I don’t hear a dial tone on my Bell Home phone line

Troubleshooting your phone

If there’s no dial tone on your Bell Home phone:

• Be sure all your telephone sets are plugged in and properly hung up.
• Check to see if your phone will work in another jack on the same phone line.
• If possible, try another telephone (preferably not a cordless phone as these can pick up interference).
• Unplug all your equipment from the jacks on that phone line and try one phone on its own (this ensures that no other equipment is causing the problem).

If the problem isn’t with your phone, the problem may be with the wiring or jacks inside your home or with the Bell network.

You can find the source of the problem by testing your wiring from the network interface device (NID).

You can also call our repair department at 6-1-1 from any Bell landline or *611 from any Bell Mobile phone. If you don’t have access to a Bell phone line, you can call 310-BELL (2355) from any phone (area code not required).

Last Update:26/04/2013

What is the NID?

The network interface device (NID) defines the point at which you become responsible for the phone wiring within your home. Bell Canada is responsible for providing and maintaining service up to the point of the NID.

The NID contains something called a demarcation jack that is on the part of the line outside your home (and for which Bell is responsible). You can use this jack to test your phone line.

Last Update:26/04/2013

How to locate the NID

The NID is generally a grey box on the outside of your home. If the wiring was installed in your home before 1988, then you will likely have a grey or black telephone protector box located inside your home, and the demarcation jack will be located within 1 metre of this box.

In a multi-unit or multi-storey building (such as an apartment building), the demarcation point is at the main jack (the first point of entry) inside each unit. The main jack will be labelled Demarcation or Verification.

If you can’t find a demarcation jack, you can call our repair department at 6-1-1 from any Bell landline or *611 from any Bell Mobile phone. If you don’t have access to a Bell phone line, you can call 310-BELL (2355) from any phone (area code not required).

Last Update:26/04/2013

How to test your wiring from the NID

1. Disconnect the cord connected to the demarcation jack. This will disconnect the wiring inside your home from the Bell network.
2. Plug a phone that you know is working properly into the demarcation jack.

Do you hear a dial tone with the phone plugged into the demarcation jack?

No. If there’s still no dial tone then the problem is with the Bell network. Call our repair department at 6-1-1 from any Bell landline or *611 from any Bell Mobile phone. If you don’t have access to a Bell phone line, you can call 310-BELL (2355) from any phone (area code not required).

Yes. Then the problem is with your inside wiring, jacks or another phone. Learn more.

Last Update:26/04/2013

What to do if it’s an inside wiring problem

• Call us at 6-1-1 from any Bell landline or *611 from any Bell Mobile phone. If you don’t have access to a Bell phone line, you can call 310-BELL from any phone (area code not required). Note: you may be charged if you need inside wiring repaired.
• Call a non-Bell contractor. Contractors can be found online, in the Yellow Pages and telephone directory.
• Troubleshoot why you’re not getting a dial tone yourself by referring to these steps for identifying inside wiring problems.

Note: If you have a party line or your service terminates on a hardwired phone, then Bell will repair inside wiring as part of your basic service.

Last Update:26/04/2013