A question for anyone who is good with routers and internet.

What does it mean when my internet goes out when someone is calling me, or I'm using the phone? Sometimes it will happen just when the phone rings. Sometimes it comes back on a minute or so later, and sometimes it stays off until I make a phone call, or someone else phones me.

Thanks

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Northwest · M Best Comment

What kind of Internet service do you have? From the phone company? From the cable company?

Bri89 · 31-35, M

@Northwest Frontier Communications. Yes, it is a landline and internet together.

Northwest · M

@Bri89 If you have what's called DSL service, there's a possibility that the installer messed up and did not install the proper filters.

The DSL signal and the voice signal travel on the same line, but to insure that they don't both go to the phone, the technician is supposed to install a filter to cut off the DSL signal before it sends it to the phone.

If it's not properly installed, when you pick your phone, or get a call, there could be a spike that crosses between the two worlds.

This is not related to your "router" specifically. You should call Verizon and they will be able to ask you the right questions.

Bri89 · 31-35, M

@Northwest Thank you. I'll make the call tomorrow, but I still wonder why this would happen as I didn't have an issue with it up until yesterday.

Thanks for the advice.

Northwest · M

@Bri89 Who knows. Filters do fail. I am guessing based on the limited information provided here. Frontier used to be in my area, but they pulled out of the market a few years, so I don't know what they're doing these days, or how old your installation may be.

Bri89 · 31-35, M

@Northwest It was first installed in 2019. Sorry for the limited information. I'm never good at explaining things clearly.

Northwest · M

@Bri89 It's OK, you're a user not a technician. In any case, if it's DSL, and unless they have multiple lines connecting your home to the central office (or neighborhood multiplexer), then it's about 99% possibility that both voice and DSL signals are on the same line. So, the technician installs a splitter with filters and sends traffic in different directions.

I am assuming you have regular phone service. If it's a package you got from Frontier (voice and data on the same plan), then this may a different issue.