amazing video - really informative. My problem is a really crackily line and you mentioned that moisture or damp getting into the wires might be culprit. How can moisture get into the wires? what examples have you found?

[@Mymatevince]

+Vanessa Simpson Hi, normally from rainwater externally or in some houses rising damp can affect the telephone sockets and junction boxes.

[@BenjaminKing-le4yv]

Great info an thanks bubby

[@susieroberts8457]

Thanks, loveeeeeeee your accents

[@kellydcruze9389]

Great video, i'm here in australia and my parents house had their line upgraded because they were upgraded the telephone poles. the phone line is faulty now it has a bad line where there is a background buzzing and it's hard to hear each other, i have swapped the handset over but it didn;t change, i reckon it will be that mice have interfered with the wires etc, can i check the wires through the house myself in the roof cavity etc?

[@juliea1174]

I could listen to that accent all day long.....

[@Mymatevince]

Thank you :-)

[@smpotts173]

Hi Vince! I like you, so I'm contacting you from Seattle. Xfinity, which used to be Comcast, is the big cable provider, as oppossed to satellite, etc., in much of US. It offers " bundles" for internet, TV, home phone. They are VERY AGGRESSIVE hard sell, but not good at service. My sister and a friend had the same problem They both have answering machines. Both did not know VM was included standard. I would call my friend and get the answering machine, but sometimes I would get an unfamiliar female voice and leave a message. My friend complained a couple of times that I didn't return her calls. I told her I heard a different outgoing message. Well, I finally heard Xfinity VM picks up if the line is in use, and the answering machine picks up if there is no answer. My friends called Xfinity and FINALLY found they had VM's 8 months old! My sister STILL has an outgoing message she made on the VM that goes on FOREVER explaining what's wrong, to only leave a msg when they hear her husband's voice......OMG! It's hilarious! Of course, I ALWAYS leave a message! Must be a few years worth! Anyway, I can't find how to remove the VM, or bypass it..... Both had trouble retrieving messages, and they're both fairly tech savvy 50+. Any ideas.....? Thanks SO much, Vince? I guess the answering machine would need to go? They are kind of relics, now.

[@stevesample2809]

Hi Vince. Great video but my fault does not match any of the ones you describe. There is no ring tone, I get incoming calls but cannot ring out, my internet is ok. Talk talk say all ok at exchange. I have old style main incoming box and have tested there with corded phone and all other equipment removed except for wiring.. I would appreciate your help.

[@pookab5905]

Vincent, thank you for a great video. I have a situation where the phone works on the test socket. I don't use any other things plugged apart from our Internet. So when it's all plugged in it doesn't work. We bought a new phone , no joy. Changed the extension wire and tried it without. So it's strange as l am thinking it must be the outreach socket on the wall that's got a fault where we plug the phone wire into. I am at a loss what to do atm.

[@MrTrig20]

Thanks so much you have just saved me £129.99 for bt to come to my home.

[@jhonjazz2602]

Nice Video!!!

[@jhonjazz2602]

I suggest giving it a clean on the inside then for the battery issues it is most likely a replacement battery you need. I also suggest that it is better to replace the part as compared to replacing it by your own. I have found an awesome sitephonepartsusa.com that is just perfect for getting phone parts at affordable rates. Thanks for your video too!!

[@Fegga1955]

tyvm

[@SparkTheFloof]

Any Advice? Got home and phone was ringing answered the phone still ringing via the ear speaker cancel the call and its still ringing until the caller hangs up. No Dial tone going out. Internet is working fine no dropouts or slow download speeds. NTE5 Socket also tried the test socket with 3 phones. The line is 30 years old and goes through at tree :( But last year BT was tightening all the lines to the polls in my area because they was to low.

[@jonathanmarch332]

Hi Vince, thanks really helpful. I have been right through all the wiring in my house which is ok and have narrowed down the fault to my cordless phone, but it is not just my phone as I have borrowed another cordless and I get the same fault. If I use the cordless phone there is interference on the line and the ADSL synchronisation on my router fails. If I use a corded phone this fault does not occur. I see by searching I am not the only one! Any ideas?

[@Mymatevince]

Jonathan March Hi, it sounds like the phone isn't filtered, but it should also affect a corded phone. Is the cordless phone plugged in via a microfilter?Thanks Vince

[@chantafreak]

Call back to 2014 My Mate Vince, even back then helping out!

[@yasminradzi8448]

My hanpun di sabotas. Mula tiada rangkian skrg dh ok .so my wasaaf n utu

[@yasminradzi8448]

Pls u cl G .dia tahu

[@lucycburton-johnson5757]

I tried *79# but it didnt work for me. Out of the blue busy signals in and out or voicemail. My suspicion is its 5G related so I'll call AT&T Monday. Glad i found your channel. Thanks.

[@oblivionjaycee]

My landline is constantly showing as busy whenever I try call it, even when I disconnect everything?

[@StarChildddd]

Have a flashing purple light on my bt router, going to try this tonight to see if the problem on the line is internal or external.. reckon it’d be internal or external and have you had anything this before? Cheers

[@michellejohnson7794]

Hiya Vince, would you know how to fix the line between skyhd+ box An the phone line that gives you internet connection?? Or would this video work same way??

[@neilwilliams8608]

I have new batteries (tested with multi meter), and my at&t box(router) is working fine according to at&t from there end. The 4 batteries were put in the correct way.The telephone wire from the box to the phone and the wire from hand set to phone are new and the phone sockets are clean and not defective.\No dial tone. What could it be? Awesome video. Thanks a lot.

[@williamwilbur]

Hi Vince, think I may have a fault, does whistling or strange noises on the line indicate anything?

[@JoseighBlogs]

Excellent explanation of phone faults ~ Thank you Except, I have recently had my landline ring and when I pick up receiver there's no connection to the caller, and I learn they can't hear me and there's silence their end when I've picked up their call. I'm finding when I pick up receiver dial tone sounds a few times before cutting off. Sometimes the dial tone is continuous, and I test by putting down receiver and picking up again? After about 6 times picking up and putting down the dial tone once more goes into cutting out mode after picking up on about a 6th time. When I repeat putting down and picking up receiver again I find after 6-8 goes the tone then returns to being continuous without cutting out? My phone rings but when I pick receiver up there's silence although I was able to answer a couple of incoming telephone-ringing calls that managed to get through. There seems to be a disconnect that inhibits contact between phone users. I have a test socket where I have tried several phones and all do same 'cutting out thing'. I've also tested different filters with no change to cutting out.

[@jr2981]

Hi, im having issues where my broadband drops out when the phone rings, ive tried all your fault finding tips in the video. I recently completed some work in my home to add an extra slave socket in my living room to connect my router via a sky microfilter, the cable for this was extended from an existing slave socket in another corner of the room which has my phone plugged into it (my master socket is in the hallway and far away from the slaves so cant use it for my router), the issue i have is that the internet drops out whenever the phone rings or is answered. I have tried adding another microfilter to the phone connection but this caused the router to drop out completely, I then unplugged this new microfilter and left the phone completely unplugged but again the router signal was lost, so now i have to have the phones BT plug inserted into the socket or the internet wont work, can you help?

[@numbersix100]

I just bought a new phone for my house. It's one of those old fashioned looking phones with a round dialler but instead of holes there are push button numbers. When I got it home I discovered that the wall plug is too small for the BT wall socket (it's the same plug that fits into the phone). On examination I see that the 'new phone' with the small plugs on each end only appears to have two live metal terminals on each plug end. Unlike the existing phone lead which has a small plug on the phone end and the larger one on the wall plug end, both have four live metal connections on each end. Any ideas what I need to do?

[@tonyfielding508]

Do you think I should replace the master socket the line appears ok I can use the phone and internet but after 10min the DSL drops light goes out and a message comes up telling you that the DSL is missing wit for a while and all is normal what do think!!!!

[@baller12935]

Vince. I have searched a few videos to remedy a phone problem. I have done the test and can phone out and receive calls, so I know that the line is ok. When I screw the plate on, I can receive calls but cannot phone out. I have tried different phones, all the same. Any ideas Vince - excellent videos by the way. Thanks. Rick

[@khaledashaikh5062]

Hi. I would like to know can a landline provider obstruct incoming calls from their side?. I switched from sky to italk and the day the line got transferred the incoming calls not working. Seems too much for a coincidence until day before switching. How do I fix this?as don't want to call an engineer.

[@jeffreyvaughan9071]

Could a faulty cordless telephone have an impact on ADSL and just get a dial tone. I had a problem with no phone and having the internet then the next day no phone but internet. I read something on the internet about a test the line and just using a corded phone, when I did that all the problems seem to have gone why?

[@alanspencer7861]

You said at the start of your video that you would talk about the old Master sockets (without a split cover) but you didn't. I have 5 extension sockets that all look the same. How do I tell which is the Master ?

[@paul.alarner6410]

can you do a vid on how to use a bt301c mole?.

[@bezmond87]

Hi. I’ve taken apart my master socket, the phone works fine plugged in direct but broadband WiFi doesn’t. All the lights on hub are on. Help!!

[@lorraine830]

This is awesome information info but too technical for me but what did work for me was....I unplugged my modem, waited 10 seconds, plugged it back in and my line came back on and I had a dial tone. I am a 72 yr. old grandma and do know that the modem needs to be rebooted every few months or so which I learned from youtube.

[@gokul765]

I need to know how to bring on the display in Philips CD 130

[@susaneckersley202]

hi vince can you help i have dial tone can make and receive calls fine the problem is when someone rings me and they hang up there is no disconnect tone its just quiet static-like someones still on the line and it dosent disconnect unless i hang up

[@m0bob]

Hi Vince, Great video, thanks. I now have BT Digital line via the router. So far, I haven't been able to receive calls (I can make calls). I reported the fault to BT and after going through router resets etc, they passed the fault to Openreach for investigation (I am still waiting). This afternoon, I picked up the phone that has the problem and phoned myself and the 2nd phone in the house rang. In other words, I called myself and it rang (it's meant to the same line). If I call the house using my mobile phone or if my wife uses her mobile phone, work phone etc the line is dead and there's a continuous tone. Any suggestions please? Thanks.

[@raulplaythatshit4099]

My house phone works but when someone else call it it, the call doesn’t go through and the house phone doesn’t ring. But when I call from my house phone to another phone it works good. Also, on my house phone (on the screen) it shows a message saying: [ Line is busy]

[@bude8234]

Ring trip or fault. One or more jacks have become corroded and are causing a short between Ring and Tip.

[@jorgejorhoe3129]

For a reliable landline, I think you just want to have "basic" phones plugged in (with no microprocessor), like the AT&T Trimline210 . . . But you need an answering machine (stand alone) - so, that will need to go on a UPS . . . If you have a phone with a built-in answering machine, I suppose putting that on a UPS would be fine also.

[@zeenybokilo6605]

Hey, can you pleawe do a video on DP up on the poles. I am finding it a difficult concept to understand how to install it (pairing inside the box etc)

[@nicolapasquill4886]

Hello can you please help I've done everything possible before I call bt I have followed all your advice and sum from others I am still still engaged tone and line in use when trying to use phone or call in same the phone work brill in my neighbours house but her phone is same engaged tone and advice before I call bt for a big bill hope not thanks

[@sen5908]

Can you help, can receive and make phone calls no problems, but if I ring a company and they say press 1 for sales ect it doesn't connect, it's like it's not sending the pulse or tone, same on an old phone and brand new ones I've just bought??? So it's not my phone's

[@mickpalladino69]

Hi Vince I was wondering if you can help me. I am a bit puzzled as to why when I plug my working phone into the inner master socket the line is dead!! But when I plug it into the front plate socket it works fine. Ive looked at the wires in the master socket and it has 3 pairs of wires. The blues and orange pairs are connected to the front plate, the greens are connected to the inner master socket. Im really confused. Any help would be appreciated. P.S Great channel keep up the excellent, informative videos coming. Big thumbs up.

[@Mymatevince]

palla69 Hi, thanks for the comment and the message. That doesn't sound like it has been connected up correctly. (It is back to front). I bet the line is live on the blue pair of wires and years ago it was live on the green pair of wires but some work must have been done before the master socket (possibly on the external junction box) and it was swapped from the green pair to the blue pair. If it is a true master socket (the first socket in the property) then the blue pair should be on the A and B terminals on the backplate. At the moment it is just using the front plate as a little extension socket, so it will work fine but it just isn't done correctly, so you can't fit an ADSL faceplate etc. But depending on your setup it may not make any difference to the line or the broadband speed having it wired up wrong the way that it is.Many thanks Vince

[@mickpalladino69]

Cheers Vince. Managed to sort it.

[@martinerae9854]

good day , wondering if you could help, my dsl/telephone cable was bitten almost through, and as a result, the line has stopped working, could you possibly tell me how i could splice the cable..thanks

[@MyCinderella11]

I have followed all of your video re-testing phoneline for noise on line.. Callers can hear me all right but when I dial out the noise is quiet loud. The problem seams to be with my router..... The line is clear both ends when my router is disconnected. How far distance away do I need my TV to be away from my Router. Otherwise I might need a new router which was installed 3 years ago with SKY. Any help would be kindly appreciated. Before I start to call an engineer/of SKY out. Your video was excellent and very helpful. Janet.

[@Mymatevince]

+janet collins Hi Janet, could it be a faulty microfilter or a phone that is not filtered properly?

[@MyCinderella11]

+My Mate VINCE Thank you for your reply. I have put a brand new microfilter on. And purchased a brand new retro type phone with cord and handle. As I have said my phone works perfectly when I unplug my router. I have tried placing it in different places in the room but the crackling noise is still there. I am in a mobile phone living here for 20 years, perhaps it's an old type socket although my neighbours line is fine. I am insured with SKY so will give them a call. Thank you for all of your help. Janet.

[@susanjeffery1490]

Hi, my problem is the phone has a dial tone but when I call my home number it is perm engaged and Sometimes the dial tone disappears. When I have a tone I can ring out on it but not receive calls (as it just come up as busy). The test jack works and I have replaced the phone, so was wondering what the fault could be?

[@edrianbada2792]

How about if it rings but doesn't have a dial tone. I already checked the handset and it's good.

[@MrStarlightrocker]

open shorts are easy to find and eliminate go to radio shack or a swap meet 5-10 dollars for a digital multi meter set it to continuity then test piece by piece if the sound stops you have found your short , then cut back each section , re-splice test ma standard is ma 23-36, and dc 48-52 is standard protocol at all providers! as a Master Telecomm engineer with 34 years i have seen it all!

[@martinlewis1015]

White n blue and blue n white are the main BT colours the rest are only used for office line or hold. Other suppliers use different colours so look them up

[@alang8491]

Can the master socket extension side be faulty? Or the master Socket itself? I've checked the cables for continuity and they are ok. I've trimmed and reattached the extension cable and its still not working. My internet speed ping is high and internet speed is lower.

[@dannyboy6114]

I have a 70s bakelite trim phone with the cord cut at the back with 4 wires showing red,blue,white and green. Can I take this off and rewire it with a bt line or is there more to it than that. Thanks

[@Keepingthefaith72]

The vintage phone needs to be re-wired inside the phone to work on modern phone lines Danny ...

[@sheri023]

I was having trouble making calls but could receive them. I live in the US and they are changing how certain areas are dialing. Due to the 988 number going to be used as a mental health hotline starting next summer July 2022. But, area codes in some places will have to be used with the local numbers you dial starting October 24, 2021. You can google info about the change. Long distance remains the same.

[@w8what575]

In the US…they’re still using the old bell system that was decommissioned in 1940s….and if u want it updated u have to pay someone to do it….the phone companies don’t even update them anymore and won’t do it even if u try to hire it out separately…so my home has a 1940 bell system box with 4 pegs that have bolts to hold wires on it…they ran a wire across two of my neighbors yards…the alleyway…through my yard and into the box…that’s being held in place by two tiny wires…it’s not even fastened in anywhere…they charge $95/hour to come look at their equipment…the internet is ran vi the phone line so if they come and look at their modem ..it’s $95…..

[@calin1980]

very similar to my laptop repair engineering... same thing apply - elimination of working items until you find the faulty one and replace :)

[@tvshowedits2383]

Not sure if you’re still messaging but I’m very confused about my issue. The landline was quite a bit out of range from the base for a while and now it’s back in range and have even tried putting it back on the base. When we get a call nobody is on the other side of the phone? I’m not sure how to fix this.

[@jorgejorhoe3129]

Do I have this right? ... At home, we have the AT&T CL4940, with a built-in answering machine. It uses an AC adapter, and probably uses a microprocessor (microprocessors are sensitive to power fluctuations ... The Main Power Circuit Breaker to the house was flipped off, while trying to find the circuit breaker a light was on, in order to fix the socket. The Main Power Circuit Breaker could not be reset. It had fried ... While in the dark, and needing to call an electrician, we see that the "reliable" landline phone has the pre-dial tone, but no dial-tone. No phone calls are possible ... The fix: Un-plug the AT&T CL4940's RJ-11 from the wall, plug it back in, and the dial-tone was restored ... So, this was a "fault" due to a power "loss", which left the line "open" ... But we did not hear the "off-hook" tone, any idea why? ... Also, the average person doesn't know how to troubleshoot this, which could be a big problem in an emergency. I wonder what could be done about that ... Initially, I thought this was due to a power surge, and put the AT&T CL4940 on a surge protector Wall Tap, but now, I am re-thinking the sequence of events that led to no dial-tone. I think the Wall Tap might not be necessary, but that it can't hurt.