Why might I suddenly have crackling noises and can't receive incoming calls?

deedleann824

I call call out, though. TV and Internet aren't affected. Called in to tech support and they rebooted my equipment. That didn't help. I also manually turned power off to modem and router, but that didn't solve anything, either. I have the same equipment I've always had when it started. Then I tried swapping out other phones (I just happen to have some extra) and that didn't help. Just when I am expecting a very important phone call (wouldn't you know).

Satch

Hello,

When did this start? Any bad weather or power outages in the area within the last week or so? When an incoming call comes in, is it just dead air? Do you hear anything from the receiver? I would do the following process of elimination steps:

I would try one more cold reboot a separate unplugging of the modem for five minutes, a separate unplugging of the router for five minutes. Reconnect the modem first, waiting for it to come back online. Reconnect the router next, waiting for it to come back online. (Wait for all the lights to come back.) Now, make a call to someone to test the equipment and have them call you back.

If you don't hear back from them, or you do, and the issue comes back, set up a service call for a signal and drop line test. New equipment won't solve line or signal problems. If your signals are bad, the tech will replace the lines. If your signals are good, the tech will replace the modem, (if you rent the modem from Spectrum) If you have had the tech visit, and everything is good, and the equipment has been updated, time for a new phone. But the new phone would be the last resort.

Satch

catchtwentytwo

@deedleann824

If the wire from phone jack on your modem connects to the house telephone wiring, try plugging a plain-old touchtone phone (not a cordless phone system) directly to the modem and see if the problem goes away. If it does, that points to an issue with house wiring and/or an issue with the cordless phone system (if you have one).

BTW, if you are only using cordless phones, it would be a good idea to have an inexpensive corded phone available as a backup or troubleshooting tool since batteries can fail after several years of use.

deedleann824

To answer some questions:

The last call I received was Tuesday, at 1:55 pm.

Satch - the suggestions you posted didn't work.

catchtwentytwo - I plugged a corded phone directly into the wall jack, but that didn't help.

Satch

The last call I received was Tuesday, at 1:55 pm.

Satch - the suggestions you posted didn't work.

catchtwentytwo - I plugged a corded phone directly into the wall jack, but that didn't help.

Thanks @deedleann824 for the updates,

You need to call Spectrum and let them know that you can't receive incoming calls on your phone. Let them know that rebooting the equipment did not do anything.

Satch

deedleann824

A technician is scheduled for this morning.

deedleann824

Technician said my modem and router were working properly. That meant the problem was in the line.

After looking at the jack, he said some of the connections were corroded. He got things working again, then went outside. He must have tested something there since I lost connection on the modem and router for a few minutes.

When he came back in, he tried the phone again and got the ring trip. Then he said he had to look at the wiring in the basement where the line comes in. He was there about 5 minutes and when he came up for air, said that the lines were "bunched up." Whatever manipulations he did, finally got my phone working again. Hooray.

Downside - now I might be getting political calls.