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*************************************************************************************** A low cost, high specification alternative to expensive ADSL/DSL Line filters*************************************************************************************** When we first switched to AOL Broadband, we received a package through the post containing a broadband USB modem, two ADSL/DSL line filters and the driver disk. Only ever having used Telewest cable Broadband before, we were uncertain how the need to share the phone line between the telephone and modem would work. Without any equipment installed between your broadband modem and telephone, the interference from the modem makes the telephone unusable. You also have to bear in mind, that unlike a standard 56K dial-up modem, a broadband modem connects to the internet as soon as you switch on your computer - as a result, the interference is noticeable as soon as you switch on the PC, even if you have not connected to your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Reading the literature, it seems easy - you simply plug an ADSL/DSL line filter into every phone socket into which you need to plug equipment other than a broadband modem (for example, a telephone, fax machine, satellite set top box, TiVO and 56K modem) - you then plug that equipment into the filter. Your broadband modem can be connected into any of these filters at the same time. The filter merely splits the line, so that unused frequencies on the telephone line are used to carry the modem data, without interfering with your telephone service. However, we were surprised to note that even with the supplied Z-Blocker filters attached, there was still a considerable amount of hiss in the background on the telephone line, whenever the PC was switched on. This is however, bearable and you soon get used to it - a far cry from cable broadband services which provide a separate phone line and therefore no interference whatsoever! We also found that if you do not have a filter connected to every telephone available in the home, we could lose the broadband connection whenever someone went to use a phone or the telephone rang. We also found that we needed another filter for use in our office, but searching on the internet showed that the cost of these filters ranged from just over £7 to nearly £20 for the Z-Blocker supplied by AOL Broadband. You also cannot guarantee the quality of the filters supplied. We have, however, now found a much cheaper source for these filters (although please note that this model does not have a fly lead and therefore you may have difficulty connecting them to dual telephone sockets. We were also surprised to find that this filter works actually better than the Z-Blocker, in that it appears to reduce the line noise on the telephone even more, whilst still providing the same level of functionality (some other cheap filters do not allow the telephone to ring when the modem is in use). It is built to the BT specification for these DSL line filters and has a 12 month warranty. Similar low cost broadband filters are sold by Argos, but still sell for £7.50 each. We have had reports from one customer who recently had broadband installed and found that her telephone did not ring after the broadband modem was connected. The Broadband company confirmed that it was a problem with the micro filter (which they had provided) and sent a replacement, but this made no difference. The customer ordered a replacement filter from ourselves and immediately her telephone worked 100% again ! We leave you to draw your own conclusions. Cost Only £5.50 each.
We can also supply ADSL microfilters which have a flylead, enabling more flexibility when it comes to connecting to a phone socket (these are the type supplied by most broadband suppliers). These are however, more expensive even though they provide exactly the same level of filtering as the cheaper alternative without the flylead. Cost Only £12.50 each.
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