Plug in modem = dead phone line?

[barlav]

I'm remotely troubleshooting this issue. The person says whenever she plugs the line from the modem into the phone jack all the phones go dead. This happens on all the jacks in the house. Phones work fine when the modem's not connected. Has anyone ever seen this? If so, any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[thorin]

1) Try a different cable.
2) Try a phone on that jack.
3) Try a different modem.
4) Is she plugging it into the correct port? (There are two ports on a modem, and/or she could be plugging it in to a network card).

Does the modem work even if the rest of the phones don't?

Thorin

 

[TunaBoo]

Bunk modems can do that, as can bunk phones do it to modems.

 

[Topochicho]

I'd start with making sure she has the wire going into the correct port... sounds like user error. the phone jack is for a reciever the line jack is for the wall