Telecom and IT Knowledgebase Articles from the Telecom Experts at sandman.com

Learn basic troubleshooting techniques that can help you save time diagnosing and fixing telephone and network equipment.

These are the AC, DC, Current and Circuit Loss readings you need to take to figure out why a phone line is doing strange stuff. It's what we fill out on every service call where there's a strange problem!
Start by filling out this PDF chart to diagnose strange problems!

Learn how to use a DVOM to take the readings from our Telephone Line Diagnostic Table accurately.

Fix "Unfixable" problems caused by irregular loop current and circuit loss

Why won't your phone ring? Learn about ring voltage and how to measure AC ring voltage with a digital volt meter.

All the things you can try to eliminate echo on a VoIP system, improve DTMF digit recognition and make a modem or fax machine communicate.

How to fix intermittent fire alarm phone line trouble alarms caused by low voltage

What is a noise cancelling handset and how do they work?

Push-to-Talk handsets are required in many secure environments. How do they work?

In a noisy environment, an amplified handset may not be your best bet... Here's why...

Learn to quickly and professionally install low voltage mounting brackets with our LV Template

Details on our Maximum Lightning Protection (MLP) product line of surge protectors for voice and data lines

Tips to help you decide if you should install lightning protection on your new phone system installations.

A bad ground can be very expensive in a lightning storm!

A bad ground can cause all kinds of strange problems as well as allowing surges to blow your equipment up

When you're fighting a problem, do you assume your AC power is OK?

There are some easy ways to determine whether AC Power or the AC Ground is causing your problems.

Fix hum and strange unfixable problems

If you still use a modem, learn how to protect it with our modem protector.

Eliminate Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) on phones, headsets, handsets and ethernet equipment.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Troubleshooting Flow Chart (PDF)

Diagrams showing possible placement for radio frequency eliminators

Fix problems on phone lines coming from fake phone line boxes, like cable company, fiber optic, uverse, fios, VoIP and other fake phone lines

Learn about data noise issues that commonly occur with IP office systems, noise that you can hear and some you can't.

How to troubleshoot Cordless Phone and other wireless problems, including DECT phones that can reduce interference

Common causes of hum on your phone line, and solutions to help fix it.

Things to check, step by step, to find the cause of hum on analog phone lines or station ports

Tips for solving crackling static on analog phone lines and analog station ports.

Troubleshooting Calling Party Control (CPC) Problems

How to Find and Fix Crosstalk on Analog Phone Lines and Station Ports

Fix the problem where the two outside parties can't hear each other on a conference call, or when transferred out of the system on a second line using the system's External Call Transfer feature

Making the Magic Jack work with more than one phone, or old phones with real bells

Explains how the different message waiting types work

The secret meaning of Hearing Aid Compatibility

Can you troubleshoot phone problems remotely or do you have to send out a technician?

Things to Think About BEFORE Switching to VoIP... a list of quirks you're likely to run into trying to make VoIP work... Read it now, or live it later!

A quick checklist for both homes and businesses to consider when switching to VoIP phone lines.

Tips to help you get your fax machine working with your VoIP ATA or Gateway.

It doesn't take much to stop a VoIP system connected to the Internet... How can you protect it?

Trying to use QoS to improve your VoIP calls? It may or may not help!

How do you keep your VoIP packets from NEVER travelling over the public internet... so they always sound great?

Tips on how to fix Caller ID problems. Includes things to check when it works on a cheap Caller ID box, but won't work on the expensive phone system. DON'T Replace the KSU first!

Analog Telephony... How We Got Here, and What's Happening Now?

How to get a phone system to do something it wasn't made to do...

How to determine what type of plugs you have, and crimp them properly.

How to make any serial (RS-232) connection work in 10 minutes!

Don't forget to test your emergency alert systems!

Some tips to see how your call sounds from the other end.

How do you see those BLOCKED or PRIVATE numbers on CallerID, and how to stop robo callers.

What is sidetone, and why do you need it?

If you think your phone line is tapped or bugged, what do you do?

How call accounting logs can help you detect and fix strange problems with your phone system.

Tips on how to extend the range of your T1

Unique photos and information on the history of the telephone.

How sandman.com got started - the hookswitch story

Repair bad dials, keystrips and remote control buttons

Tips for repairing Merlin and Spirit membranes

Cleaning Kit Instructions to make used Phones and Computers look like new!

Refurbishing your Own Phones, Computers and Tools is Easy and Profitable!

Instructions for using a burnishing tool to fix sticking dials and clean electrical contacts.

What chance does your company have of deflecting hackers if nobody else seems to be able to?

Cell phone companies are forcing you to get emergency weather and government notifications at all times of the day or night - unless you know how to turn if off...

How to run DOS programs on Windows 7/8/10 and Other Handy Windows Tips

Why There's No Way to Secure your Company Data, and What to Do About It

When the heat comes on in the fall, the air dries out and static electricity comes alive

Check your phone and voicemail systems for these types of vulnerabilities!

Dial-Around 1010 codes can solve problems with call quality, faxes and modems

Why we still make things in the USA, and why does it matter to your business?

"Why my phones (and other things) don't work right"

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