FAQ

Please follow these steps to resolve a no dial tone situation:

  • Determine what the caller is hearing when they dial your number: do they hear a busy signal, get voicemail or hear continuous ringing? If the caller hears a busy signal or goes straight to voicemail follow steps 2 and 3. If the caller hears continuous ringing, please call DRN for service.
  • Unplug all telephones from the phone jack. Also unplug any modems, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines that are plugged in to any jacks in the house or extensions in other buildings.
  • Plug in one telephone that is not a cordless telephone. If you hear dial tone this indicates the telephone line is OK and one of the other devices is shorting the line inside your home. Plug in one telephone at a time checking for dial tone each time until you find the device which is causing the short on your line.

The phone line from DRN is connected to your home through a device called a NID which is mounted on the outside of your home. To eliminate inside wiring as a problem, you can plug a single line phone into the NID. To do this, first locate the NID on the outside of your home. It is normally a screw type of enclosure. Open the NID. Remove the modular plug from the test jack and insert the modular plug from the telephone you have brought outside with you.

  • If you can hear dial tone, the problem is in the wiring inside your home. DRN will charge to fix your in home wiring unless you have purchased the TIPP+ plan from DRN.
  • If you can not hear dial tone, please call the DRN to report this outage.

Please collect the following information for DRN:

  • When did you first notice the trouble?
  • Record the dates and times this occurred.
  • Record how long you have to wait for dial tone. 1-2 seconds, 5 seconds, or longer.
  • What type of telephone are you using when this occurs – cordless or corded phone?
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Ask the other party to try a different phone if they have one.
  • Try a different phone if you have one and disconnect the one you were just using.
  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • Wiggle telephone cord and make sure it is secure.
  • If above steps do not resolve the noise:
    • Please monitor if the noise is on incoming calls, outgoing Calls, or both.
    • Monitor if it is happening only when a specific party calls you.
    • Monitor if it is on local calls, long distance calls, or both.
    • Monitor if it is happening during certain weather conditions.
    • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Note: Noise could be coming from incoming calls and/or cordless phones which DRN has no control over.

Complete the following Steps:

  • If you have no dial tone, see instructions for NO DIAL TONE.
  • If you have dial tone but can’t call desired party, see LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE PROBLEMS.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Verify that the volume is turned up on your telephone receiver.
  • Ask the caller to try using a different phone, if they have one.
  • Try a different phone if you have one and disconnect the one you were just using.
  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • If above steps do not resolve the hearing problem, please continue by:
    • Monitoring if the problem is on incoming calls, outgoing calls, or both.
    • Monitor if it is happening during certain weather conditions.
    • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Note: Problem could be coming from incoming calls and/or cordless phones which DRN has no control over.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Try a different phone if you have one and disconnect the one you were using.
  • Ask the person you called to try another phone if they have one.
  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • If above steps do not resolve the hearing problem, please continue by:
    • Monitor if the problem is on incoming calls, outgoing calls, or both.
    • Monitor if it is happening during certain weather conditions.
    • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Note: Problem could be the long distance carrier or other persons equipment which DRN has no control over.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Try a different phone if you have one and disconnect the one you were using.
  • Ask the person you called to try another phone if they have one.
  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • Wiggle telephone cord to test for bad cord or bad connection.
  • If above steps do not resolve the problem, please continue:
    • To monitor if the problem is on incoming calls, outgoing calls, or both.
    • Monitor if it is happening during certain weather conditions.
    • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Note: Problem could be the long distance carrier or other persons equipment which DRN has no control over.

Please call the DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Check ringer on your phone. See the Off / On switch.
  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Unplug all equipment plugged into the jacks. This includes all the following
    • Telephones, answering machines, satellite dish receivers, fax machines, and modems.
    • Please note: This also includes equipment and telephones for off premise extensions.
  • Plug the equipment back in making sure all connections are secure.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Go through voicemail set up.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Go through feature set up. Feature instructions and explanations are in the front of your phone book.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Verify you have dialed the number correctly by trying it again.
  • Verify if you have been given the correct number to dial.
  • Try dialing the number on a different phone as phones can have a bad dial or a bad (sticking) button.
  • If using speed dial, verify you have the number set up correctly in speed dial.
  • If dialing long distance, make sure you are dialing 1 + area code + number.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692.

Complete the following Steps:

  • Contact your Long Distance Carrier to verify you have an active Account set up. Unpaid toll bills can result in Long Distance Carriers canceling that part of your telephone service.
  • Have you selected a carrier at DRN? Or are you still on Local Service and/or have requested Toll Blocks?
  • If problem still has not been determined,
    • Document where you are having trouble calling so DRN can help determine if Local or Long Distance problem.
    • Problem with all calls or just a particular one?
    • Try dialing a neighbor to see if the call goes thru.
  • Call DRN at 701-344-5000 or 1-877-559-4692. For an understanding of Long Distance LATAs and EAS, see the front of your phone book.