Telephone line: is there anything I can do? (connect, outlet, jack)

[joeman]

I've moved into a new place, there is one phone jack (with two recepticles). The phone works in the top receptical, but if you plug it in the bottom one, you get no dial tone, and the phone spells out a message "line in use".

I have no idea what all of this means, but now I cannot use my new printer/fax machine, because there is not another phone jack to plug it into! Anyone who is savvy about these things, how do you add a (working) phone jack next to an existing one? (or get the bottom one to work?).
Should I call an electrician? The phone Co.? Is this a possible do-it-yourself project? Is there such thing as a 'splitter' like you an do if you want to plug two electronic devices into one outlet?

thanks.

[southgeorgia]

yes there is a splitter.


google search results

The second jack on your wallplate may not be connected.

If you want to take a picture of the reverse side of the jack and post it, I'll look at it for you.

[Flamingo13]

The place you moved into may have had two phone lines coming in (thus the dual "outlet") as the previous posted said, just get a splitter - I've used them. Used to have dial-up and had one phone jack but needed the computer, printer, fax, etc.

[harry chickpea]

Cheap splitters are available at Radio Shack and big box stores. Cost should be under $2.

[Tek_Freek]

Most printer/fax machines have dual/triple phone connections on the back. You plug the outlet line into the fax then add a second line from the fax to the phone. Pay attention to which is which because the connections are specific.

Go into setup and tell the fax machine to check the line at every call and answer if a fax "tone" is heard and ignore the call if not. This will allow the phone to get the non-fax call.