Telephones Page

Electronics-HandyMan

Telephones

Henry, the phones are out again! . . . OK so what do you do, who do you call? Want to look like a hero? The first part is easy, but not well known. The first decision you need to make; is the problem with the phone service (a phone company problem) or is the problem in your wiring & equipment (your problem). To make this decision you need a working phone that you can unplug and use to run some tests and a screwdriver. Just follow the instructions below:

Determine if the problem is your equipment or your phone service
Gather together: Test phone (any working phone) Screwdriver Then find this box. (It is probably on an outside wall of your house)		Using your screwdriver, open up the customer access door.
Disconnect the top line and insert your test phone into the jack. Check for a dial tone. The box may have as many six lines and there is no guarantee that yours is the top, so you should check them all. If you have more than one active line you will need to try to determine the phone number for each line.		We are ready to make that all important determination: If there is NO dial tone on any line you either have a problem with your phone service or you have a bad test phone. If you find a dial tone and you can make calls your service is fine and the problem is in your house. Make Decision #1 If you can't find a dial tone and you are sure your test phone is good, using your cell phone or your neighbor's phone, call the phone company they will repair this problem for free! If things work fine here your problem is in your house and you need to proceed to Your Equipment.
Remember to re-connect the the lines and close and secure the customer access when you are finished.

Your Equipment

Bad news it's your problem. . . Don't panic yet, there are still easy tests you can run before you check the level in your wallet.

Disconnect all extensions (a failed extension phone can bring down the whole system)
Visually inspect exposed phone wiring. (often times phone wiring is run along baseboards around doors etc. and can be damaged by the vacuum, or hit by a piece of furniture), so look for obvious damage.

If your phones are still out after all of this and you live in the Roanoke / Smith Mountain Lake, VA area you can call Electronics-HandyMan, (remember your test phone worked in the customer access) and we'll be right over. If you are outside our area and or you would like more help troubleshooting the problem, you may post your issue on our Electronic Help Forum.

Our business is housecalls, friendly help, assistance, installation, training and on-site repairs of electronics that are difficult to disconnect and reconnect (Like telephone systems and wiring). We can help you work through those equipment, noise, hum, and wiring problems.

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