"Tough Tech Trivia for $1,000 Alex"

Rootstonian · November 17th, 2008, 07:40 PM

Never happened before according to the Mrs.

The Story:
A while back I hooked-up our Canon MP-780 (multi function printer) to receive/transmit faxes; phone line of course. I couldn't get it to work...I just needed it for one day.

Ever since then (again, according to the Mrs.) EVERYTIME the phone rings and she is surfing and goes to another page, she gets the "Page not found" (or such) error.

The Facts:
We are not on dial-up (Roadrunner Cable line)
The phone cord is removed from the printer and unplugged on the house jack
She is wireless G
The phone is cordless (but the ring isn't, right; and it worked before)
There is nothing "phone-wise" connected to that computer or printer
The wireless router is in my office; I have no phone in my office

The Solution:
I have no idea...I called her nuts till I just sat down and watched it.

Let the games begin!!!!!

My first stab is going to be to delete the printer and reinstall. But, feel free to chime in because this is really bizarre!

JPMiller · November 17th, 2008, 08:29 PM

2.4 GHz phone signals, and microwaves can interupt a "G" wireless signal
everything else is just coincidence...

it wont hurt to uninstall the printer, but it wont affect your issue

KarmaKiller · November 17th, 2008, 08:36 PM

JP said the first thing that came to my mind. We've had problems before with our 2.4Ghz phone and Wifi in our house. I think mainly because I had them sitting pretty close to each other, but I really didn't know one would affect the other.
After some research, (probably on here, not gonna lie

) I went out and got a different phone, and the problems quit.
So that would be my suggestion, or you could just step up to wireless N.

Rootstonian · November 17th, 2008, 08:39 PM

I thought I brought this up in the OP...same phone, same computer. The problem DID NOT happen till I tried the fax setup. And it's on the RING...are you guys telling me the ring is transmitted? The phone was on the receiver when she showed it to me.

Oh, are you saying the problem has been there all along, it's just NOW that she happens to be on the computer when the phone rings? And the printer setup was (I love this term) a "mutually exlcusive" event? Hmmm...

Acid test at this point is to probably unplug the phone and try to duplicate

KarmaKiller · November 17th, 2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rootstonian

I thought I brought this up in the OP...same phone, same computer. The problem DID NOT happen till I tried the fax setup. And it's on the RING...are you guys telling me the ring is transmitted? The phone was on the receiver when she showed it to me.

Oh, are you saying the problem has been there all along, it's just NOW that she happens to be on the computer when the phone rings? And the printer setup was (I love this term) a "mutually exlcusive" event? Hmmm...

Acid test at this point is to probably unplug the phone and try to duplicate

Hmm.. Good points. And I guess I missed part of your first post.

I would probably try a system restore myself. See what happens. If it's driver related, I would think the system restore would take care of that. But I'm lazy sometimes..

Rootstonian · November 17th, 2008, 08:50 PM

Well, my 2 friends, you are dead on. I unplugged the phone from the wall; it's about 5 feet from computer. Called the house...no problem...plugged it back it, it rang and BOOM! Down goes her signal. ROFL. Good call. +$1,000 to each.

Now, will a wireless N card in her computer fix this (I have wireless N router) or should we go to the 5.x Ghz phone?

Too funny!

Roots

Rootstonian · November 17th, 2008, 08:51 PM

Oh no! Sorry Karma...you lose the $1,000...all goes to JP Miller for the win.

Final Jeopardy tomorrow

JPMiller · November 17th, 2008, 08:57 PM

wooohoo!!

yeah, the options are to get a 5.x phone, OR the wireless N card, but not both...
I MAY be wrong but isnt the N affected by the 5.x wireless?

KarmaKiller · November 17th, 2008, 09:04 PM

Doh!
Never second guess yourself, moral of the story.

When we had our wireless N lappy (after I got the new phone btw) we never experienced any problems. BUT, I also moved the phone base to the other end of the house from the router, so that may have prevented some (if any) issues. We have since sold our Dell, otherwise I'd run in and test it right now.
AFAIK though, wireless N has no problems running with 2.4Ghz phones.

EDIT:
BUT, getting a new phone is probably gonne be helluva lot cheaper.

Rootstonian · November 17th, 2008, 09:21 PM

Well, we've been talking (me and the missus). Deal for now is as long as it's not a huge problem then we'll leave it as is.

Funny thing is it only "shorts out" signal on the RING....she can pick up and talk and surf ok.

Wireless N card is out; checked them and they're at 2.4 Ghz too.

And she won't let me drill more holes in the house to run a hardwire back to her (no basement, about a 70 foot run). Thing is, this past summer, I ran the RoadRunner cable back to my office (hence the "no more holes in the house" deal) LMAO.

So, best options are: 1. to put a wired phone in the kitchen on the wall mount and move the wireless PHONE (i'm not giving up my gigabit network back here!!) back to my office or 2. just get a 5.x Ghz for the kitchen.