Detecting a DSL signal

Merry Christmas
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sfav8r

Senior Member
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San Francisco Bay Area
Is there a simple way to detect a DSL signal on a line. In this particular case, the line is what I understand to be a "dry loop" meaning there is no telephone service, only DSL. I can usually hear the DSL signal if I listen in, but this line has no phone line to listen in on. Is there some kind of cheap and easy way to detect a signal. Do wome of the hand sets have this now?

Thanks
 
sfav8r said:
Is there a simple way to detect a DSL signal on a line. In this particular case, the line is what I understand to be a "dry loop" meaning there is no telephone service, only DSL. I can usually hear the DSL signal if I listen in, but this line has no phone line to listen in on. Is there some kind of cheap and easy way to detect a signal. Do wome of the hand sets have this now?

Thanks
Click to expand...

A simple butt set connected to a toner wand from the posts on the end will let you intercept most pots line conversation without connecting.
 
480sparky said:
Clip a test set to the line. It should sound like static.
Click to expand...
Unless you set is rated for such use, when you hear the static - you have already shorted the DSL carrier, and the carrier may automaticaly drop you - the static you're hearing is the diagnosic equipment at that point. Or the screams of unhappy customer who has to reconnect.... Short of getting a new butt-set, you can get an adapter thet can install on the leads of your butt-set that acts as a DSL splitter and lights when DSL is present. Or you can get a want specifically made for detecting DSL - and then avoid that line.

Merry X-mas.
 
sfav8r said:
It's the DSL itself I want to test.
Click to expand...
A lap-top and a modem - then connect to a speed test site. Google "DSL speed test" and you get 50 or so sites the test the up-load and down load speeds - pinged and a small data packet sent to various placed in the country.
 
sfav8r said:
Is there a simple way to detect a DSL signal on a line. In this particular case, the line is what I understand to be a "dry loop" meaning there is no telephone service, only DSL. I can usually hear the DSL signal if I listen in, but this line has no phone line to listen in on. Is there some kind of cheap and easy way to detect a signal. Do wome of the hand sets have this now?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I agree with e57, how about a computer and a DSL modem?
 
iwire said:
And a refrigerator keeps things cold. :-?
Click to expand...

I have heard data transmision on many lines I have wanded but I do not know for sure if dsl is in the audible range of a human/cows ears.
The toner wand clipped on the butset is designed to work together. It automatically turns on the wand.
A thermos keeps hot things hot and cold things cold also but how does it know??
 
quogueelectric said:
I have heard data transmision on many lines I have wanded but I do not know for sure if dsl is in the audible range of a human/cows ears.
The toner wand clipped on the butset is designed to work together. It automatically turns on the wand.
Click to expand...
I know it's x-mas - don't make me sic Hal on you. :grin: (a wealth of info on telco, but he'll beat it into you....)

The method you describe is a by-product of poor testing technique. Sure you can hear the signal (When operating) but by then you have dropped the signal due a "short" - the butt-set &/or phone method will short the signal because the equipment on the CO side of the line acts like a circuit breaker - removing the actual signal and disconnecting it from the network equipment when a Plain O' (POTS) phone is directly connected without isolation/filtering. Which is what you are doing with your butt-set. When adding your toner to the mix - you are adding a second power supply to boot. Depending on the carrier you could knock out your customers DSL for 5 minutes to all day! (depending on how, and what you connect to it) Accidently connect to a T-1 you may be rolling out some mulla for equipment damage....

Anyway, some info for the OP.
https://www.ntt-review.jp/archive/ntttechnical.php?contents=ntr200707sf3.html
 
I have seen test sets that say "DSL Safe" which I believe just means that they are high impedance and won't drop the signal. Is there a set that will actuall DETECT THE DSL SIGNAL? I have situations on occasion where the building has multiple lines coming in and I don't know which line is carrying the DSL. Using a computer and a modem and waiting for synch is a bit cumbersom. I'd like to jsut clip on and detect the signal (like the telco does).

Just as a reminder, the particular job I'm talking about now does NOT have a pots...just DSL so I'm nt sure that "listening in" will work.

Thanks
 
The cheapest DSL test sets I know about are still around a grand, and they do little more than tell you that there's a suyc from the DSLAM present and the bit rate. Something like the Harris TS1200. It's a butt set too. Acterna, naturally, makes dedicated ADSL test sets that are more featureful, but at an accordingly higher price. It would be handy if someone made a little box that just clipped on the block that would just light up a light if it managed to get a sync return from the DSLAM. The Embarq guys around here just seem to use a ruggedized laptop computer.
 
sfav8r said:
Just as a reminder, the particular job I'm talking about now does NOT have a pots...just DSL so I'm nt sure that "listening in" will work.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Nor will it - if the data is not active... (mentioned on the link I posted with Type 2 ADSL) As it would be if a modem were connected and transmitting and recieving.

A while back - Harris had a conversion kit for butt-sets. It was a small box that was retro-fitted on the leads of any butt-set, that would filter DSL so that it did not drop, but also lit an LED on the little box when there was a data signal on the line. Harris apparently is now owned by Fluke and I have not been able to find the item, but it was a whole lot cheaper than buying a new butt-set.... Which may be why Harris is now owned by Fluke, and why I can't find it..... :rolleyes:

Kind of like this but better:
http://www.independenttech.com/ITC-6614-DSL.htm

Or it's brother:
http://www.independenttech.com/ITC-6600.htm
 
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e57 said:
Nor will it - if the data is not active... (mentioned on the link I posted with Type 2 ADSL) As it would be if a modem were connected and transmitting and recieving.

A while back - Harris had a conversion kit for butt-sets. It was a small box that was retro-fitted on the leads of any butt-set, that would filter DSL so that it did not drop, but also lit an LED on the little box when there was a data signal on the line. Harris apparently is now owned by Fluke and I have not been able to find the item, but it was a whole lot cheaper than buying a new butt-set.... Which may be why Harris is now owned by Fluke, and why I can't find it..... :rolleyes:

Kind of like this but better:
http://www.independenttech.com/ITC-6614-DSL.htm


Or it's brother:
http://www.independenttech.com/ITC-6600.htm
Click to expand...


Thanks,

Starting with your links I was able to come up with a low-end go/no go tester by Fluke. It is call the Fluke Spotcheck. It's nothing fancy, it just confirms that there is a DSL signal on the line and that it is properly configured. They are $442 at testmart.com. That's about the cheapest thing I can find.
 
e57 said:
I know it's x-mas - don't make me sic Hal on you. :grin: (a wealth of info on telco, but he'll beat it into you....)

The method you describe is a by-product of poor testing technique. Sure you can hear the signal (When operating) but by then you have dropped the signal due a "short" - the butt-set &/or phone method will short the signal because the equipment on the CO side of the line acts like a circuit breaker - removing the actual signal and disconnecting it from the network equipment when a Plain O' (POTS) phone is directly connected without isolation/filtering. Which is what you are doing with your butt-set. When adding your toner to the mix - you are adding a second power supply to boot. Depending on the carrier you could knock out your customers DSL for 5 minutes to all day! (depending on how, and what you connect to it) Accidently connect to a T-1 you may be rolling out some mulla for equipment damage....

Anyway, some info for the OP.
https://www.ntt-review.jp/archive/ntttechnical.php?contents=ntr200707sf3.html
Click to expand...
I am not physically connecting to anything I am totally intercepting the signal through the induction of the wand. Hey try it yourself take a simple buttset and clip the leads on to the two end threaded terminals of toner wand. Call yourself wherever you can find a pots line and hold the toner wand next to the wire and you can intercept the conversation over the wand/buttset combo. It does not short any wires or interfere with any signal it is completely inductive.
 
quogueelectric said:
Call yourself wherever you can find a pots line and hold the toner wand next to the wire and you can intercept the conversation over the wand/buttset combo. It does not short any wires or interfere with any signal it is completely inductive.
Click to expand...

Our Government has done that in the past with underwater communications cables, probably still is. OK not a toner and buttset but inductive coupling.
 
I use a Fluke TS25D
http://www.flukenetworks.com/fnet/e...tcategorycode=DCIT&PID=50075&categorycode=TTS
This test set will tell you if you connect to a DSL line. It also gives you line voltage and loop current.
I will not detect a DSL line that does not have a modem connected. A DSL circuit only has data on it when two devices are communicating. Even if the CO is conditioned for DSL without the modem connected there is no DSL signal. I have a DSL modem with a battery pack for testing if the DSL is turned on. I clip it to the line and check for the DSL sync led to light.
 
sfav8r said:
Thanks,

Starting with your links I was able to come up with a low-end go/no go tester by Fluke. It is call the Fluke Spotcheck. It's nothing fancy, it just confirms that there is a DSL signal on the line and that it is properly configured. They are $442 at testmart.com. That's about the cheapest thing I can find.
Click to expand...

You realize that the item is essentially a battery powered modem?

You might be able to find one of those cheaper... or just a regular one and sort of 'black-box' it yourself with a battery.

Anyway - you say this is for one job/project - seems like a lot to go through to find one line pair???
 
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