Landline phone network connectivity

August 29, 2005 1:56 PM

If a phone number became disconnected from the network due to downed phone lines, what would one hear when trying to call that number?

Currently, calling a landline phone in Mobile, AL gives me what sounds like normal ringing sounds, then a click and no more rings after a minute or two. Could this be the result of network outages? Or does the ringing imply a working connection?

posted by gorillawarfare to Technology (3 answers total)

One *should* hear a re-order tone. That's basically the same tone as "busy" but faster, often called "fast busy".

But that's *only* if the exchange connecting to the broken exchange/line knows the line is bad.
posted by shepd at 3:14 PM on August 29, 2005

Ringing only implies that the switch at the local office _thinks_ the line is working.

A phone line is a closed circuit in all normal cases, with different voltages for different conditions (basically on-hook, off-hook, and ringing). If the line is downed by a tree falling through it, for example, the circuit should go open, and the switch should THEN give you a re-order.

What you're describing sounds more like some kind of switching malfunction, but beyond that it's tough to guess.
posted by autojack at 3:23 PM on August 29, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers. I finally got through, so the urgency behind my question is gone. My dad, whom I was calling, speculates that the phone might've been working perfectly, and he just didn't hear it.
posted by gorillawarfare at 3:42 PM on August 29, 2005