Wierd....

[Denne]

The last phone call I had was a fax. Since then I don't seem to be able to use my phone line and no calls coming in either. I have checked all phones and none of them are on....or off the hook. I have turned off the fax machine and then re-started it again. Still just static on the phone and shows that an extension is in use. I have DSL so I don't believe my phone line is really down. Any other ideas?? Thanks!

[GeorgeM]

It sounds like who ever sent the fax their machine never hung up.

[Mel in Hawaii]

I would unplug your fax machine from the phone line, it may be hanging onto the line and not letting it drop. The fax on the OTHER end wouldn't matter, you can leave your phone off the hook and it won't affect the other guy. The 'static' it hears from the DSL line may actually be what is causing the fax to stay on the line. Do you have a filter on the the phone line after the dsl modem and before it plugs into your phone system?

[JohnH]

Does your phone have a battery backup for its clock & memory? If so, it may need to be replaced.

[Denne]

I have unplugged the phone that controls the cordless phones. I have also unplugged the fax machine from the power line and also from the phone line. Not sure if I should leave them unplugged for more than a few seconds. I watied about 10 on the phone line. It is on a stretch cord so I had to stand and hold it....got anxious to get it plugged back in before I lost the end ;~) I will check on the battery issue next. Any other suggestions? I can't get a real person on the line at AT & T. Just all recordings and one suggestion to go outside and take the cover off the bos and plug a phone directly into it. Gosh....I don't know if it is my phone or the phone line. The call to the phone company did result in a test and the test said there may be trouble with the line. Seems odd to be working one minute however and off the next. Thanks for any more suggestions!

[Cat in OH]

...one suggestion to go outside and take the cover off the bos and plug a phone directly into it. Gosh....I don't know if it is my phone or the phone line.

That test will tell you if the line coming to your home/office is working. I keep an old corded phone for power outages and to test for problems. You should be able to open part of the box with a regular screw driver. There will be a jack you can plug the phone into. If there's a dial tone then the problem is inside your home. Guess then you start taking the phone around to different jacks inside and testing them.

Good luck!

Cathy

[Tax Prep by Deb]

Check also to see if one of your extension phones has the conference or hold button engaged. Mine does this ever so often and it takes forever to chase down and find which phone caused the problem. I know the lines engaged because my phones all have a call indicator, usually if I go to all of them and disengage that button, (in my case my phones hold button is also my intercome button and also my conference call button) I can get it to hang up.

Hope it helps!

Deb!