FAQs/Dial-up Connections/Test Phone Line         List of Categories

Sometimes something connected to your phone line - another telephone, fax machine, surge protector, alarm service device, medical lifeline service, satellite dish, etc., will cause your modem performance to suffer. Sometimes something in your wiring - a rusty/loose phone jack, damaged cord, poor connection or routing, etc., can do the same. We've even seen where noise interference from an electrical fence was the cause of connection troubles.

Follow the steps below to identify line troubles:

1. Plug a regular, corded (not cordless) telephone into the telephone wall jack your modem is normally connected to. Do you have dial tone? If yes, continue. If no, skip to step 3.

2. Unplug everything from the phone lines except the modem. Also make sure the phone cord from modem to the wall jack is in good shape; try another cord if possible. Try the Internet connection again.

3. Test the telephone service by connecting a corded (not cordless) telephone directly to the Network Interface Device (NID), or demarc, located where the telephone line enters your premises. A flat head screwdriver will allow you to open the front cover of the NID to access the TEST JACK. Do you have dial tone? If no, contact your telephone service provider. If yes, do you hear noise on the line? If you hear noise on the line, contact your telephone service provider. If you have dial tone and do not hear noise on the line continue with the troubleshooting steps. 

4. If you have a long enough phone line, connect your modem directly to the NID test jack. Try connecting to the Internet again.

5. If the trouble persists, it's pointing to a faulty modem or a 56k issue (see the FAQs for a dial-up connection) and troubleshooting becomes more difficult. If possible, try another modem or take your computer to another location (work, neighbor or family member's house) and try connecting to the Internet. Or, have someone bring their computer (one that connects to the Internet with no problems) to your location.

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