Whats this about a filter??!?!?

[wonderboy1000]

Hello...

Was wondering if you knew anything about this. I have just ADSL installed, but decided to go the cheap route and get a mate to send over his second hand set from the UK. So he sent me a D-Link wireless broadband router as well as a DrayTek Broadband router... None of this means anything to me and he sent me assembly instructions and hey presto, I set up in minutes.

However when connecting - things seem to go funny, in fact they don't connect at all and when speaking on the phone at the same time - you hear all this static.

Could it be the filter? The filter he sent me is a british one and I'm wondering if that is why it's funny - do you need a filter? Or have any of you any better ideas what I should try.

Telkom as usual is no help.

Regards

a wondering boy

 

[alchamy]

If you can hear the DSL frequencies it is most likely your filter, a new one should set you back about R30. Unplug your modem/router and check if you get "static" if so I would replace the filter.

Not sure about British frequencies, imagine that DSL is standadized but you never know with Telkom

If you replace your filter and still have problems it might be your line.

 

[Alkine]

Have any friends with adsl in SA? Try their equipment to see if it works.

 

[alchamy]

Have any friends with adsl in SA? Try their equipment to see if it works.

or that

 

[Darth Garth]

Telkom as usual is no help.

Why should they help you when you screwed it up in the first place ???.

a) Not all ADSL routers/modems work in S.A
b) UK uses a different ADSL than us (G.Lite)
b) The UK "filter" is probably a line splitter

Throw the UK filter in the garbage and get the Telkom techie out to your place to install a Marconi/Telkom filter before your handset.

Just plug the telephone line into the WAN socket on the router ... no splitter and filter on it.

 

[reech]

Why should they help you when you screwed it up in the first place ???.

a) Not all ADSL routers/modems work in S.A
b) UK uses a different ADSL than us (G.Lite)
b) The UK "filter" is probably a line splitter

Throw the UK filter in the garbage and get the Telkom techie out to your place to install a Marconi/Telkom filter before your handset.

Just plug the telephone line into the WAN socket on the router ... no splitter and filter on it.

Don't listen to this tosh - you didn't screw up - some people have got a bad attitude.
Yes the UK filter won't work - you'll need a za filter - DON'T just plug the phone line into the wan port - you always need a filter.
Most adsl modems- no matter where they come from *should* work in ZA - the only settings you might need to change are the VPI / VCI (these should be in the modem config app.

 

[Darth Garth]

Most adsl modems- no matter where they come from *should* work in ZA

And you seemed to have forgotten that DLINK S.A had to withdraw one of their ADSL products locally because it was incompatible with Telkom's ADSL equipment (from overseas supplier) and they had to get a mod for the firmware of another.

I can also point you do the change logs of the Netgear router I use and other where they mention changes to ADSL firmware to cater for the behaviour of some DSLAM's.

So there is a reason why all ADSL products must be tested and approved by ICASA and if your modem/router is not approved then Telkom can rightly tell you to stuff off.

I wonder who is the tosh now.

 

[Darth Garth]

DON'T just plug the phone line into the wan port - you always need a filter.

Heck do you even have an ADSL connection ???.
Filters are only required for telephones/fax machines.

 

[reech]

Heck do you even have an ADSL connection ???.
Filters are only required for telephones/fax machines.

And you seemed to have forgotten that DLINK S.A had to withdraw one of their ADSL products locally because it was incompatible with Telkom's ADSL equipment (from overseas supplier) and they had to get a mod for the firmware of another.

- yes I do.
- that may be but, a filter may still needed to block out 'noise' on the line - it's stillthe most sensible option.
- I am aware of the d-link debacle, however I qualified my statement with regarding compatibility *most* - as in most adsl modems support g.lite, G.dmt and G.hs .

 

[Alkine]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but yes only phones, 56k modems and fax machines need filters. The ADSL router makes noise on the line (It’s the way the data is sent and received). The filters are there so voice doesn’t interrupt the workings of the router and removes the noise the router makes.

I don’t think line noise (as in a bad connection or something like that) has anything to do with filters.

 

[Darth Garth]

The ADSL router makes noise on the line (It’s the way the data is sent and received).

My understanding is that ADSL routers/modems knows exactly which segments of the copper they can use for DSL and not interfere in the small area reserved for voice traffic.

Telephones/fax machines on the other hand are not as intelligent when they encounter the DSL "noise".

The filter is there only to make sure the voice traffic stays within the reserved segment.