AboutSpencer Holcombe Expertise Hi, thanks for checking me out, I have several years in the telecom industry, working for Pacific Telephone,American Bell,AT&T,AT&T Communications,AT&T Information Systems, and Pacific Bell-SBC. I can answer most questions regarding Telephones,wiring,jacks,PBX, Local and Long Distance,Billing,Custom calling services, Customer Service,and Fraud. I can`t answer Cellular questions.
Question QUESTION: My DSL service is good most of the time, but cuts out periodically. Sometimes, I can restore it quickly by turning the power to the modem off and on again. At other times, the problem can persist for up to an hour. The DSL runs to only one phone jack in the house. I also find that the DSL and a filtered phone that shares the same jack interfere with each other. When I pick up the phone, I hear static and high-pitched noises. Then the DSL cuts out and the voice line becomes clear. A technician from the phone company has been here twice. He believes that the problem is either in the old wiring into my house or the modem (Zoom - Model 5590). He showed me how to run a "CAT 3 Twisted Pairs" wire to a jack that will be used exclusively for DSL. If that doesn't solve the problem, is there a way to test the modem? Also, can you think of any other cause that the technician may have overlooked? I want to be sure that I've done my part, in case I have to pester the telephone company again. Thank you for your generous help.
ANSWER: Herb,
Wow, you've covered everything I can think of. I WOULD try using a different telephone at that "DSL" jack though.
CAT 3 is great, but I wouldn't go thru the hassles of running a line, unless your wiring is 35 + years old,or damaged.
As far as your modem, your service provider should be able to do a test of it, as well as offer you the software/instructions to do the tests yourself. One thing you can check is for ALL other electronic items -cords, wires, devices, speakers, etc... be as far from the modem as possible, this includes florescent lights as they CAN interfere with data signals.
Hope this helps, Spencer
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QUESTION: I decided to install the new wire, because the old wire was quite old and was exposed to the elements for a considerable distance. So far, all is well, but another question has come to mind. I installed a standard (i.e., cheap) phone/modem jack for the DSL modem. Should I have looked for something that was specifically recommended for CAT 3 or DSL? Thanks for your indulgence.
ANSWER: Herb,
Install a DSL filter at that jack. You can get one from your service provider, or at most electronic stores. No more squeeks and shreiks on the phone while the computer is in use.
Spencer
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QUESTION: I'm afraid I didn't give enough details. The new CAT 3 cable is dedicated to the DSL, and is connected to different terminals in the service box than the old quad cable that supports the voice devices. The voice cable is filtered at the service box, and I'm not noticing any interference between voice and DSL. What I want to know is whether a standard, wall-mounted phone jack is ok for the DSL, or whether there is a type of jack that is better suited for the purpose. The question was triggered by something I read in the instructions for the new cable. It says, "All connecting hardware should be the same as or superior to the category rating of the cable." I didn't see ratings on any of the phone jacks in the home improvement stores, so I'm wondering whether a jack is "connecting hardware." The DSL wiring info that I've been able to find online doesn't seem to address that question. Thanks for bearing with me.
Answer Herb,
I'm not "bearing with you" I'm just answering your questions, the way the BELL SYSTEM used to.
Your jacks should be just fine with your cat3, I'd still keep the modem away from speakers wires and lights, and if you have a cordless phone put its base unit as far from your computer and modem as you can.
Spencer
