Problems with phone lines during a thunderstorm

[Blayze]

I think something is messed up with the phone lines in the house. Everytime we have a big thunderstorm, one of our phones will ring. It also screws up the DSL router. Its a rent house, so I don't want to spend a ton getting lines fixed, etc...

The only thing that has been messed up from this is our 322 Dish Reciever.

I'm waiting on a replacement reciever now that died during the last storm. Saw a bright flash and a loud pop when it happened. It sort of works. Takes forever to change channels, and want dial out at all. Took almost 10 mins to download the new program guide the other night. So watching TV is sort of a challenge now.

Anyone know what would cause the phone to ring and the router to get screwed up everytime we have a thunderstorm with lightning? Also any inexpensive things I can do to protect stuff? I've never seen a phone ring during a thunderstorm before.

Right now I just make sure that all things (TV, computer, router, etc...) are off before I leave everyday.

 

[Willoughbyva]

Yeah I think that lightening would cause those problems.

 

[cavemanmoron]

PSA

do not use a corded phone during a lihtning storm.

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
PSA

do not use a corded phone during a lihtning storm.

Yes you can get shocked during a lightening storm. The only safe way to protect you and sensitive electrical equipment during an electrical storm is 6" of air between the plug and the wall socket.

Thunderstorms

"At home, stay away from water. Do not take a shower or bath. Unplug appliances. Use the telephone only in an emergency."

I have 30+ years in a large Southern RBOC as a Transmission Engineer.

 

[Stumps]

just make sure you don't have your PC connected to the phone line during a storm...I have done so many repairs on PC's where a strike to the phone line has taken out the modem in the PC which in turn has fried the Mobo, when the user has turned on his computer, I personally like storms as they generate so many unfortunate customers afterwards

 

[rh71]

I have Verizon DSL and have frequent drops when it rains. I don't really notice my phone lines getting fuct up for conversation though. It's such a PITA. I didn't imagine everyone was like this. Anyone else with DSL have problems during storms ?

 

[sixone]

I was told by an electrician to tie knots in phone and electric cords. He said if the cord is conducting too much electricity, that it will fry the knot, but not be able to go beyond. I can't tell you from experience whether it works.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: sixone
I was told by an electrician to tie knots in phone and electric cords. He said if the cord is conducting too much electricity, that it will fry the knot, but not be able to go beyond. I can't tell you from experience whether it works.

that sounds kinda fishy to me...but i'm no EE

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: quakefiend420

Originally posted by: sixone
I was told by an electrician to tie knots in phone and electric cords. He said if the cord is conducting too much electricity, that it will fry the knot, but not be able to go beyond. I can't tell you from experience whether it works.

that sounds kinda fishy to me...but i'm no EE

A knot would act as a choke only if the induced current greatly exceeds the capacity of the wire. Burning wire at a pre-determined location is usually successful when you splice a finer gauge wire into the line. Then you just re-splice another cable after the first one vaporizes. This is sometimes called a fuse link.

 

[keldysh]

Call phone company and ask to have carbons check in NID on outside wall. If carbons break down too much DT limits travel downstream and trigger ringer tubes and MOV in dsl modem cause drop of cws and gateway become disconnect which annoy most especially if playing fps game or use VOIP/SSDS svc.