sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Line noise issues

For the past two months we have been having sporadic noise (static and popping) on 3 of our 4 lines at work. Each time I have called the telco and they have sent out a tech, but by the time they show up, usually the next day, the problem has subsided. I have placed three service calls in the past two months and each time the same thing happens, the tech shows up there is no noise on the line and says there is nothing they can do unless they hear the noise. I understand this, but what are we supposed to do when the problem happens again 30 minutes after they leave? I can place another call, but it will probably be fine when they arrive. Is there anything that can be done to test the lines for a set period of time?

Unfortunately, that's a very difficult one to call. I totally sympathize with you though because we deal with this all the time. Do you know if the problem increases after the lines have been in use for a long time, as in on a very long phone conversation? If so, you may want to take the phone off the hook for an hour or so on one of the lines in question prior to the telco technician arriving. That way, if some form of high-resistance fault will have been in use long enough to show itself. It's just a suggestion, but it sounds like at your point, anything is worth a try.

99% of these problems are due to outside cable problems, but since it's been so dry in VA lately, moisture isn't really a factor. I will bet that if the rainfall was more normal, the problem wouldn't be so intermittent and they would have less trouble finding it. Maybe you should see if the problem increases the next time it rains and then call the telco.

The noise will sometimes start during a call, but usually it is when a call is answered or when attempting a call. Also, the weather seems to have little affect on it. We had quite a bit of rain and snow last week and very few problems, but this week so far has been dry and several problems today.

If you are fortunate enough to get a telco technician who really cares, you might ask them if they would be willing to change pairs for the lines in question. Sometimes they will do this as a courtesy. By the way, what kind of phones or system are you using?

static and popping as well as clicking can also indicate a defective line card in the Central office. If this is the case the copper pairs will test good everytime. This becomes more of an issue if the trouble is on a lec pairgain system. The pairgain system usually has a few t1's (7 is the norm around here) that feed the remote terminal. If one of those t's is dirty every time a call hits it you will get the static issue. They only thing you can really do is keep pressing the carrier. Chaging the pairs is also not a bad option, but if the trouble is in the co equipment it will not help. The trick is going to be finding a tech who cares enouh to spemd some time and really look at this. You need someone to test and moniter in the co to try and isolate the trouble. I would try escalting with your carrier, tell them it is ongoing and intermittent.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice, I will try and get this escalated. Also, we are using a Vodavi STS system. May have received some positive news just a little while ago. The tech that was here this morning seemed to be more helpful than most and called back and gave me the direct number to the line tech supervisor for this area.

What type of phone system are your 4 outside lines connected to ? Do you know if the 4 lines connect to the same circuit card within the telephone system ?

TL1 thats a good sign, hopefully they get it cleared for you this time.

Well in all honesty to me 3 of 4 lines sounds more like a system problem, if on all phones. If it's not weather related (moisture) than it would be a high joint as Ed stated, but the odds of 3 high joints to the same customer are astronomical. As far as CO switch if all lines terminate in the same digital card possible I suppose, but again I don't think the odds are there.

I did not relize it was 3 of 4, I have to agree the odds are high for it being a switch issue then, though I have seen up to 8 pots lines at a prem have trouble caused by bad cards in a slc. If it were a T1 trouble feeding a remote unit it would be all lines, so that is probally not the case. Could just be a bad drop.