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BC
Lv 6
BC asked in Computers & InternetInternet · 1 decade ago

Modem problem. Connecting a phone line to the modem knocks out all phones.?

It's a friend's computer, so I don't know anything about it's history. Can still connect to the internet okay, but when a dedicated phone line is hooked to his modem (but not connected to the internet), all other house phones quit working. Sounds like a bad modem, but I don't have a spare modem to try. Before we buy another modem, thought I would ask for your advice. By the way, I've convinced him to go broadband so this won't be a problem much longer. Still, I'd like to solve the problem. Thanks.

Update:

Reply to danity56: It kicks out the phones when the modem is NOT connected to the internet. Also, the problem comes and goes.

Update 2:

Reply to mapleguy: I'll try that site. And you're probably correct about it being a bad modem. If I had a spare handy, I could check it out, but I dumped all my spare modems a long time ago (just couldn't stand dial-up anymore). Thanks for the info.

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    It's possible that there may be a problem with the modem, but it might just be that it is not hanging up properly.

    You can use hyperterm to send commands to the modem.

    You can get the commands here: http://www.cellular.co.za/hayesat.htm

    Send it the init string, then send it the hangup string "ATH"

    that should clear the line One other possibility is a wiring problem in the phone line itself.

  • 1 decade ago

    It's knocking out all the phones because the Internet uses the phones electricity to work.

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