Microfilters and splitters

I believe the microfilter is succeptible to capacitance, so it can only support two or maybe three devices. You should really use a separate microfilter at each jack. I have 5 plus a wall plate, but I am in the U.S. I can hand-deliver them if you pay the airfare :)

Maybe. If you have all electronic rings on the line, and never pick up too many extensions at once, then probably.

If you have any traditional ringers, phones without external power supplies, or pick up a bunch of unpowered phones at the same time you might blow the microfilter.

The "short" answer is - using a single microfilter will work fine - doing it myself. zaj

Really, "...support two or maybe three devices..." ?

Let's see, 1500/384 Verizon ADSL, one microfilter connected to harmonica

1- Supra v.92 modem PC #1 2- Supra v.90 modem PC #2 3- ASAP TF-555 FAX switch 4- AT&T telephone 5- GE answering machine 6- Bell Atlantic Caller ID display

95~97% rated speed.

Dave

If you are so far from the CO it is worth testing to see if inside wiring/equipment is degrading DSL performance. Connect the DSL modem directly to the test jack at the Telco NID. If speed improves a POTS/DSL splitter should help.

A splitter prevents inside wiring and equipment from degrading DSL performance, but it can't create signal at the Telco NID. If you don't have enough signal at the NID a splitter will not help. Splitter electrical performance is better then microfilter, 3 stage passive filter vs single stage, so it does better job isolating DSL from ordinary telephone service and eliminates the need for microfilters at each non-DSL device.

I use the Siecor external POTS/DSL splitter

$ALL/COP-67-EN/$FILE/COP-67-EN.pdfIt is mounted between the NID and phone wiring. The data terminals are run directly to the DSL modem. If your NID is outside you may want to think about putting a second test disconnect inside and mounting the Splitter next to it. This makes troubleshooting much easier during the winter here in the North East. If you are really going for broke think about installing secondary lightning protectors near the splitter.

A caution when using a splitter with a home alarm system, the "data" terminals are directly connected to the phone line. Be careful to only connect a DSL modem. If you plug in a phone to the data terminal it will work but the alarm will not be able to seize the line if the phone is in use.

Another benefit of the Siecor splitter is it includes a half-ringer test circuit located after the filter. This is used to create a test signature for automated line testing, but it represents an unfiltered load on DSL. Using a splitter allows the test-circuit in the NID to be removed. If your signal is marginal this may also improve performance.

Here is a link to my home office wiring closet with a POTS/DSL splitter.

/Tom

The only decently price broadband here is 256/128k. There are plans to offer 512/128k next year supposedly but that is still a moment away. Although untested, my telco has reported my line should support at least 2 mbits so speed is not really that much of an issue provided the connect is reliable (no frequent disconnects)

Okay thanks for clarificatio. I actually had plans to install the microfilter at a central point. Will this work? Some people have suggested the microfilter will blow but others claim it's fine...

$ALL/COP-67-EN/$FILE/COP-67-EN.pdf> It is mounted between the NID and phone wiring. The data terminals are run

Unfortunately, the only way I can get a splitter is by getting my telco to install one. They do not allow them to be sold here and I can't import them from overseas since even if they work, they will be in violation of my agreement with my telco.

Not a problem here

My telco only has own brand of splitter, had a page for it but seem to have lost that... Don't think it's Siecor though.

In most cases a Microfilter should be fine. It is less effective then a splitter but that is only important if the line is marginal. The other concern, as other have pointed out, is if you have a lot of phones. In that case ringing current may damage the filter or temporally saturate filter magnetics causing DSL to drop during ring.

/Tom

Point taken - however, I might also become tall, good looking, thin and young at the same time - with as much probability. :>)

We used to see this all the time, especially in fringe areas (where the microfilter would begin to fail and would start to interfere with the ADSL signal) -- Then we were eaten by the telco.

*shrugs*

Is it honestly that hard to put a microfilter on each phone?