Faulty cordless phone - REN number ?

Was the router you tried at your house hers or yours? The only time I have known an ADSL router to contribute *any* DC load on the line is after it has been zapped by lightening.

As for the phone base unit, yes a leaky capacitor is a possibility, maybe caused by storm damage. Is the line-cord the original one? One borrowed from another device might not be electrically the same, but I wouldn't expect that to cause the symptoms you describe.

REN is not really an issue with locally powered devices, in fact it hasn't been much of an issue since the demise of electromechanical bells.

nd BT wireless router were misbehaving.

prit in that it was loading the line too heavily - confirmed when I got hom e as it did exactly the same here. If it was the only item on the line it was OK, but add the router or the second phone and it either gave a waa/waa noise, or it a message saying 'Try re-dialling', or a silence with a dista nt clicking.

that perhaps there's a capacitor that's gone leaky. Anyone met this befor e with a phone ?

Many thanks guys - being able to *sound* knowledgeable (but not actually ha ving the knowledge !) is more than half the battle in this sort of situatio n. The lady is happy as she has a phone and router that work, and a friend who spouts complex technical words as to the possible cause of the problem !!

Rob