QA Forum

Question & Answer

We are discussing Surfing through Computers and the Internet
With Nathanael Boehm, Nan Bosler and DCITA

Question:
I have been having problems with my Broadband connection not consistantly connecting to the Internet service. I complained to my ISP who recommend that I fix filters on each of my two extra telephones in the house. I have an ADSL Router (DLink) with connections via an Inline DLink Filter/splitter - with one cable going to my Office telephone and the other to my Ethernet connection nearby on the computer. I have sought advice from other sources (e.g. Electronic Engineers etc) who say I should not need the filters for each telephone. I need your advice, can you help me?

Answer:
Nan - Hello, how frustrating this must be for you. I would suggest that you unplug all the phones and then try the Internet with and without the filter. If it only works properly without the filter then the filter is faulty and needs replacement. If it works properly with the filter then the filter is OK. Then try adding one phone at a time. One of the phones may be upsetting the rest.

It is often recommended that filters are included in each phone on the ADSL circuit. If the D-Link splitter - filter is correctly installed on both phone circuits, to separate the ADSL signal from the phones, then that should do the trick. However, additional filters are very cheap and can easily be inserted in the lines.

Some phones seem to effect or be effected by ADSL connections more than others. Some of the electronic phones seem to cause more trouble than the older style Telstra phones.

An easy way to check if the phone is causing the problem, is to try disconnecting the phone(s) from the ADSL line for a while to see if this is the cause.

Other causes of disconnections could be poor cabling/plugs and sockets used during installation. This can be fairly easily checked by testing the connectivity.

Hope this helps.

View answer to: prev question | next question