First Steps

If you hear noise on your line, isolate the source of the problem by checking the signal at your Summit Broadband Optical Network Terminal (ONT) or cable phone modem (eMTA).

Plug in a phone directly to a phone jack on the ONT or eMTA and listen. If you still hear the static, then it means the problem is either with our equipment or the lines outside your home. You can stop troubleshooting and chat with us online or give us a call at 877.678.6648 Toll Free (From US Phone Numbers only).

If you don't hear the static, then the problem may be with the wiring in your home or some of your phone equipment such as cordless phones. You can try to troubleshoot this further if you wish.

Issue Persists?

Please follow these suggestions below to try to determine the root cause of the problem.

Look for Simple Fixes

If the signal coming to your home is clear and strong, check the equipment in your home for damage. Your phone, cords or jacks could be the source of the noise.

• Does your phone get noisy when your move the cord? If so, check that the cord. Is it snug, both going into the handset and at the wall? If not, tighten it.
• Check your phone cords for damage. Even small nicks and cuts can cause noise on your line. Replace any damaged cords. If you find a problem with your inside wiring, [contact us] to get your phone wiring and jacks repaired.
• If the problem only happens with one phone, try plugging a different phone into that phone's jack. Next, place a call from the new phone to see if the issue is resolved.

Check Your Calling Features

If the problem happens on all calls and all phones, could the issue be with one of your calling features? It's easy to misinterpret normal call waiting and voice mail tones/beeps as repair issues.

Voice Mail

When you're home and have a new voice mail message, you'll hear a stuttered (or interrupted) dial tone when you pick up the receiver to make a call. This is normal.

Simply check your messages, and the special tone will go away. If you've forgotten how to listen to your messages, read [How to check your voice mail.]

Call Waiting

If you have call waiting, are already on a call, and receive another call, you will hear a beep in your ear. The person you're speaking to won't hear the beep, but you will. In fact, the beep might cause you to miss a bit of the conversation. However, you are still connected to the person you called, and the beep isn't noise on the line.

When you hear the beep, quickly press and release the hang up button to put the first call on hold and answer the second call. Press the hang-up button again to switch between calls.

If you're making a call that you don't want interrupted, you can temporarily turn OFF call waiting. Simply press *70, wait for the dial tone to come back and then dial the number you want to call. (Call waiting automatically reactivates when you hang up.)

Seek out Interference

Basically, any piece of equipment plugged into your phone jacks can act as an antenna and pick up CB or AM/FM broadcasting station frequencies. This creates noise on your line.

Cordless phones are notorious for picking up other people's conversations as well as radio signals. If you have a cordless phone, [read these troubleshooting tips] to figure out what you can do.

If you don't have a cordless phone, do you have an answering machine, caller id box, fax machine or alarm/security system? If so, any (or all) of them could be interfering with your reception.

Test Your Equipment

• Unplug your phones from both their jacks and electrical outlets.
• Unplug any other equipment that uses a jack.
• After you've unplugged all your equipment, wait 1 minute and then plug a corded phone into each outlet. Test one jack at a time.
• You should hear a clear, strong dial tone when you test each outlet. If you don't, make a note of which piece of equipment is plugged in and what you heard when you tested the outlet.

If you're finding interference but don't want to unplug the offending piece of equipment, try installing a radio suppressor or radio/noise filter on your line. This equipment is easy to install and can be purchased at most electronic stores.