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 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.
