DSL filters necessary?

Lenin

If you want to get an overview, take a look at the pic below. I labelled it with what comes from where..

Basically, all this was set up(not by me) but there are no DSL filters(except one) on any of these things(think it was the Sky boxes were not connecting when I had them on) and I'm pretty sure it's not messing with the broadband, the phones don't have any noise and the 2 Sky boxes are connected. Would it be wise to start putting these filters on or is there another solution? Are there too many devices plugged in? What you guys think?

aidan_walsh

If you plug out the filter from where it is now, and attach it directly to the phone point behind your three way splitter, you should be protected from any problems.

As it stands, you should ideally have a filter on all of those, as only one of your lines is filtered properly. Any traffic on any of the other lines could disrupt your connection.

rogue-entity

After looking at the picture, I am not surprised, here is, a simpler version of how its wired up.

Main Line
--- Multi-Line Splitter
--- Line to Router
--- Line to Sky HD Box

Multi-Line Splitter
--- A Sky + Box
--- Upstairs Phone
--- Front Room Phone
--- Kitchen Phone

You have only one filter, and thats protecting just one phone.
You need to filter the phones and digiboxes to prevent them creating noise on the line which interferes with the broadband.

There should be one DSL/Phone splitter filter, and two phone-only filters in the box that the DSL modem came with. Plug the phone-dsl splitter straight into the phone socket. Plug the Line from the Router into the DSL port, and the Multi-Line Splitter into the Phone port. Then plug that 3-way splitter into one of the sockets of the Multi-Line splitter. Like the following:

Main Socket
--- DSL/Phone Splitter

---

Cable for Router
--- DSL/Phone Splitter (Phone socket)

---

Multi-Line Splitter.

Multi-Line Splitter
--- Sky HD Box
--- Sky + Box
--- Kitchen Phone
--- Upstairs Phone
--- Frontroom Phone

This way, the DSL signal is filtered out of the lines going to everything else, leaving just the one line going to the broadband that will get any DSL signal.

MickyJoe

Is the Eircom box shown the main socket and then all other connections are taken from it ?

If so:

The first problem is that you don't appear to have the correct DSL microfilter. You need one that has two outlets - one specifically for DSL and the other for ordinary PSTN services (E.g phone, Sky .....). The filter shown in your photo is a single one which is for use where you want to connect a PSTN device to a line that has not been already filtered - it will only filter out the high frequency DSL signals to any devices connected to it after in incoming line . The double microfilter you require, connected correctly, works as a filter to stop the high frequency DSL signal and low frequency PSTN devices interfering with each other.

If you manage to get one of these - assuming that all devices originate from this socket - then you would connect it into the Eircom main socket.You need to use the input of this - usually marked 'Line' - otherwise you will end up possibly filtering out your DSL signal. You router is then connected into the DSL outlet of this microfilter (usually marked 'DSL' or a computer monitor).

All other devices then will be connected to the PSTN outlet (could be marked in a number of ways - e.g telephone handset, 'phone' . One way would be to to now attach your three way splitter (this is not a filter) to this PSTN outlet. Your Sky HD box could connect into one outlet and then the feed to your multi line splitter from another outlet from where you can take all other connections.

dlofnep

Yes they are, an unfiltered socket will lead to a heap of problems if the noise levels raise.