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dusthazard
Tl Posts:
88

USA
Posted - 8/13/2001 1:16:54 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
This may or may not be related to modems, but it is extremly important that I figure this out and the talented people that hang out around this board would be a good source.

Over the past few days, we have had storms and pretty much everytime this one specific phone and modem would get "shocked" and stop working properly. This has happened and Walmart was kind enough to replace them 3 times. Why does this keep happening on these objects and not the other devices on the line? Can a device draw lightning shock more than other devices? The phone was one that had an anwering machine, caller id, call waiting all built in. We want to figure out what is causing this because it has never happened three times in a row on the same things before. We hardly lose anything to storms ever since we moved here and we have lived here for about 12 years. Oh, and this is in USR section because that modem mentioned is a cheap USR. Took that back and got a Creative V.92 Internal Rockwell. I'm happy with it.

Any explanations?

Thank you so much.

SARGE
Tl Posts:
743

USA
Posted - 8/13/2001 8:27:39 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  SARGEs Homepage
Interesting. Are there other devices on same line in home that survive the "shocks". Modems and some sets are more sensitive than other devices. Your continuous lightning strikes should cause more concern.
dusthazard
Tl Posts:
88

USA
Posted - 8/14/2001 12:49:18 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
My mom and dad have just purchased a new all in one phone from GE, the makers of the other all in one phone that was "shocked" 3 times and replaced each time. There are other phones on the line and the same line stretched down to another building so this line is pretty much everywhere here and I still get awesome 56k rates. lol.

But, should this be something to check out? My dad said he would see if anything was wrong under the house but he hasn't gotten around to it. Also, after being "shocked" when plugged up to the line, the dial tone is not there and when unplugged, the tone is back. This applies to the phone and modem.

Any answers? Thanks.

jackylman
Tl Posts:
245

USA
Posted - 8/14/2001 1:34:47 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Have you asked your telco? This may be something that that they actually try and help with you with.

You're lucky that Wal-Mart is nice. The only thing I can suggest is preventative. Unplug phone lines during lightning storm AND MAKE SURE THE LINE RUNNING TO THE MODEM IS ON A SURGE PROTECTOR.

dusthazard
Tl Posts:
88

USA
Posted - 8/14/2001 3:02:05 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Yes, I have taken the measures to unplug things when not in use or if I think a storm is a brewin'. Thanks for everyone's opinions!
v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 8/16/2001 10:14:05 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
I would suspect solid-state 'hook relay' on affected devices (including the new all-in-one phone).

I'm not sure a phone-line surge protector would help - personally, I would try to build protection by getting a MOV (Metal oxide varistor) rated at 100V and put it on the jack you plug the phone into.
http://www.darktolight.com/Documents/Photocontrols/english/Mov.pdf

Aloha,
Richard

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