atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums TDM Business Telephone Systems Inter-Tel Telephones & Systems Phantom Phone Calls

We have one incoming line that gets 'phantom phone calls'. These calls ring the phone, but when you pick up, there is no one there. The calls come in at 9-15 at a time, 2-3 minutes apart. They start off on one day and slowly taper off. They will disappear for a few weeks, then start again with a vengence. We have had this problem taken all the eay up to the engineering section of our local phone company, who say they have never heard of such a thing. Has anyone else ever had this problem or know what may be causing it? Our phone system is an Inter-Tel 4.3.

What does the display on the fone say when this happens? Have you monitored the SMDR output? How about message print?

I would try wiring a s/l phone before the system. I think it is much more likely to be a telco issue than a system issue. If the calls ring the s/l phone in front of the system, it is obviously a telco issue.

Had the same problem w/ an Encore CX switch....found the problem in an inter-bldg cable def pair past the system.....the funny thing was the set on that pair wasn't configured for line 1 but line 1 was the phantom ring. Hope it helps

I've seen dirty signal on a T1 cause similar problems. What type of circuts do you have coming in? into what type of card?

This is on a T-1 line. The card is a DKSC16, Inter-Tel.
We have checked the SMDR. It showed the calls, but nothing more than a record of a call coming in, lasting 2 or three seconds, and disconnecting. These calls come at all hours. Three PM or Three AM. No difference. I have actually been at the Demarc with my buttset on the line when a call came in with our local service provider standing there. He heard it as well. You heard a click on the line, the line rang, and then the person at the extension picked up to dead air.
The call shows as coming from transfer.

Is this phone a member of a hunt group?

Uhhhh, so you have a T-1 connected directly to the PBX, and you used yer buttset to monitor the calls? What kind of buttset is that? Do you mean that the T-1 is terminated on a channel bank? Is it possible to set up yer service w/ caller ID? That would help you track down the source of the calls.

You say the call shows 'coming from transfer'. Is that what the digital desk fone reads exactly on the LCD screen?

Phantom calls usually call whatever extension is on port 1.1 (Usually the Attendent). Caused sometimes by locked up channels (Typically E&M) or the carrier sending the wrong signals. Those are some of the most common causes.