Troubleshooting over the Phone: Led Status Check
The customer is asked to describe the status of indicator lights on their modem/router to help diagnose the issue (e.g., solid green, blinking red).
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
modem
A device that connects your home to the internet service provider's network, often like a box with lights.
router
A device that shares the internet connection from the modem to your computers and phones in the home.
indicator lights
Small lights on electronic devices that show if something is working, like power or connection status, by color and pattern.
solid
Used to describe a light that is steadily on without flashing, meaning it's stable or active.
blinking
When a light flashes on and off repeatedly, often indicating activity or a problem.
diagnose
To examine and identify the cause of a problem, like checking why the internet isn't working.
connection
The link or signal that allows your device to access the internet; it can be lost or weak.
technician
A skilled worker who comes to fix technical issues, like internet or phone problems at home.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Hi, I'm calling because my internet connection isn't working at all.
This is a polite way to start a call reporting a problem; use 'because' to explain the reason, and 'isn't working at all' to emphasize it's completely broken.
Can you tell me what the indicator lights on your modem and router look like right now?
A useful question for getting details during troubleshooting; 'Can you tell me' is polite for requests, and 'look like' asks for a visual description.
On the modem, the Power light is solid green, the DSL light is blinking red, and the Internet light is off.
This sentence describes device status clearly; use 'is + adjective/color' for each light, and 'and' to connect items in a list for easy understanding.
That tells me the modem isn't establishing a proper connection with our network.
Explains a conclusion from observations; 'That tells me' means 'this information indicates,' and 'isn't establishing' uses present continuous for ongoing actions or states.
Based on the blinking red DSL light, it indicates a line issue.
This shows how to give a diagnosis; 'Based on' introduces evidence, and 'indicates' means 'shows or suggests,' useful for explaining causes.
I'll need to schedule a technician to come out and inspect it.
A practical sentence for next steps; 'I'll need to' expresses necessity, and 'come out' is an idiom meaning 'visit your location' for service.