Rain = loss of dial tone typically for 24 hours
mediasteve
Newbie

I switched to Verizon just a few months ago. Fast installation (2 techs showed up).. great internet and tv service, no problems there so far) impressed overall by FiOS... however i've lost dial tone at least 5 times in 3 months.. the only consistent factor is rain, each time this happens.. I've had a service call placed in the past and had my ONE home phone jack 'repaired' (the first time i lost dial tone)..


The next 2 times i lost dialtone, i've called for support and had the 'outside box' reset.. (to no improvement) ..then they offer to send a tech out, who may charge me.. I have not-called the past 2 times and just waited it out, and in fact, yes dial tone was restored the next day.

But the 2 times that i did call for phone support, Verizon technicians found "no network problems" on a line test.. ok well that is great.. but then they tell me it says my phone is off the hook.. but it never is off the hook, i use one stationary base, which holds one wireless phone. Each time i call, we go through disconnect and unplug and wait 5 minutes and they reset some things and run tests.. then they suggest it's a physical phone problem.

I've never (emphasis on never) had a loss of dial tone before with any other phone service provider because of a phone problem.. so I think that there's a problem with the verizon hardware outside of my house... 

Has anyone else experience this? (again, dial tone DOES restore itself, usually after one day) the thing that bothers me is that it happens repetitively, causing me several inconveniences that i won't go into, each time...  thanks for reading.

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Re: Rain = loss of dial tone typically for 24 hours
VZ_Ron
Contributor - Level 2

Hey mediasteve, it sounds like the phone service you had before verizon was going through the modem but with verizon the phone service goes through your physical phone lines and it sounds like there's issues with those lines I think you should get wiring maintenance plan on the account so I tech can come to fix the issue without a charge.

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Re: Rain = loss of dial tone typically for 24 hours
GaryDoug
Specialist - Level 1

When they tell you the phone is "off hook" it means they see an increase in the load placed on the line. That is what happens when you pick up the receiver, but it can also happen if something partially shorts a line (like water maybe). See where I'm going? You have a problem with the lines inside or outside or under the house. When it rains, the water runs inside a connection and shorts it out, creating a loss of the dialtone and everything else. You can fix it yourself or pay to have someone else do it. 

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Re: Rain = loss of dial tone typically for 24 hours
mediasteve
Newbie

I am on the phone again with VZ (dial tone's out, got more rain) but also just saw your message (didn't know anyone had replied, browsed back to the forum to check) so thank you for writing ... i will be asking about the maintenance plan now instead of reporting the problem again..

VZ_Ron wrote:

Hey mediasteve, it sounds like the phone service you had before verizon was going through the modem but with verizon the phone service goes through your physical phone lines and it sounds like there's issues with those lines I think you should get wiring maintenance plan on the account so I tech can come to fix the issue without a charge.


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Re: Rain = loss of dial tone typically for 24 hours
mediasteve
Newbie
Many thanks for your time... valuable info i had not thought of before. My home was built in 49' so i probably do need some kind of repair.


@GaryDoug wrote:

When they tell you the phone is "off hook" it means they see an increase in the load placed on the line. That is what happens when you pick up the receiver, but it can also happen if something partially shorts a line (like water maybe). See where I'm going? You have a problem with the lines inside or outside or under the house. When it rains, the water runs inside a connection and shorts it out, creating a loss of the dialtone and everything else. You can fix it yourself or pay to have someone else do it. 


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