ADSL disconnects for no reason

[RisseN]

Hey all,

For some reason my adsl disconnects for no reason from time to time. It will work fine for hours on end, then disconnect and the adsl light will flash while trying to connect. Usually in about 5 to 10 mins it's connected and working again. It happens randomly, sometimes a couple times a day, sometimes only a couple times a week.

I have a billion bipac 5102 adsl router and a linksys wrt54gl wireless router. The billion is connected to the adsl and my computer. The linksys is connected to the billion for the wireless.

The problem seems to lie with the billion disconnecting at random times since the linksys is simply plugged into the billion to provide wireless.

Could there be anything on my side causing this? A setting im not aware of?

thanks.

 

[giovannidc]

I use to have a problem like that, then I added a filter and it sorted it out.

 

[RisseN]

I use to have a problem like that, then I added a filter and it sorted it out.

Hi, what do you mean by filter? What is that?

 

[Pada]

By filter he meant the POTS (plain old telephone system) filter, which is a in electronic terms a low-pass filter (filtering the higher range of frequencies).
Essentially it blocks the telephone from interfering with the higher frequencies that the ADSL modem uses, so you have to install these filters in-line with your telephone and not in line with your ADSL modem.

You also get splitter-filters, which first splits the signal and then just filters the telephone port, leaving the ADSL port unfiltered.

So in the end, if you have a telephone, fax or alarm system connected, you HAVE to filter them, otherwise you risk your ADSL connection dropping.

 

[RisseN]

Thanks very much Pada. Very helpful.

Where is a good place to buy a filter?

Is this something the average person can install? ie: Do I just connect it or is it more complicated than that?

Maybe a stupid question, but what happens if I just unplug my phone from the wall. I dont use it so I would be happy just leaving it unplugged at the wall.

thanks.

 

[Pada]

Usually those filters come with the ADSL modem. Otherwise you can get one for like R40 or less from a Telkom shop I suppose.

It is very simple to install. Like in you disconnect your telephone cable at the wall, connect it to the filter and connect the filter to the wall. That is it!

Seeing that you're not using a phone, just unplug it and then you won't need a filter.

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

Hi there,
If you have no filter in place and someone uses the phone any phone in the house connected to the Telkom line that is could account for the problem. If you have a burglar alarm on the Telkom line then you need a filter there as well.
SO go round and check the connections that are used. Then if you need to have the connectivity like the burglar alarm you will need to put the POTS filter on.
But as Pada so rightly said if you don't use the phone you don't need the filter.

Regards

Tim

 

[RisseN]

Thanks for the replies. The weird thing is that the phone is never used. The adsl just disconnects randomly regardless of whether or not the phone is in use.

I will however unplug it from the wall and see if that makes a difference. If that doesn't work ill look into getting a filter (although if the phone is unplugged then I presume it's not needed?

thanks again.

 

[Pada]

if the phone is unplugged completely, then you won't need a filter.

Do you have an alarm system connected? If you do, you'll need to get a filter for it!