Prevent Telephone Electricity overload

[Big Booger]

My mom just got the trusty old PC zapped through the telephone dialup connection..

She will be getting some new components shortly and I am wondering if there is some kind of surge protector for the telephone connection between the PC and telephone jack? Also what kind of power surge protector do you all recommend? I know some of you are certified electricians so I shall respect your opinion and will use it to adise my mother.
Thanks for any responses.

[Conan]

There are phone line voltage regulators available. On my set-up, one of my UPS boxes has a phone line jack. The newer ones should all have this.

[Big Booger]

That is the exact thing I am looking for. Any suggestions on brand, model, etc...

Looking for a surge protector that has the built in phone line regulator and comes with a suitable warranty in case the protection fails.

Open to suggestions. What are you all using personally?

[FastGame]

Hey I always get lots of repairs (phone line blows PC) after the storms in Michigan, in most cases just the modem is blown. Guess Mother got it real bad :(

I have This one (http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11078934&m=488&cat=575&scat=576) and it works great but there is one draw back :( the storm blew out the tele jacks on my first one & you can't reset (or mine didn't auto reset ??) them like the power side so I had to take it back and they gave me a new one.

Get a good one over 2,000 joules, as Mother would say...don't skimp on me you little booger....hehe

[Big Booger]

good information that I'll be sure to pass along.

[PIPER]

BB....you might consider investing in a modem that has onboard surge protection as a backup....Zoom makes one that is reasonably priced. APC is a good brand for battery back up as well as surge protection and they offer $25,000.00 equipment replacement if their products fail. Just a thought.

[Big Booger]

Thanks Piper. APC sounds like a ringer. And a modem with onboard surge protection I never even knew it existed. :D I am almost sure she will need a new modem, so I am going to research the zoom product offerings and I'll let you all know where we come out in the end.

Any more suggestions before we take the plunge and purchase?

[Reverend]

IMO,Belkin make the best surge protectors.They are very popular over here in the UK. Mainly due to their excellent support service and warranties.

Check out some of these ones.
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=72&pcount=&Product_Id=20257

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=72&pcount=&Product_Id=20211

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=72&pcount=&Product_Id=20313

Main Belkin catalog here (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=72)

[PIPER]

Rev is correct on the belkin products...they also carry good warranty coverage....we furnish that line with Dell sales...they also back their products with Big Buck coverage.

[Big Booger]

I just phoned my mom, and told her to pick up a Belkin Surge protector and to check the joules rating and make sure it is close to 2000.

I also told her to check on modems at best buy that offer the onboard surge protection.

Hopefully this won't happen again. Live and learn.

[PIPER]

http://www.zoom.com/products/internal-modems.html

BB.
link for you to check out the Zoom line...most offer the lightning portection..

[Big Booger]

thanks Piper. Checking Zoom out right now.
:D

[zErO]

My UPS has telephone surge protection, I went for one that would offer me built-in ethernet protection. When I first got it I was a little worried about line degradation effecting my dsl connection. But after a few line speed tests I was quite assured that there was very little or no degradation at all running from the UPS to pc.

[FastGame]

Thanks PIPER for the Zoom links :)

Ok which of those modems at the link is the best one ? are they better than the Creative V90 Modem Blaster ?

I like that ZoomGuardTM lightning protection idea ;)

[Dehcbad25]

Wow, those were really fast answers. Anyways, they all gave you great suggestions. A good surge protector is essential, and good surge protectors will come with the telephone line plug on them. Some even bring coaxial connection too for the cable.
I know you cannot get them at CompuSA for exmple the maximun Joules I had seen there was 750.
For protection of the PC I would use a surge protector and an UPS. The surge protector to protect the UPS, and the UPS to protect agains sags. I had 2 yesterday alone, and it was quite difficult to restar the PC, since my PSU will block when that happens, in order to avoid damagind components. Nice feature.

[PIPER]

Model 3025 is the one that i had prior to my cable connection being installed. I live in Florida...lightning Capitol of the World...lol....never had a problem...but i always run surge protection as well...better safe than sorry.

[zipp51]

I've got one called Spikemaster that has coaxial in and out as well as phone line in and out pretty heavy duty and about $60.I like the sound of the Zoom modem built in surge protection though.