topic Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times. in Home Phone

Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:30:59 GMT

Could it be arranged for Openreach to attend as my landline has become noisy and the phone refuses to ring most times when the line is called.

The line is very noisy. I have done the usual of plugging straight into the test port of the NTE5. I have even tried the phone in a neighbours house, works faultlessly there!

Forgot to add, the FTTC Internet seems to be unaffected. Prior to testing using the test port, the VDSL connection had remained for over a month.

I am obviously prepared to pay the fee if the fault lies downstream of Openreach's responsibility i.e. if the fault is on 'my side' of the connection.

Thank you,

Ant (AKA Sidious)

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Divsec — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:41:33 GMT

Hi @Sidious I'm sure the team here will help and your post has been escalated but it is now quite "late" on Friday so you might not hear till Monday.

You could always run the line test in my account which, should a fault be detected will also set the wheels in motion.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:45:02 GMT

Cheers. I knew it was a bit late on Friday, but had to put it down while I knew what to write.

I actually prefer the humans on this board than automated tests; they've been really good in the past with the, thankfully, few problems I have had in the past.

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Divsec — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:21:13 GMT

Hi Ant. it had to be said😁 The team will get things checked out for you after the weekend, enjoy the peace and quiet.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 13:57:42 GMT

Hi there @Sidious, I will look into this for you. Please confirm if you are messaging us from home.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:08:23 GMT

Yes, I'm messaging this from my home. The landline is 01248 ****82, i.e the one attached to my account.

Thanks.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:16:02 GMT

Do you have any active monitoring for life threatening health reasons which is solely dependant upon your TalkTalk Broadband or Telephone line?

For example a care alarm, lifeline, health pendant or fall detector.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:52:40 GMT

No, we don't have anything like that. Thanks.

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:59:16 GMT

Are you having issues with your internet/broadband? Is it landline only that has issues or broadband too?

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:08:37 GMT

No, just the phone. The broadband (FTTC) seems fine. Doesn't drop, buffer, or anything like that when viewing streaming services.

Thanks again,

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:10:52 GMT

Please describe what you can hear when you try to use the phone?

- Silence

- Noise on the line

- Intermittent Dial Tone

- Consistent Engaged Tone

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:33:49 GMT

There is a dialling tone, it dials out, but with a horrible scratchy and crackling sound.

When the line is rang from say a mobile, sometimes the phone rings but mostly doesn't. The person trying to ring in does hear the ringing tone. (Tried it myself)

Thanks again,

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:36:39 GMT

Is the issue happening right now?

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:43:03 GMT

Just checked, yes it is sadly.

Thanks,

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:46:26 GMT

Are you able to make or receive calls at the moment?

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:55:40 GMT

Dials out fine, and answers when ringing in from my mobile (but with no ringing on the landline phone - I picked up the receiver of the landline when I heard the ringing tone on my mobile)

There is scratchy and crackling sound, heard on both sides.

Thanks again for your support.

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:59:48 GMT

A line test is currently underway. This checks the equipment used to provide the broadband service to your home - including the exchange, cabinet and line equipment.

This can take up to 8 minutes to complete. I'll let you know if this test finds a fault, otherwise I'll continue with further checks.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:58:26 GMT

Any updates, if I may ask?

Thanks again,

Ant.

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

amahle-TT — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 13:33:46 GMT

We will continue with checks, please confirm what type of master, or main, telephone socket you have so I can give the correct troubleshooting advice.

The master socket will be a white box on a wall and is where the telephone line connects into your house from outside.

Please browse to https://community.talktalk.co.uk/t5/Articles/Your-guide-to-main-phone-sockets/ta-p/2205432 - this page shows you images of the different socket types so you can identify which you have.

Can you confirm what type of master socket you have please?

NTE 5C mk4

NTE 5C

NTE 5

FTTC

NTE 2000

Non-NTE

No Socket Provisioned

Re: Landline noisy, phone won't ring most times.

Sidious — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:11:04 GMT

It's an NTE5C (secured with screws - NOT the MK4 which is of course clip-on) with the interstitial Openreach (sandwich-type) filter, the filter is sandwiched between the backplate and the front plate. The same type that was fitted when FTTC was first rolled out about 10 or so years back. i.e. this type. :-

To add, I have tried with only the phone in the test socket with the filter removed. Just as noisy!

Thanks,

Ant.