The Mystery of the Ghost Calls
Yeah, I know it sounds like some old Nancy Drew novel, but this mystery is driving me batty, and maybe some "detective" out there on the Forum can solve it.
In my home, I have 3 phones connected to one phone line: 2 cordless phones (A base unit w/ answering machine and handset #1 in the living room on the upper level, handset #2 on the lower level in the family room) and 1 corded phone in the bedroom on the upper level. I also have 2 satellite receivers, one printer/fax machine and an internet modem, all normally connected to the phone line. A few weeks ago, I started to get these "ghost" calls in the middle of the night: A single short ring, then nothing, no caller ID, no record of a "missed" call, not really a call at all, just a ring. I called the phone company, but they couldn't find a problem (not a big surprise). The phone tech told me that the problem might be with the cordless phone batteries, so I put new batteries in and, for good measure, replaced handset #2 with a corded phone and turned off the printer. I still got the rings in the middle of the night. I tried disconnecting the corded phone, got the ring on the cordless, tried disconnecting the cordless phone, got the ring on the corded, even tried disconnecting the satellite receivers from the phone line. Finally, I reconnected cordless handset #2 and turned off all the ringers: The corded phone, the two cordless handsets and the cordless base (which has a separate ringer). I confirmed the ringers were off by standing near the base unit while calling my home number with my cell phone. I could see the call being received by the home phone, but there was no sound, not from any of the phones.
Then, about 3 AM this morning, the cordless phone in the living room rings, the same single ring. I immediately confirmed the ringers were still off and confirmed there was no ring when I called. How is this possible?? I can only assume that the phone is faulty or that some glitch in the phone line or power is setting off the ringer even though it's turned off. Anyone have any ideas?
In my home, I have 3 phones connected to one phone line: 2 cordless phones (A base unit w/ answering machine and handset #1 in the living room on the upper level, handset #2 on the lower level in the family room) and 1 corded phone in the bedroom on the upper level. I also have 2 satellite receivers, one printer/fax machine and an internet modem, all normally connected to the phone line. A few weeks ago, I started to get these "ghost" calls in the middle of the night: A single short ring, then nothing, no caller ID, no record of a "missed" call, not really a call at all, just a ring. I called the phone company, but they couldn't find a problem (not a big surprise). The phone tech told me that the problem might be with the cordless phone batteries, so I put new batteries in and, for good measure, replaced handset #2 with a corded phone and turned off the printer. I still got the rings in the middle of the night. I tried disconnecting the corded phone, got the ring on the cordless, tried disconnecting the cordless phone, got the ring on the corded, even tried disconnecting the satellite receivers from the phone line. Finally, I reconnected cordless handset #2 and turned off all the ringers: The corded phone, the two cordless handsets and the cordless base (which has a separate ringer). I confirmed the ringers were off by standing near the base unit while calling my home number with my cell phone. I could see the call being received by the home phone, but there was no sound, not from any of the phones.
Then, about 3 AM this morning, the cordless phone in the living room rings, the same single ring. I immediately confirmed the ringers were still off and confirmed there was no ring when I called. How is this possible?? I can only assume that the phone is faulty or that some glitch in the phone line or power is setting off the ringer even though it's turned off. Anyone have any ideas?
