modem destroys telephone line

  • Thread starter Thread starter JH
  • Start date Start date
J

JH

Hope someone can help me with this:

--- situation ---
Bought a new computer AMD Duron 1400 with Asusrock mb. Immediately there
were 2 problems. The hard disk failed to format and the graphics card
failed. Brought it back to the shop and the graphics card + hard disk were
replaced. Already this seemed suspicious. Installed a new modem which didn't
work. It wouldn't detect the dial tone + when plugged in to the phone socket
the normal phone line would be impaired i.e. voice conversations were less
audible. Replaced the modem with another and everything worked fine. About 2
weeks later the phone lines wen't dead. The phone people said it was the
modem. Replaced the modem with a USB Creative modem. As soon as it was
plugged into the phone line one of the phones began beeping and there was
no more dial tone i.e. no phone in the house worked. When unplugged the
phones would work again. Brought the computer to another location to test
with the same results.

--- my question ---
Could there be something wrong with the computer, either mb or power supply
which could cause this. I checked the voltages in the bios and there don't
seem to be any problems. Everything else on the computer seems to work ok.
There are other USB devices attached. Should I try yet another modem and put
it down to extreme coincidence or bring the computer back to the shop. 3
faulty modems in 2 weeks seems a bit steep.
 
replaced. Already this seemed suspicious. Installed a new modem which didn't
work. It wouldn't detect the dial tone + when plugged in to the phone socket
the normal phone line would be impaired i.e. voice conversations were less
audible. Replaced the modem with another and everything worked fine. About 2
weeks later the phone lines wen't dead. The phone people said it was the
modem. Replaced the modem with a USB Creative modem. As soon as it was
plugged into the phone line one of the phones began beeping and there was
no more dial tone i.e. no phone in the house worked. When unplugged the
phones would work again. Brought the computer to another location to test
with the same results.
Click to expand...

<snip>

How many things you got plugged into the phone lines? Each device adds more
of a load and eventually all phones will stop working.

Unplug everything except one phone and your modem. How does it work this
way?
 
Hope someone can help me with this:

--- situation ---
Bought a new computer AMD Duron 1400 with Asusrock mb. Immediately there
were 2 problems. The hard disk failed to format and the graphics card
failed. Brought it back to the shop and the graphics card + hard disk were
replaced. Already this seemed suspicious. Installed a new modem which didn't
work. It wouldn't detect the dial tone + when plugged in to the phone socket
the normal phone line would be impaired i.e. voice conversations were less
audible. Replaced the modem with another and everything worked fine. About 2
weeks later the phone lines wen't dead. The phone people said it was the
modem. Replaced the modem with a USB Creative modem. As soon as it was
plugged into the phone line one of the phones began beeping and there was
no more dial tone i.e. no phone in the house worked. When unplugged the
phones would work again. Brought the computer to another location to test
with the same results.

--- my question ---
Could there be something wrong with the computer, either mb or power supply
which could cause this.
Doubtful.

I checked the voltages in the bios and there don't
seem to be any problems. Everything else on the computer seems to work ok.
There are other USB devices attached.
Click to expand...

Is this a USB modem?
Should I try yet another modem and put
it down to extreme coincidence or bring the computer back to the shop. 3
faulty modems in 2 weeks seems a bit steep.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest your phone line installations...either a bad
jack/connection somewhere...or too many devices on the line.

Try UNPLUGGING all phones from the phone jacks. Then use only the
modem. See how/if it works.


Have a nice week...

Trent

If the cheese isn't yours...its Nacho cheese, man!
 
Tried the same USB modem at another location with only one phone on the
line. It does have ADSL on the same line. Same result. As soon as its
plugged in there is no dail tone anymore.
 
JH said:
Hope someone can help me with this:

--- situation ---
Bought a new computer AMD Duron 1400 with Asusrock mb. Immediately there
were 2 problems. The hard disk failed to format and the graphics card
failed. Brought it back to the shop and the graphics card + hard disk were
replaced. Already this seemed suspicious. Installed a new modem which didn't
work. It wouldn't detect the dial tone + when plugged in to the phone socket
the normal phone line would be impaired i.e. voice conversations were less
audible. Replaced the modem with another and everything worked fine. About 2
weeks later the phone lines wen't dead. The phone people said it was the
modem. Replaced the modem with a USB Creative modem. As soon as it was
plugged into the phone line one of the phones began beeping and there was
no more dial tone i.e. no phone in the house worked. When unplugged the
phones would work again. Brought the computer to another location to test
with the same results.

--- my question ---
Could there be something wrong with the computer, either mb or power supply
which could cause this. I checked the voltages in the bios and there don't
seem to be any problems. Everything else on the computer seems to work ok.
There are other USB devices attached. Should I try yet another modem and put
it down to extreme coincidence or bring the computer back to the shop. 3
faulty modems in 2 weeks seems a bit steep.
Click to expand...

It is not too likely that a modem could 'destroy' a phone line. The telco
lines are so well
protected that even a direct short will cause no damage.However...

I'd check carefully to be sure your machine is grounded properly
and also check all 115volt AC wiring. If your machine is not properly
grounded and one of the
"hot" AC wires was touching the case of your machine...it would not only be
dangerous...
but might *possibly* account for all the problems
 
Tried the same USB modem at another location with only one phone on the
line. It does have ADSL on the same line. Same result. As soon as its
plugged in there is no dail tone anymore.
Click to expand...

NOW you tell us about ADSL!!! Why did you not think this was
important at the beginning?

You need to install your filters that came with the DSL package. And
the modem goes in the PHONE female connector...NOT into the DSL female
connector.

RTFM !!!


Have a nice week...

Trent

If the cheese isn't yours...its Nacho cheese, man!
 
ADSL line is properly set up. I did find out what it was. If I disconnect
the one remaining phone on the line, the USB modem works. Go figure, one
phone+modem is enough to overload the line. With a PCI modem the line seems
happy with more phones attached. Question remains, does a USB modem use up
more of the lines capacity than an ordinary PCI modem?
 
ADSL line is properly set up. I did find out what it was. If I disconnect
the one remaining phone on the line, the USB modem works.
Click to expand...

That's what I told you to do 2 days ago! lol
Go figure, one
phone+modem is enough to overload the line. With a PCI modem the line seems
happy with more phones attached. Question remains, does a USB modem use up
more of the lines capacity than an ordinary PCI modem?
Click to expand...

Do you have a splitter/filter installed into each of the phone jacks
in the house? These came with your DSL hook-up package...and should
be installed.


Have a nice week...

Trent

If the cheese isn't yours...its Nacho cheese, man!
 
Your conclusion does not explain hardware failures or the
disk / video problem. Somewhere must be a high voltage
electric source that is not acceptable. For example, is your
computer connected to a properly safety grounded receptable?
Somewhere something creating so much voltage as to, for
example, maybe cause that other phone to become a short
circuit.

One modem and two phones will never overload phone line. A
related number also makes this obvious - Ringer Equivlance
Number.

Simplify the circuit. For example, start with a dedicated
wire from computer direct to your household NID box. Then add
additional phones to this temporary wire. All this while
computer is plugged into a known, good, direct, connection to
breaker box safety ground; a known good receptacle. Yes, a
bad safety ground on wall receptacle could contribute to your
problem - including the slow failure of one modem.

You have hardware damage. That means something on the order
of AC utility voltage is on that phone line via some 'failed'
connection. Until you locate the source of that electrical
'leakage', then you have not solved the problem.

One possible reason for failure - AC electric is somehow
passing through that other phone - assuming it is AC powered.
Remember, a direct connection exists between modem and green
AC wire. No safety ground could mean 120 VAC directly into
modem. Many 'unexpected' reasons for your failure. But for
now, remove internal household wiring from the experiment.
Connect everything directly into phone line NID - the customer
premise interface - and conduct simple, step by step, testing.
 
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