Verizon box in my furnace room is beeping, how to make it stop
bethelonia
Enthusiast - Level 2

I do not have Verizon Fios for my cable etc. but the previous tenant did.  In the mechanical room on the patio is a Verizon box that looks like the pictures below.  It has lots of lights on it and they are mostly green but one labeled FAIL is blinking red and the box beeps about every five minutes (I think, I haven't timed it).  This has been going on for months now.  I tried calling Verizon but (of course) didn't have any success there.  Maybe it's because I started out with "I don't have an account with you, but...." Once they sort of understood what I was trying to explain they wanted to transfer me to another department (even though I called the number printed on the box) and of course that's when I got cut off.  I don't want to try again....I just want to make the beeping stop, hopefully without possibly cutting off the service to other units in the building.  Anyone got any suggestions?  (In the picture the FAIL red light is not on but that is only because it blinks and was off when I snapped the picture)image

image

0 Likes
1 Solution

Correct answers
Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - One Final Longshot Suggestion
lacticacidtrip
Specialist - Level 1

Okay, now I understand the source of the confusion. We couldn't understand why you didn't just unplug it. Most interior installations look similar to this:

image

In which case you can just unplug the AC cord, disconnect the battery, and the alarms go silent. But either your ONT is wired differently, or at least the installer hid the AC cord where you cannot see how it attaches (possibly by poking it through the wall). So if you cannot find an electrical plug that looks like this and is marked "Telco Use Only Do Not Remove", I will list two alternative ways to "unplug" the box.

The first is to look on the right side of your box where the AC cord disappears in the pic above (about half-way up). You should see an attachment that looks like this:

image

Pull it out.

If you cannot find this attachment, open up the box cover where you found the battery. It should look like this:

image

Pull out the two-prong plug shown in the red circle.

Either of these two methods will also disable the ONT. Don't forget to unplug the battery as well, or it will continue to sound the alarm until it is completely drained.

Let me know if you still need more info. Good Luck!

(If you are still seeing three yellow triangles above instead of pictures, just wait a while and check back (refresh). They may still be awaiting a moderator's approval.)

View solution in original post

Re: Verizon box in my furnace room is beeping, how to make it stop
lacticacidtrip
Specialist - Level 1

Hi bethelonia,

While I'm not an expert in all things Verizon, I believe that each apartment unit should have its own ONT (that's the name of the box in the picture). When I look at your pictures, I notice that this does not appear to be a properly functioning box. More specifically, it appears that this box is not communicating with the network. This would lead me to believe that it is indeed a non-functioning box that has been left there by the previous tenant. It would probably be fine if you pop open the hinged cover to the upper part of the box (see pull tab off to the left side beneath the buttons and lights), unplug the battery wires from the unit, close the cover and unplug the box. This should shut the box completely off and stop it from beeping.

Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - Battery Related Options
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@bethelonia wrote:

I do not have Verizon Fios for my cable etc. but the previous tenant did ... the box beeps about every five minutes ... I just want to make the beeping stop ...  Anyone got any suggestions? ...


Usually any beep from the ONT indicates a battery issue.  Since you don't use VZ service or equipment, just unplug any AC cords associated with these devices to eliminate any activity.  There may be sufficient power remaining in the battery to allow the alerts for a while, but that will eventually disappear.

Note that a problem may arise if your device is "hard-wired" into your AC electrical system, and that's possible since your photos only show standard household wiring cable connected to the device.  In that case there may be a separate circuit breaker on the electrical panel that controls the device.

For your reading pleasure here's an older thread that discusses your issue and your particular device.  It's quite long, but it will give you further insight into the situation and what other users have done to address the problem.

http://businessforums.verizon.net/t5/FiOS-Internet/Battery-Backup-beeping-and-in-the-Red/m-p/231532

Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - Battery Related Options
bethelonia
Enthusiast - Level 2

Thanks so much for these helpful replies!  You inspired me to investigate further and upon doing so I discovered that THIS is what is making the beeping noise:

image

Obviously it is a battery!  I would assume it needs to be replaced, but I certainly won't do so since I don't even use the Verizon service.  So....what can I do to it to make it stop?  I could just hide it in a closet somewhere, or I could dispose of it, but I am reluctant to do so since it's not really mine.  More suggestions please!

Thanks so much!

Beth

0 Likes
Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - Battery Related Options
lacticacidtrip
Specialist - Level 1

Hi Beth,

The battery itself should not be making the noise. It is just a battery. The ONT is making the noise, possibly because the battery is low or dead. There are only two ways to make the noise stop. Follow the instructions above (unplug the battery from the ONT and unplug the ONT from the outlet), OR replace the battery.

The picture of the battery just became visible. You do not have to remove the battery from the unit, as long as it is unplugged, it can remain within the ONT.

Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - One Final Longshot Suggestion
armond_in_nj1
Master - Level 1

@bethelonia wrote:

...  I discovered that THIS is what is making the beeping noise: ... Obviously it is a battery!  ... So....what can I do to it to make it stop?  ... More suggestions please! ... 


As all earlier writers have stated, the noise you hear is due to a faulty battery.  However contrary to your statement, the battery itself is not making the noise.  Batteries are used to power devices that themselves may be able to make noise.  A typical example is the transistor radio (those not steeped in 20th century lore can substitute "iPod" for "transistor radio").

In the present case, the noise-making device is an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) Model SFH ONT 612A.  To silence this device, one must either repair the defect that is causing the noise (i.e., replace the battery, a route you have rejected), or somehow render the ONT incapable of making the noise by removing its power source (unplug the device as all writers have suggested or as suggested by another writer, disconnect the battery; this route you have also rejected).

The writers to this thread have made detailed suggestions to (1) disable the battery, (2) remove power from the battery, (3) remove power from all Verizon devices, etc.   These suggestions, alone or in combination, will give the results you desire as long as you unplug the ONT.  I've also researched a link that discusses what others have done to solve an issue identical to yours.  In addition you've stated that you earlier contacted Verizon, were not satisfied with the result, and do not wish to contact Verizon in the future.

Since none of the above ideas meets with your approval, perhaps the only thing left is a set of high quality ear plugs.

Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - One Final Longshot Suggestion
bethelonia
Enthusiast - Level 2

I vote for this last reply as Most Funny!  Thanks, you have a great sense of humor 🙂

As you have all noted, it is, alas, not the battery making the beep!  I thought it was, it sounded like it came directly from that battery, but then later dang if the other thing didn't beep again even without a battery in it!  I have (as suggested) looked for a way to unplug the whole contraption but did not find a way.  Maybe it is, as someone suggested, wired directly into something like the AC or whatever.  I will keep looking for a way to unplug it though.

I did not reject contacting Verizon about this.....they rejected me!  They put me on hold and then the line went dead.  What I refused to do is contact them AGAIN and risk further rejection.  As I was on hold with them it came to me why I decided to go with Cox rather than Verizon FIOS when I moved in here, even though Verizon was making some awfully tempting deals available.....it was because I remembered hearing from friends how horrible Verizon's customer service is!  Deal breaker!

So anyway, thanks everybody.....I appreciate the short course in how this Verizon stuff works and will continue to pursue a solution on my own.  Actually, the beeping doesn't bother me that much, but I worry a little that the upstairs neighbor might get a little miffed by it when they are sitting out on their balcony.

Thanks again!

Beth

0 Likes
Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - One Final Longshot Suggestion
bethelonia
Enthusiast - Level 2

P.S. to Armond......I DID disconnect the battery, how else could I take a picture of it sitting on a table?  And that's where it continues to sit, yet the beeping continues!

Oh and BTW, I used to have a transistor radio, now I use my "smart" phone just as if it were a transistor radio 🙂

0 Likes
Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - One Final Longshot Suggestion
bethelonia
Enthusiast - Level 2

Ok, here's what I did now:  I put the battery back in (based on reading the four pages linked to me by Armond, thanks!) and indications are that the battery is fine!  The "replace battery" light is not on!  What IS on is the FAIL light on the big lower box, and then it says if the FAIL red light is on that indicates "daignostic test failure" and if the red light is flashing, which it is, that indicates "passed test, not communicating".

So clearly it has passed the test but is not communicating!  A situation which apparently calls for a periodic beep!

I have looked all around and determined that there is no way to unplug the unit from electricity.

Any more suggestions that do not require Verizon to respond to my pleas, and are not ear plugs?

Thanks,

Beth

0 Likes
Re: Verizon box ... is beeping - One Final Longshot Suggestion
lacticacidtrip
Specialist - Level 1

Okay, now I understand the source of the confusion. We couldn't understand why you didn't just unplug it. Most interior installations look similar to this:

image

In which case you can just unplug the AC cord, disconnect the battery, and the alarms go silent. But either your ONT is wired differently, or at least the installer hid the AC cord where you cannot see how it attaches (possibly by poking it through the wall). So if you cannot find an electrical plug that looks like this and is marked "Telco Use Only Do Not Remove", I will list two alternative ways to "unplug" the box.

The first is to look on the right side of your box where the AC cord disappears in the pic above (about half-way up). You should see an attachment that looks like this:

image

Pull it out.

If you cannot find this attachment, open up the box cover where you found the battery. It should look like this:

image

Pull out the two-prong plug shown in the red circle.

Either of these two methods will also disable the ONT. Don't forget to unplug the battery as well, or it will continue to sound the alarm until it is completely drained.

Let me know if you still need more info. Good Luck!

(If you are still seeing three yellow triangles above instead of pictures, just wait a while and check back (refresh). They may still be awaiting a moderator's approval.)