Microfilter problem!

[Web-Junkie]

Have a cousin with SKY BB, computer and router are upstairs connected via an extension socket. Now, this is where it gets fuzzy. There are 2 phone extension sockets upstairs, one is for a phone and has a microfilter attached and the other is the SKY BB and has the router/modem plugged straight into the phone socket, no microfilter.

The extension sockets have been wired so when they come downstairs to the master socket they use a 3 way splitter as both the extensions have the standard phone plug on them so there are 2 phones and the SKY BB all plugged into the master socket via the 3 way splitter.

The problem is that when the downstairs phone is connected to a microfilter and plugged into the 3 way splitter the internet does not work (but the phones do), remove the microfilter and put the phone back into the splitter the internet then works! So they can't put a microfilter on the phone connected to the master socket without it cutting the internet connection? As a result of this the downstairs phone is suffering because there is no microfilter, whining and crackling, but is clear with the microfilter attached!

Any ideas?

[Shaun]

Sounds like a duff microfilter mate

[Web-Junkie]

They have 3 microfilters and I'm sure we tried all 3 with the same result Shaun!

Only thing I can do is to check the wiring on all the sockets and make sure the same wires from the extensions are going to pins 2/5 in the master socket. Either that or cut off the plugs from the 2 extension sockets and wire them straight into the master socket and bypass the 3 way splitter!

[Paul K]

Microfilter on main socket, triple adaptor into microfilter? You really need to filter the line before the triple adaptor and get the BB plugged into it before anything else gets involved. Whenever you have extensions in the mix things can get complicated, why not have the router downstairs on main socket and then run ethernet to the PC upstairs?

[Web-Junkie]

It's wired like this:

Upstairs Extension Socket 'A' has a Phone + Microfilter plugged into it, the trailing end of this extension socket is plugged into a 3 way adapter that's plugged into the master socket.

Upstairs Extension Socket 'B' has the router directly plugged into it, the trailing end of this extension socket is plugged into a 3 way adapter that's plugged into the master socket.

Downstairs Phone is plugged into a 3 way adapter that's plugged into the master socket

or put it this way:

Phone > Microfilter > Extension Socket 'A' > 3 way adapter > Master Socket
Router > Extension Socket 'B' > 3 way adapter > Master Socket
Downstairs Phone > 3 way adapter > Master Socket

What I was thinking of doing is plug the microfilter into the master socket, plug a double adapter into the phone part of the microfilter and connect the 2 phones to it then use a Phone plug to RJ11 adapter to connect the extension lead from the upstairs socket where the router is plugged in to the modem part of the microfilter

So it will be:

Phone > Extension Socket 'A' > 2 way adapter > Micro Filter > Master Socket
Downstairs Phone > 2 way adapter > Micro Filter > Master Socket
Router > Extension Socket 'B' > Phone Plug to RJ11 Adapter > Mircofilter > Master Socket

So now there will only be ONE microfilter having 2 phones and the router connected to it!

I'm off out now so will pop into my cousins later and try this out!

[Web-Junkie]

All sorted!

My uncle who, put in the extensions before ADSL was common, used a kit which was basically a double adapter with a long lead for one of the extension sockets and a standard phone socket for the other, BUT he plugged both of them into 2 way adapter and then into a phone extension lead that plugged into the 3 way adapter on the master socket. So both extension sockets were merged into one cable causing the problems! Also, both extension sockets had pins 3+4 connected so I've disconnected those 2 wires and cut them off, now only 2+5 are connected!

I've split the whole spaghetti mess up and reconnected everything so the upstairs phone and router are now plugged into the microfilter which now plugs into the extension lead and then into the 3 way adapter. I've also put a microfilter on the downstairs phone now all phones + internet work!

At the weekend I'm going to go down and help him re-wire both extension sockets so they are connected directly into the master socket via the punchdown block, which I think is the better solution. So this means a microfilter on the upstairs phone and then we'll plug a microfilter into the master socket and put a double adapter on that so his phone and Sky box can be connected to the phone socket!

Seems straight forward

[altis]

Consider using a master socket with a microfilter built into it. That way you only need the one.

eg. one of these:
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/search/br...03&Ntt=TE04368

It works well for me.

[Web-Junkie]

Aye, thought of that, but they already have the microfilters so why not use them and save a bit of money! You'd have to tap the AB wires from the existing Master Socket into the new one as 'tampering/replacing' the original BT box and wires is considered a no no

[altis]

That ADSL master socket only replaces the faceplate of your original master socket. It is quite legal to do this if you want - there is no 'tampering' involved. It includes the punch-down terminals for your extension wiring so all you do is transfer them over.

See pix at the bottom of this page:
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/faq/sections/install.html

[Web-Junkie]

Just had a wander around the local electrical type shops and nobody has an ADSL Faceplate, typical!

Probably end up getting one online or nipping into Mansfied and scouting there!

[BrightonJohn]

I have learned (the hard way) that you can connect filters together on the adsl side, the RJ11 side, (I hope that is the right way to decribe it) so, for instance, a filter plugged in downstairs into the master socket will allow a phone to be added there and then an extension plugged into the router (RJ11) side taken off to a remote phone point where a second filter can be used to support a further phone and the router itself.

HOWEVER a filter plugged into the phone socket of another filter will allow ONLY phones to work and not a modem since the ADSL signal (I assume) is what is filtered out.

IN short filters can work in series on the ADSL side BUT NOT usefully the phone side. Might help somebody to create a tidier solution.

BTW if your extension to the remote socket terminates with a standard phone plug then simply by an adaptor to enable to use of the adsl side with an RJ11 plug - this link might be helpful
http://www.solwise.co.uk/telesun.htm

[Web-Junkie]

It's all sorted now!

The two upstairs extensions have been connected into the master socket internally via the punchdown block and a microfilter fitted to the phone on one of the upstairs phone sockets and the modem has been plugged straight into the other extension.

The master socket has a microfilter plugged into it and his downstairs phone and Sky Box plugged into the micofilter via a 2 way adapter.

Everything is working, phones and Broadband

I also found some info on microfilters: http://usertools.plus.net/tutorials/id/13