ADSL service coming soon to my house... filter solutions?

[Netdewt]

Do you guys have any good tricks for using wall mounted non-modular phones with ASDL filters? I'm getting it this Saturday and I'm not going to be able to use my 554 anymore.

[poplar1]

Ask them to install a whole-house filter at the protector where the line comes in. You will need a separate wire or at least a separate pair going from the protector to the computer, but you won't need any individual filters at each phone.

[Netdewt]

I'm a DIY kinda guy, is that something I can do myself?

[poplar1]

It depends on how new the NID (Network Interface Device) is. In my case, the AT&T tech installed the protector module with built in filter; the station wires (going to the jacks) in my case don't have screw terminals; rather they just slip into slots on the module. There is a space to connect one wire (or one pair)  for the computer and a few more spaces to connect the other wires.

There is one modular jack inside the NID with a pigtail modular plug. You can't plug the pigtail into a single filter here (then the filter into the jack)  or it will filter out DSL on all the jacks including the one for the computer.  So you are trying to get one wire (or pair) that connects directly to the line (ahead of the filter) and all the rest to go through the filter.

Both times I have had DSL installed A&T/BellSouth sent a tech out and they didn't charge for replacing the old protector with the new kind that has two outputs (one filtered and one not). I'm not sure what the policy is where you live.

Another solution is to put one of the filters they furnish inside the wall phone. You would need to put a short modular to spade cord from L1 and L2 that would plug into a filter, then you would need to connect the pigtail from the filter to the house wiring.

[Netdewt]

I could do something like this assuming "DSL filter" is a pretty generic piece of equipment. I doubt Century Link will do much. I am reusing a modem I bought a few years ago and there is no install fee.

http://www.smarthome.com/865170/Leviton-47616-DSF-DSL-Filter-Board/p.aspx

What are punchdowns?

Maybe with something like this I could get all my splitters in the same place too?

http://www.smarthome.com/865106/Leviton-47606-BTV-Basic-Telephone-and-Video-Panel/p.aspx
http://www.smarthome.com/8631/Leviton-47689-B-Bridging-Module-with-110-Connectors-and-Bracket/p.aspx

[twocvbloke]

It's a shame you guys haven't got a master socket setup (ignoring the bell circuit part) like we have in the UK, the modem is best positioned as close to the incoming wiring to prevent losses (apparently), so we have the NTE2000 filtered faceplates which replace the standard faceplate, you connect your extension wiring on the back of this, and plug in your modem (and maybe a phone too if need be) on the front, so the extensions and the master socket are all filtered, but the Modem socket (typically an RJ11 socket) is unfiltered and just works...

There's also the i-plate which uses the original faceplate and just sits between the socket and plate, though the NTE2000 in my opinion is a better and less fiddly solution...

[poplar1]

Netdewt, those Leviton prices seem terribly high, and depending on how your wires are run you wouldn't have room for any of this inside the NID. "110 punchdowns" refer to the way of connecting wires without stripping the ends but you need an impact tool to punch the wires down (another $75)...I'm surprised that CenturyLink would not at least provide the filters for each phone if they don't dispatch out and change the protector to one that splits the DSL from voice.  If you don't have one master splitter/filter then you will need filters for each phone.

[Netdewt]

There is an installer coming on Saturday. I don't know what for.

I don't have an NID. The telephone wires come straight into my house to a metal "cleat". Old school I guess.

[twocvbloke]

you need an impact tool to punch the wires down (another $75)

$75 for a krone tool??? What a ripoff.........

They can be had for as little as a fiver over here, and if you're okay with buying from the red dragon, they can be just as cheap over there in the US & Canada:

http://tinyurl.com/7grz8jv

[Netdewt]

Nice little tool on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KMFDZ0/

Is this a good thing to use for splitting the phone line to multiple rooms? Right now I have a crappy one from the hardware store and it just looks like a hot mess.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002472M8/

They have the DSL filter board on Amazon too. If this is expensive, please show me other options! I can't find much else.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018MQYYA/

There's this all in one unit on Amazon also... looks pretty nice:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O7ESPM/

[poplar1]

http://www.amazon.com/In-line-DSL-Filter-w-Splitter/dp/B003807GK6/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0


This is the cheapest one. But I would expect that Century Link would certainly install a NID and provide either a splitter and/or filters.

[Netdewt]

Yeah I have a bunch of those filters already. I'm just talking about the whole house filters now. I think I'll wait and talk to the guy on Saturday.

[Owain]

This is how it appears to be done
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10443
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,1012399

All looks a bit messy from this side of the pond 

[twocvbloke]

What's a Half ringer (mentioned in the link to that forum)?

[AE_Collector]

There is an installer coming on Saturday. I don't know what for.
I don't have an NID. The telephone wires come straight into my house to a metal "cleat". Old school I guess.

When we install ADSL here in most cases we field the call now rather than self install. The reason is that in order to provide a quality service there are lots of things to check and upgrade. We use RDAC's now so an installer has to jumper the ADSL port onto your line at the closest connection point to your house. Then we check the drop wire to ensure that it is a modern twisted pair drop rather than the old parallel type wire. In most cases we "clear cap" the cable pair at the terminal as well. We upgrade the protector to the latest type, install the "whole house" POTS splitter at the prot, use a spare pair in the cable to the jack where the modem will be installed where we put a double jack so you can still properly connect a phone as well as the modem. Then we test everything for proper speed etc and help you set up your computer if needed.

SO....while you could "Do it yourself", chances are you will have a faster more reliable installation by allowing the proveder to do it for you for free.

Terry