From: arl_123234@hotmail.com   
      
   On 07/06/2016 12:56 PM, Michael Moroney wrote:   
      
   > "J.B. Wood"  writes:   
   >   
   > I once had almost those exact symptoms, but only on the coldest winter   
   > days. I called the phone co several times and each time they found no   
   > problems after it warmed up.  I finally had to call them pre-emptively   
   > when the weather forecast predicted a really cold day the next day.   
   > They did check the line that day and finally they fixed the problem.   
   >   
   > Also, in my case, if someone called me when it wasn't working, it would   
   > work for a few minutes. I am guessing the ringing voltage blasted through   
   > or warmed up a corroded connection somewhere.   
   >   
      
   Hello, and another reply I got to my OP suggested it might be something   
   broken in the transition from 2-wire to 4-wire as would be done in phone   
   line repeaters.  IOW, the upstream (me to calling party) is being   
   severely attenuated while the downstream is OK.  That would account for   
   voice frequencies (speaking and DTMF) of insufficient level by the time   
   they get to the CO.  Despite the fact that the DC current loop from the   
   CO appears to be intact.  I wouldn't be surprised if routine maintenance   
   has fallen by the wayside with the telco wishing these old all-copper   
   circuits would just fade away.  Sincerely,   
      
   --   
   J. B. Wood	            e-mail: arl_123234@hotmail.com   
      
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