Help please! Strange DSL phone problem

[tc's disney mom]

After my new DSL service was started, I noticed a problem when making a call to my home number, whether from work, cell phone, etc. Most of the time, the call would go through, and my daughter or husband or answering machine would answer the call. However, sometimes I make the call and I hear ringing on my side, but the call doesn't ring through at my home, and the answering machine never answers the call. The first few times I thought were just a fluke, but this is still happening. Now I know that if I'm calling home and the phone rings more than 4 times on my side, the call is not ringing at my home. I hang up and dial again, and then the call will ring through.

Has anyone else had a similar problem? If so, how was this ultimately resolved? I have called Verizon DSL, and they said they had never heard of such a thing, but they would have someone check it out, and I never heard back from them again. I am concerned now that someone may try to call us for something urgent, but we will never receive the call at home.

Thanks in advance if you can help!

 

[LadyyRedd]

Do you have the filters they gave you on every phone line? Did you make sure not to put any filters on any unused phone jacks? Also, make sure the DSL line itself is NOT plugged into a filter.

Kimya

 

[gallaj0]

Try swapping the filter on the answering machine with another; it may have a bad connection in it; I have had them go bad, they are made pretty cheap.

 

[Evil Queen]

I have Bellsouth DSL and have had problems for the last 2 months. What you desribed is what happened with mine. Now, it will only ring once at home. If you are the caller you hear a ring and then the buzz noise heard before you dial a number. It also often knocks me off line if a call TRIES coming in. Bellsouth can't figure it out. hmmmmm?

I'm on the verge of either switching to Vonage, not only to save money (oldest DS has cable internet), but just to get away from Bellsouth (I have not been happy with them or their service since Hurricane Wilma) OR just get a cell for my regular number and use cable internet.

 

[tc's disney mom]

Thank you very much for the replies! I will double check all of the DSL filters. This is such a weird, obscure problem, and I really appreciate the help!

 

[sulleyfan]

Definitely call back if you still haven't heard anything, I work tech support for DSL (not Verizon), and sometimes things get overlooked. I've never heard of this issue, but I have seen other weird things happen to the phone line when new services are installed. You may also want to try talking to the regular phone repair representatives, they're usually two separate groups and may have some other ideas especially if calls aren't ringing through.