Phone will call out but will not accept calls.

[jclecroy]

My phone now suddenly will not accept incoming calls. It will ring a couple of times and then stop. I noticed a week ago that caller ID was not working and now no calls at all. I can call out with no problem but no one can call in. If I plug a phone directly into the modem that phone works fine but that means to answer the phone we have to be in the same room or else carry the handset around all day. Any thoughts on what could be going on? By the way we have had Comcast for 8 years in our current home. Comcast technician said it was in the wiring but if so why now?

[HoldenTeam]

I am having the same problem. It started about 2 weeks ago.

[bobhc]

If your phone service is backfeeding into you home phone wiring, there is probably a short or open in your home phone wiring.  You could set up a cordless phone system with the base station near your  modem and place the remote phones as needed.  That way you bypass the home phone wiring.

[CCAndrew]

Usually when that happens, your modem has dropped the phone service’s activation. Call in and get it re-initialized. Are the Tel lights on your modem gone or flashing?

[jclecroy]

Where do I begin to troubleshoot the problem. I have called around and it seems no one works on household phone wiring anymore. Comcast says that home phone wiring is my problem. Comcast actually hooked up the phone to backfeed into my household jacks but now don't seem to want to fool with troubleshooting. 

[jclecroy]

I have a solid light on Tel 1 and I don't use Tel 2.  All phones have been tested and work fine when hooked up to the telephone 1 port in the back of the modem. Comcast sent two technicians and they said it was one of the phones but that is not the case. It has to be in the home wiring. Technician did not go to the phone box outside but I don't think there is any kind of signal going to the box. Our neighborhood did recently upgrade to fiber optic cable and the problem began around that time. I have no idea what to look for if I do open the phone box outside. Also, I can not find anyone in town who works on household phone wiring.

[CCAndrew]

@jclecroy
Wiring or phone jacks can go bad anytime, there’s no time limit. Do you have access to the NID (where all your phone wiring meets)? Troubleshooting phone wiring problems is just a process of elimination to isolate the cause. Sometimes it can’t be fixed because of how wires are ran in a house and access available. If that’s the case it’s just easier and less time consuming for you to buy a base phone that plugs directly into the modem and satellite phones scattered that bypass your home wiring. It happens more than you think

[CCAndrew]

It can absolutely be your equipment. Disconnect each phone at the jack and reconnect one at a time and dial out. When you can’t, you’ll know which phone is the problem. It’s nothing outside of your house, as you stated it works fine when your phone is directly plugged into the modem.
Do you have a security system that uses phone service?

[jclecroy]

I do have a security system that uses my phone line to call out now that you mention it. I hadn't thought about that being the problem.

[jclecroy]

I plugged each phone (3) into the modem and all three worked which makes me think it is not the phone.

[CCAndrew]

Right but you need to narrow down the room now, put the phones back one by one and see when it stops working. If you find the one disconnect and try the other jacks to be sure.