V-Portal - Inside Wiring- Fast Busy Signal

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 05, 2009 Posts: 3

When I connect my phone to the V-Portal phone adapter I have dialtone, can make incoming/outgoing calls (No issues).
But when I connect the V-Portal phone adapter to a phone jack and then my phone to the same or different wall jack it works only for a few minutes. I can make outgoing calls/ receive incoming calls but then it goes to a fast busy signal. If I unplug the phone wire from the wall jack for a few seconds the dialtone is restored but only for a couple of minutes. Then back to a fast busy signal. I really want to utilize the inside wiring. And yes I disconnected the wires from the NID. Any suggestions?

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Your first step should be to unplug everything from all the phone jacks in the house, except the Vonage adapter and one telephone that you know works when it's plugged directly into the adapter. Also, make sure that you're using a cheap cord to connect the adapter to the jack- one with only two conductors and not the full four. Check by looking at the contacts on the plastic plug. There should only be two- not four. How does it work when you do those things?

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 05, 2009 Posts: 3

I'm using a RJ11 phone cable with only two conductors from the adapter to the wall jack as well as from the phone to the wall jack. What's weird is that I have dialtone and can make incoming/outgoing calls for at least an hour and then it goes to a fast busy signal like the phone is in use. I have tried different phones. Corded and cordless. I had phones connected to the inside wiring for 2 years with no issues.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

OK, you're using the right kind of cord. Did you try unplugging everything except one phone from the jacks? Results?

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 10, 2010 Posts: 2

in my situation this is how I solved the rapid busy signal

my network interface box had two sets of twisted pair running to the DSL port...i had thought there was only one and that is when i was getting the busy signal throughout the house…once I disconnected the second pair the busy signal stopped

the second issue encountered was no signal at all in the house…this was solved through trial and error by splicing the cut wires together and not splicing…in my situation, not splicing is what accomplished the Voip signal through all phone jacks…all phone wires from outside where cut and left unspliced and wrapped in tape at the POTS board…this has the added benefit of no “accidental” reconnection from the phone company since the disconnect is inside the house

Voip is now distributed through all phone jacks in the house

good luck

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 05, 2009 Posts: 3

It's been so long I gave up but I will give it another go.

The 1st outside pair are not spliced together and have been taped up so there is no “accidental” reconnection from the phone company.

I will make an attempt to locate the 2nd set of twisted pair wires. In my case the 2nd set should be behind the rj11 wall plate. The rj11 phone wire has a 2 wire connection from the wall jack to the Vonage adapter.

Thanks dac74.

I'll let you know if I'm able to solve the issue.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 10, 2010 Posts: 2

all of my telco cables are new and four wire...i don't think the issue is a 2 vs 4 wire telco cable...i think the issue is a missed wire or a splice and it needs to be solved at the POTS board

what is the interface inside the house?...is it RJ11 plugs or does it look like a tangle of wires pressed into a large splicing board (that is what a POTS board looks like)?

below is a more complete explanation as to what i did...

a CAT5 cable has four twisted pair, green, blue, brown and orange (or red)

in my situation there were three twisted pairs connected in the NIB (Network Interface Box), which is outside, to the in-house POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) board, which is in the basement

in the NIB...the green twisted pair was connected to the telephone terminal, the orange and blue twisted pairs were connected to the DSL terminal, the brown was the only pair not in use

i identified the CAT 5 cable leaving the NIB...how and where the cable entered the house and how the cable connected to the POTS board

i was able to confirm the unused brown twisted pair from the NIB was tied off at the POTS board

i cut the other three twisted pair and discovered not splicing the ends would allow the Voip signal to use the internal wiring

if you can locate the NIB outside, look to see which wires are connected to the terminals, those are the wires to cut inside and you will not have to worry about the cutting the wires outside and protected them from the weather...just leave enough slack in case you have to splice them back together in the future.

post again if you have questions...i am monitoring