Crackle on landline phone

System

kwikbreaks wrote: »

Was the line noise free while the router was connected?
The only reason I mentioned trying other filters was to enable you to eliminate the filtered faceplate itself and you'd need a filter then to connect both router and phone. Testing without the router connected proves nothing. It is the duff joint rectifying the ADSL signal that creates the audible noise. No ADSL signal no noise.

In all honesty, I can't remember. I've tried umpteen permutations that to a degree, confusion has set in. Just had another crackle free call to someone that commented yesterday, so can't help thinking it may be a connection thing. Whilst I don't want it to return, if it does, I am ready.

jaydeeuk1

I used to have really a bad crackle on my phone line, couldn't identify the fault (tried cables, filters, different phones etc), just seemed random as some days it was fine (and adsl on 24/7), didn't want BT out incase fault was our end. However now we're switched to cable the crackle has completely gone. Looking back it might have been the crappy Thompson modem router.

trollopscarletwoman

OP

When you opened up the master socket was there any sign of green on the terminals?

System

trollopscarletwoman wrote: »

OP

When you opened up the master socket was there any sign of green on the terminals?

I didn't notice any, but you've given me something else to look at as and when the crackle returns. It's not all that easy at my age peering into something as low as that. Once down I find it hard to get up. (better add that I'm mid 70's before anyone misconstrues that remark).

HoofeHearted

I had a similar problem a few years ago on my BT line.
Broadband drop outs/slow speed/noise on line when using phone.

Kept reporting it to BT, they did a line test and said "no fault found". Said they would send an engineer out but it would cost me £££ if they found the fault to be at my end.

I knew it was an intermittent fault on the copper pair, but could not prove it.

Eventually, went through the same routine again with BT, and they offered to send an engineer, but did not mention the £££ charge.

I agreed for them to send someone out. He could not find any problems, but I persuaded him to check the joints
o at my end
o at the top of the pole across the road
o In the street cabinet a few roads away

He came back and said that he could not find fault with any of the connections, but he had remade them all, just in case.

Since then I have not had any problems at all. :j

TalkTalk

Hi islandman,

No problem, we do try and be helpful where we can

obviously i understand you not wanting to make changes while everything is working, but please do monitor it and if the crackle returns pop over to the TT community and we can take a look for you.

Cheers

Mark
Online Community Department
TalkTalk

System

TalkTalk_Company_Representative wrote: »

Hi islandman,

No problem, we do try and be helpful where we can

obviously i understand you not wanting to make changes while everything is working, but please do monitor it and if the crackle returns pop over to the TT community and we can take a look for you.

Cheers

Mark
Online Community Department
TalkTalk

Thanks Mark. It seems a strange thing to say, but it's a pleasure to use the phone currently. Everyone is asking "where's the crackle gone?". If the heavy rain forecast for the coming 24hrs does not affect the line, then we might be able to eliminate water in external cables.

TalkTalk

islandman wrote: »

Thanks Mark. It seems a strange thing to say, but it's a pleasure to use the phone currently. Everyone is asking "where's the crackle gone?". If the heavy rain forecast for the coming 24hrs does not affect the line, then we might be able to eliminate water in external cables.

Hi Islandman,

After a period of problematic service i can understand you getting a little more enjoyment from a clear call... sometimes its the simple things in life.

How was the phone during the heavy rain?? Did everything hold up ok?

Cheers

Mark
Online Community Department
TalkTalk

System

Maybe it's NOT you afterall!. We've had the grand daughter her (2yrs old) recently and I specifically asked that she shouldn't open my desk doors, where the router & modem were, one stood on the other. To my horror she did, but was told "she didn't touch anything". The crackle resumed.

They have left and I have repositioned the router/modem so that they're not on one another. Still crackle.

I noted that when the DSL cable was removed from Openreach router, the crackle stopped and thought it's either the cable or router, but............................

I pulled the desk out completely because it is close to the BT phone box where I could get better access to the filtered faceplate. I removed the faceplate and noted the next section was slightly movable, so gave the screws a couple of turns, replace the faceplate snugly, reconnected and no crackle thus far.

I am now thinking that either the desk was too close to bt box and it was constantly touching the ethernet cable and making a poor connection, or the loose bt box had created an issue, or the router on the modem had caused some sort of static?.

Either way, through a long period of trying a variety of process of eliminations, maybe this is it?. Who knows.

Yes I have shown chapter and verse, but that has been done just in case someone somewhere finds themself in a similar position. Rather than panic, make unnecessary purchases, as in new phones, just take it all calmly and post daily as someone somewhere might guide you through.

Moneymaker

Good on you for patient persistence!

For the record: when I had this problem I eventually traced it to an insect nest inside the extension socket in my garage. A good clean out and a squirt of WD-40 solved the problem.

When a neighbour had crackling, I traced it to a socket in his living room where the wall must have been damp and the "gold" contacts had corroded. A replacement socket treated with silicone grease solved the problem.