Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter?
DComTalk.com Forum Index DComTalk.com
Discussion of VoIP, VPN, Video Conferencen, DSL and other data commucations.
 
 FAQFAQ   MemberlistMemberlist     RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
 
Google
 
Web dcomtalk.com
Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    DComTalk.com Forum Index -> DSL
Author Message
John Smith
Guest





Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:28 pm    Post subject: Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? Reply with quote

I assume a DSL filter filters off the DSL signal. Is that correct?

I just switched to DSL from cable. The kit I got includes three
DSL filters. One end of the filter plugs into a phone jack, the
other end has two jacks, one labeled DSL, the other phone.

If the purpose of a DSL filter is to filter off the DSL signal,
why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? (I assume this DSL jack
has unfiltered signal. Is that correct?) Why not just plug in to
the wall jack?

A separate question. The phone box on the outside of the house has
a test jack. What does it do? I plan to plug a DSL filter to the
test jack and have all phone lines connected to the phone jack on
the DSL filter and have the DSL line which is a separate line
connected to the two screws to which the current phone lines are
connected. Is that a good idea? Or should I leave the test jack
alone and cut the wire of the DSL filter and connect the red and
green wires to the screws?
Back to top
Ken Abrams
Guest





Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:16 am    Post subject: Re: Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? Reply with quote

"John Smith" <jsmith@company.com> wrote

Quote:
If the purpose of a DSL filter is to filter off the DSL signal,
why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? (I assume this DSL jack
has unfiltered signal. Is that correct?) Why not just plug in to
the wall jack?


It is a matter of convenience.
They assume that at one location you will want to connect your DSL modem to
the same jack where you have a phone. If that is not the case and all you
will connect to that jack is the modem, then no, you don't need a filter
there.

Quote:
A separate question. The phone box on the outside of the house has
a test jack. What does it do? I plan to plug a DSL filter to the
test jack and have all phone lines connected to the phone jack on
the DSL filter and have the DSL line which is a separate line
connected to the two screws to which the current phone lines are
connected. Is that a good idea? Or should I leave the test jack
alone and cut the wire of the DSL filter and connect the red and
green wires to the screws?

If the DSL really comes in on a "separate line" then this whole discussion
is moot and you don't need any filters at all. Connect your DSL line
directly to the modem (only) and you are done.
Back to top
Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
Guest





Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:19 am    Post subject: Re: Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? Reply with quote

John Smith <jsmith@company.com> wrote:

Quote:
I assume a DSL filter filters off the DSL signal. Is that correct?


Yes. DSL uses frequencies higher than those required for voice calls, but some
phones don't handle those frequencies very well, thus infiltered it results in a
"hiss" for voice calls.

Quote:
I just switched to DSL from cable. The kit I got includes three
DSL filters. One end of the filter plugs into a phone jack, the
other end has two jacks, one labeled DSL, the other phone.

If the purpose of a DSL filter is to filter off the DSL signal,
why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? (I assume this DSL jack
has unfiltered signal. Is that correct?) Why not just plug in to
the wall jack?


Flexibility. You put the splitter filter near your computer so that the DSL
modem is near your router and plugs into the unfiltered side. The other filters
go by phones, which plug into the filtered side.


Quote:
A separate question. The phone box on the outside of the house has
a test jack. What does it do?

If you are having problems with your voice phone line, you take a known working
phone to that jack and plug it in. If you can make calls, the problem is within
your house (either wiring or phones). If you still have problems, you call the
phone company.

Quote:
I plan to plug a DSL filter to the
test jack and have all phone lines connected to the phone jack on
the DSL filter and have the DSL line which is a separate line
connected to the two screws to which the current phone lines are
connected. Is that a good idea? Or should I leave the test jack
alone and cut the wire of the DSL filter and connect the red and
green wires to the screws?

Why on earth are you doing either of those? Just hook the DSL modem at a
convenient point inside the house.
Back to top
Kay Archer
Guest





Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:24 am    Post subject: Re: Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? Reply with quote

"John Smith" <jsmith@company.com> wrote in message
news:11ff8$43762652$471c5849$724@ALLTEL.NET...
Quote:
I assume a DSL filter filters off the DSL signal. Is that correct?

Or it keeps the dsl signal from being "bled off" by other devices.


Quote:
I just switched to DSL from cable. The kit I got includes three
DSL filters. One end of the filter plugs into a phone jack, the
other end has two jacks, one labeled DSL, the other phone.

If the purpose of a DSL filter is to filter off the DSL signal,
why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? (I assume this DSL jack
has unfiltered signal. Is that correct?) Why not just plug in to
the wall jack?

Saves you from having to buy a splitter...

If you want to learn about electronics go study "low pass" and "high pass"
filters.

Quote:
A separate question. The phone box on the outside of the house has
a test jack. What does it do? I plan to plug a DSL filter to the
test jack and have all phone lines connected to the phone jack on
the DSL filter and have the DSL line which is a separate line
connected to the two screws to which the current phone lines are
connected. Is that a good idea?
No. If little cable in there is removed from the "test" jack, then there

will be no dial tone/signal on the terminals.

Or should I leave the test jack
Quote:
alone and cut the wire of the DSL filter and connect the red and
green wires to the screws?

As I recall, www.broadbandreports.com has some instructions for doing
something similar. There are also available "whole-house" filters (or POTS
splitters) made just for this. This would be important if you have more
than 6 or six phone devices in your house. Browse some of the older posts
in this group. (available here:
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.dcom.xdsl?hl=en)
Back to top
John Smith
Guest





Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:59 am    Post subject: Re: Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? Reply with quote

Ken Abrams wrote:
Quote:

If the DSL really comes in on a "separate line" then this whole discussion
is moot and you don't need any filters at all. Connect your DSL line
directly to the modem (only) and you are done.


Thanks to all those who replied to my question.

Sorry that I did not make myself clear. I only have one telephone
number but there are five lines going into my house from the phone
box. One of the lines is dedicated for DSL. That line only goes to
one jack. That's what I meant by "a separate line". Now I see the
term has a totally different meaning to other people. Oops!
Back to top
David Schwartz
Guest





Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 1:02 am    Post subject: Re: Why is there a DSL jack on a DSL filter? Reply with quote

"Clark W. Griswold, Jr." <spamtrap100@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:jqbcn19pvn62gvnbuovag6gtqupv3g9l07@4ax.com...

Quote:
John Smith <jsmith@company.com> wrote:

I plan to plug a DSL filter to the
test jack and have all phone lines connected to the phone jack on
the DSL filter and have the DSL line which is a separate line
connected to the two screws to which the current phone lines are
connected. Is that a good idea?

Yes, just make sure you get a splitter designed for that,

Quote:
Or should I leave the test jack
alone and cut the wire of the DSL filter and connect the red and
green wires to the screws?

Get a splitter and connect it properly.

Quote:
Why on earth are you doing either of those? Just hook the DSL modem at a
convenient point inside the house.

That has a lot of downsides, and I only recommend it if four things are
true:

1) You aren't a hardcore user who wants every bit of performance out of
your DSL connection.

2) You don't have or plan to add devices like alarm systems to your
phone line.

3) You rarely if ever change around your phone wiring. (For example, you
don't have a fax machine that you sometimes connect to one phone line,
sometimes to the other, and most of the time it's in a closet.)

4) It just happens to work for you, that is, you get the fastest DSL
speed available for your service class, see few if any data errors, and
almost never lose sync.

The problems with using cheapo filters are many:

1) If you have a jack anywhere in your house that you don't use that's
in poor condition, it will degrade your DSL quality.

2) If you have or add an obscure device somewhere that you forgot about
(satellite receiver, alarm system, answering machine), it can degrade your
DSL quality.

3) When you add new devices, you need to add new splitters.

4) If any of the wiring in your house is low quality and/or goes past a
source of noise, it will reduce your DSL speed or cause you to lose sync
intermittently.

DS
Back to top
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    DComTalk.com Forum Index -> DSL All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum




VoIP Solutions: Telephone Systems Electronics Satellite TV Tech & Gadgets
Powered by phpBB