Newbie DSL query - vox phone use kills (Earthlink) DSL

We just got Earthlink DSL service, installed it myself in a closet containing Verizon NIB (in an apartment) served by UTP our own Linksys router (wireless + 4 ports) for star-topology Cat5e home network Earthlink's Zyxel DSL modem Phone bridged block to star-topology Cat3 phone wiring to all phones Phone service is wired through the DSL/phone splitter dongle that Earthlink provided, and thence to modem (one Cat5e cable), and all the rest of the phones in the house (another Cat5e cable). Everything hooked up and connected without a hitch,

BUT:

whenever the phone line is used (incoming or outgoing call) the DSL connection (ACT and DSL lights on modem) craps out. Once call is completed, the DSL light comes back on, but the router doesn't reliably reestablish the connection automatically ­ though it will sometimes. Diagnostics performed at this point using Earthlink's Setup URL indicate that PPPOe fails. Power cycling the router only works occasionally, but the most reliable way to reestablish the connection is to power cycle both modem and router.

I realize that I should probably have a more expensive whole-house splitter, and I'm willing to buy one, but it surprises me that the DSL service quits, while there's no noticeable static on the phone line. So is the fix that simple, or do I have some networking hardware/software/protocol issue too?

Note: I didn't buy Home Network service from Earthlink (comes with the same router I had already, and costs another $8 per month). Is there something in that package that I "need to have" for DSL sanity?

Your connection sounds right. My guess is that the device you're using as a splitter is just not adequate for your situation. It's really low end. If anything on the telephone output is able to kill the DSL, the splitter is not doing its job since that is precisely what it is supposed to prevent.

I would recommend checking one more time that:

1) The correct connector on the filter goes to the incoming phone line. 2) Nothing else connects to the incoming phone line *at* *all*. 3) the DSL modem is connected to the correct port on the filter.

If that fails, replace the splitter with a much better one.

I have had excellent luck with the Wilcom splitter, first on the page above. It's easy to wire and works perfectly. It's $35.

DS

Simplify your setup for testing. Disconnect all phones, disconnect all (any) DSL filter, test. If okay, connect one phone, test, if not okay, add individual DSL filter to that one phone, test again. etc.

-Frank

Exactly. The splitter is that device. The line from NIB (screw attachments) goes to a junction box right beneath it's outlet grommet, where there are snap-in punch-down Leviton rj-12 jack modules for each of the two phone lines incoming. The splitter has its input rj-11 plug connected to the jack, and plugged into the two outputs from the splitter (rj-11 jacks) are the modem line, and a phone line to the bridged module for the rest of the phones, connected using rj-11 plugs. It's schematically the diagram that Earthlink gives for connecting a DSL modem/one computer, and a phone device, to a phone line, only it's situated so that the phone device is actually my whole house with three active phones on one line (two kids). Any phone use on the line used for DSL causes the connection to drop (no DSL light on the modem), while use of the second incoming line from the NIB has no effect.

The phones are *NOT* connetced to the

Correct. Connected only through the splitter.

What exactly is the device you have

It's made by Excelsus, model Z-230P2J-A. It's very small, maybe 1.25" x

1.5" x .75"

Thanks,

I just ordered one, and hope that fixes things. I didn't realize that the splitter prevents noise pollution caused by the phone voice connection could affect the DSL connection; I thought it was the other way around, that the splitter was to keep the noise on the voice line tolerable.

Thanks for your help,

A good splitter separates the voice signal from the data signal and provides two outputs that are isolated from each other. Nothing you can do to the voice output, within reason, should affect the data output. Nothing you can do to the data output, within reason, should affect the voice quality.

You're welcome. Let us know what happens when you get the splitter.

I just converted another installation from micro filters from SBC at each phone to the Wilcom splitter. It wound up costing us nothing because the alarm company was going to charge them more for installing an alarm panel on a line with DSL. The line rate went up from 2Mbps/384Kbps to

3Mbps/512Kbps, and no more loss of sync when the fax machine picks up. ;)

It is important to put the splitter as close to the incoming phone line as possible and to run high quality line from the splitter to your DSL modem.

DS