sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telecom Service & Providers Hum on POTS line

Actually I have had phones cause this problem. Disconnect the phone and couldn't hear any problem with my butt set. New phone- problem gone. Sounded like an imbalance but how would a phone on the pair all by itself cause it?

Matter of fact I believe the old Merlin would have this problem on some lines.

How many phones in the house? You have this problem with all even if tested one by one?

The Panasonic- is it one base and several handsets? It's really one phone.

-Hal

A couple of weeks after I posted my last message, an interesting thing happened: my parents' phone line quit working! I called and no one answered, and no machine either. I finally got my mother on her cell phone and she said she could hear something very faint when she picked up the POTS line, but that was it; it wasn't ringing. Called Qwest and they sent a tech out and fixed whatever the problem was. The next time I talked to my mother, I didn't hear a hum anymore. She said she didn't hear it. I then talked to my father and asked him to listen for one, and he said he didn't hear it either. I have no idea what the problem was or what the tech did, but it's fixed. I wish I knew though in case I see this problem again.

That proves it! The hum was because the line 'didn't know the words'. Once it learned the words, it didn't have to hum anymore. John C

If you really want too you can diagnose it for them.

Check on hook Tip to Ring AC Voltage it should be <.5 Volts AC

Check on hook Tip to Ground AC Voltage it should be <.5 Volts AC

Check on hook Ring to Ground AC Voltage it should be <.5 Volts AC

If you have any Higher than .5 Volts AC then your getting AC induced or introduced into the line. Tell your phone company you have an imbalanced line.