AboutSpencer Holcombe Expertise I have been in the telecommunications arena for several years. I've worked in traffic,installation,repair,customer service,fraud,national and major accounts. I Started with Pacific Telephone,went to American Bell, AT&T Information Systems, AT&T Communications, Pacific Bell-SBC - AT&T. I can answer most questions of a service or equipment nature-excluding cellular. From jacks, wiring, phones, to custom calling services, local to long distance.
Experience Bell System and post divesture work for AT&T and Local operating companies. Service rep-to Fraud desk.
Organizations Telephone Pioneers of America
Publications PTM mag. Connections, Update, and other company publications. Also have expert status at AskME.com
Question Hello! The expert can't answer your question.
Your Question was:
I live in a condo. I have 2 lines. Line 1 is for voice communication. I have used line 2 for data/e-mail etc. I use a dial-up connection. I am installing a new jack near the incoming phone company source. I have several areas in the condo where line 1 and 2 have been separated successfully. My bedroom connection (not near the source feed) seems to be where the lines to my other jacks converge. When bringing the new jack wire through the wall both the red/green and yellow/black trigger line 1 so that I cannot use the voice phone while I'm on the computer. I have tried all combinations of the wire colors to check for a mixup somewhere else. I'm sure there's a simple solution but I don't know it. Help?
Because Carlton,
Could you rewrite this in other terms? I have the basics: you have two lines, one for your phone and one for your computer. You're attempting to add an additional jack for your computer. After this I can't see what you mean. Also, do you have a line tester (so you know what line you're hooking into)? Do you have two seperate lines, or did your telephone company just use the black and yellow feeds for your second number? Please resend your question and I'll see if I can follow it to help you.
Spencer
Spencer,
I'll try to make it clearer. When I purchased the condo there were existing jacks. I had the phone company install the second computer line. The telephone company just split the black/yellow wires for the second line. At another jack I did the same thing and split the lines. This was successful in splitting my service between the voice and computer line. I do not have a line tester. My testing is purely trial and error. The old or original jacks appear to have been branched from the bedroom. Unfortunately, my new jack is coming from the line where the telephone line enters the house and prior to all other branches.
Carlton
Answer Carlton,
ok NOW i have a starting place. I was afraid you were going to say exactly what you did- it's hard to "fix" this type of problem without being there and you with no line tester, but we can work thru this, just takes a little time.
Most new connections don't even connect the black and yellow leads so go to the "box" where the phone company lines connect to yours and check if the new line uses the yellow and black leads, or if their just taped off. If so follow them from jack to jack checking each one to see that the yellow and black are still being used from point to point. When/if you find a jack where the leads aren't connected connect them! Since you know your voice line works, you might want to buy a line tester and splitter at your local electronics store (their under $10.00 usually)
make sure you have a splitter where you are going to be using your computer or you'll be hooking into your voice line and defeat the whole purpose of having a second line.
By the way WHY DO YOU HAVE A SECOND LINE? DSL is much easier and less expensive than two voice lines, and faster too. But I'm sure you have your reason(s).
If this doesn't work, you'll be forced to have a tech come out, or just use the computer where the jack already works for both lines. If you ever need to have a second line installed again, MAKE sure they run a separate LINE and add a second jack, instead of giving you the "cheap fast fix" by using your existing wiring and jack(s).
Spencer
