Motorola 2442 adaptor - Home wiring limit?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 26, 2006 Posts: 1

New Vonage activation. Verified service works through router and calls come in and can be made (direct connect on port #1 to handset).

Equipment Description:
Adaptor: Motorola 2442 (2 line) - Line 1 active only (single account)
#1 - Standard wall mount phone with caller ID. Used prior.
#2 - Panasonic 5.8ghz. KX-TGA541S (Single handset) Used prior.

Before attempting to connect to my house wiring, I wanted to verify that both handsets would function with the 2442 adaptor. Per information I have read on this forum (and common sense), I plugged the RJ-11 cable from port #1 on the adaptor into a multi-accesss wallplate in my kitchen. Verified the kitchen phone had tone. It did. I then plugged phone #2 into the second plug on this plate and verified tone once again on both phones. They were both functional.

Prior to any testing, I disabled the telco wiring and removed voltage to the internal cabling. Verified voltage was gone with multi-tester. I have all lines home-run to a 66 block in the basement. I only have two phones and currently two active RJ-11 jacks. 1 in the kitchen (used and tested already) and one upstairs in the master bedroom (utilized by the Panasonic cordless mentioned above).

With the line from port #1 on the adaptor plugged into the kitchen wall plate (aux jack), I connect the Panasonic cordless upstairs. No tone. But the phone shows "Line in Use" and accurately shows "Voicemail". Phone does not ring or have audible tone.

Since all runs are connected directly to the 66 block, it would make sense that this *should* work. Could this be a voltage problem in that the 2442 is failing to provide enough current? Could the phone be identifying a weak tone (or power) as "In Use"?

If this is a power issue, how can I provide enough power for two phones? Seems odd that the adaptor wouldn't provide enough for two active lines.

Thanks in advance for any assist or ideas.

-Keith

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:54 am Post subject:

The adaptor shouldn't have a problem with two phones. I suspect it is either a problem with the wiring or the length of the wiring. Did you try to connect just the upstairs phone and not the kitchen phone?

You mentioned "all runs" were connected to the 66 block. How many runs are there? My next step in troubleshooting the issue would be to ensure that you have connectivity between the kitchen and upstairs jacks without any shorts. You could do this by disconnecting everything (phones/adapter) and checking the continuity between red and green at the kitchen jack. It should be open. Then short between red and green upstairs and recheck continuity at the kitchen jack.

If you find a problem then you will need to start diagnosing it at the 66 block by removing cross connects.

If it truly is a power problem then you will need to get a ring booster and possibly a line amplifier with a ring booster.

Posts: 4751 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4751

Also, since you have a multi-tester, check to see that you have 40 to 50 volts at the block on the line coming from where you've plugged in the Vonage adapter. Then verify that the same voltage appears across the line going upstairs. If it isn't there, then you have a wiring problem there at the block. If you do have voltage, go upstairs, take the cover off the jack, and see if you get the voltage there.