Odd problem ADSL only works whilst phone in use

Anyone seen this one before ?

My Father-In-Law's Virgin ADSL has just developed a strange problem. It only works when the phone is open on a call, just picking up the phone for the dial-tone isn't sufficient. It has to be an active call, so he has taken to leaving the phone off the hook after receiving a call so that he can use the ADSL for a bit. Virgin seem to be useless and are blaming BT Wholesale.

I have checked the filters etc and it even does the same on my Sister-In-Law's Belkin router which was used to eliminate the Virgin supllied modem.

Any body any ideas.

Thanks,

Paul

Virgin need to send a BT engineer out to fix the line fault.

Is it a specific type of problem ?

Thanks,

Paul

Yes, it's a fault which only BT can fix.

it may be a high resistance joint / partial break in the conductor. Making a call draws current that "heals" the break - google for "wetting current".