If you have telephone service and internet service connected to the same line in your home or office, they are most likely to be connected through a DSL filter. A DSL filter is a device that works by separating the incoming signal, allowing you to stay connected to the internet while using your phone, DVR, or other devices. When you don’t have installed a filter, or when the filters are not installed correctly, you may experience the following issues:
- Slow internet speeds
- No connection to the internet
- Static or hissing sound on the phone line.
- Irregular connection to the internet
How Does a DSL Filter Work?
When you do not add a DSL filter to your phone line, you are most likely to face a weak internet network or an irregular internet connection. It is to be noted that while a DSL connection is known for sharing the phone line, however, it is quite different from a dial-up connection as it doesn’t occupy your phone line. In contrast, it is known for simply sharing the line while offering a much faster-connecting speed compared to the traditional dial-up method.
The reason that you can use both your internet and telephone connection using a single line is that your phone sends a voice signal whereas the DSL connection is known for sending digital signals. As a result, the DSL connection uses the unoccupied wires in the line for passing on the digital signal. As the wires are closed to each other, not using a splitter
Installation of a DSL filter doesn’t require you to appoint a technician as the setup can be done easily on your own. Generally, the filter is installed in the phone jack located in the wall and the connecting device (having RJ 11 connector) on both ends of the device. To set this up, all you need to do is disconnect the telephone line from the wall jack, connect the DSL filter to the RJ11 port in the wall jack, then connect the DSL filter to the RJ 11 port located in the wall jack, and finally connect the phone line into the DSL filter.
Types of Devices That Use DSL Filter
A DSL filter is required by almost every device connecting to your phone line, excluding your modem. This includes Caller ID units, Telephones, Cable Boxes, TiVos, Satellite TV receivers, Answering Machines, Automatic Water Meters, and Security Systems.
Installing a DSL Filter
In order to install a DSL filter, it is recommended to have two filters along with your modem. While on the filter should be a single port one, the other one should be a dual port.
As DSL filters are generally plugged in between your device and jack, you will need to install it by first plugging the filter into a wall jack, and then plugging in a phone wire or other device into the other end of the filter.
However, if you only have a single wall jack for the phone and the modem, you will need to use the dual-port filter that you received with your modem. In this case, you will need to make sure that you have plugged the filter into the wall jack, and the phone and modem into the filter.
NOTE: In case you do not receive a dual filter with your modem, you can request it from your service provider, or you can purchase it online from an e-commerce website.
Moreover, if you have a wall-mounted phone at your home or office, in such a case, you will need to use a wall-mounted filter that can fit a wall jack filter behind. You can find it easily at any electronics store or online website.
So, now as you know what a DSL filter does, you can easily know if you require it for your internet connection for better performance.