Ooma Forums

Hi everyone. I am having a little issue with homedistribution hoping someone can help me solve. I have it setup from modem to ooma to router. I have already disconnected the lines from the box outside also. Everything works perfectly when I plug the phone directly into Ooma. However, when I plug Ooma into the wall and my phone plugged in elsewhere in the house, I am having a bit of a problem. I am still able to dial out from my phone. However, the phone itself does not ring when I call to it while Ooma works. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help!

How much of a load are you putting on the phone line?
The Ooma phone port is limited to 5 REN.
Look on the bottom of your phones to get the REN number and add them all together.
It's best to not have any old style phones with mechanical ringers.

shao wrote:Hi everyone. I am having a little issue with homedistribution hoping someone can help me solve. I have it setup from modem to ooma to router. I have already disconnected the lines from the box outside also. Everything works perfectly when I plug the phone directly into Ooma. However, when I plug Ooma into the wall and my phone plugged in elsewhere in the house, I am having a bit of a problem. I am still able to dial out from my phone. However, the phone itself does not ring when I call to it while Ooma works. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help!

Also make sure that the old phone provider wiring is Really disconnected from the house wiring.

murphy wrote:How much of a load are you putting on the phone line?
The Ooma phone port is limited to 5 REN.
Look on the bottom of your phones to get the REN number and add them all together.
It's best to not have any old style phones with mechanical ringers.

it says REN 0.0 on the bottom of my phone.

thunderbird wrote:

shao wrote:Hi everyone. I am having a little issue with homedistribution hoping someone can help me solve. I have it setup from modem to ooma to router. I have already disconnected the lines from the box outside also. Everything works perfectly when I plug the phone directly into Ooma. However, when I plug Ooma into the wall and my phone plugged in elsewhere in the house, I am having a bit of a problem. I am still able to dial out from my phone. However, the phone itself does not ring when I call to it while Ooma works. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help!

Also make sure that the old phone provider wiring is Really disconnected from the house wiring.

I believe I have. I disconnected the lines in the box outside of the house.

Also, make sure Ooma's "Phone" port is connected to the walljack. Ooma's "Wall" port doesn't do anything.

After reading this someone's post on http://voip.mi-telecom.org/ , I find out that I have new kind of Network Interface Unit that prevents my phone from ringing. It's going to be more difficult than I thought.

lbmofo wrote:Also, make sure Ooma's "Phone" port is connected to the walljack. Ooma's "Wall" port doesn't do anything.

The Ooma I purchased only has phone port.

thunderbird wrote: Also make sure that the old phone provider wiring is Really disconnected from the house wiring.

On my phone box, it's done by unplugging the phone cord from the phone jack at the corner. However, all the phone cords which come out from inside the house need to be connected together.

shao wrote: I believe I have. I disconnected the lines in the box outside of the house.

IMO, I'm not sure what you've done. Maybe a picture of the phone box will help us to help you. From your description, the house wiring needs to be checked, and the outside box is the first to look at.

shao wrote:After reading this someone's post on http://voip.mi-telecom.org/ , I find out that I have new kind of Network Interface Unit that prevents my phone from ringing. It's going to be more difficult than I thought.

Shao, in your case, you'd need to get the wires off the screw terminals (or tabs). Make sure if the wires are connected together via screw (or tabs), they'd need to be together when off the screw (or tabs). Best way is by using butt splice connectors (Scotchlok). Info on the connectors: /viewtopic.php?t=14143#p98651