ADSL Microfilters

Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
- 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
modem switched on.

Can't make outgoing calls, after dialling the number the dialling tone
returns. Can accept incoming calls. but there is quite alot of
background noise.

Any ideas??

TVMIA

CS wrote:
> Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
> - 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
> modem switched on.
>
> Can't make outgoing calls, after dialling the number the dialling tone
> returns. Can accept incoming calls. but there is quite alot of
> background noise.
>
> Any ideas??

Any electronic item can fail with time. The only way to tell in this case is
to susbtitute another filter.


Peter Crosland

On 6 Dec, 18:52, CS <colinst...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
> - 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
> modem switched on.
>
> Can't make outgoing calls, after dialling the number the dialling tone
> returns. Can accept incoming calls. but there is quite alot of
> background noise.
>
> Any ideas??
>
> TVMIA

Microfilters like anything do go bust. If they came with your router/
modem then they are probally some cheap ones. You are going to need to
get hold of someworking microfilters. You may need to test the other
phones as they may be causing the problem. Simple enough, just unplug
all equipment and then put on your modem. Plug in a phone in
microfilter with the modem plugged in. If you have a problem there
then you can assume that filter has gone. Then test all the filters
like that. If they all seem not to have any problem then it is
probally your equipement, plug everything in one by one until you get
the problems.
But most likley to be the filters though.

CS wrote:

> Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
> - 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
> modem switched on.
>
> Can't make outgoing calls, after dialling the number the dialling tone
> returns. Can accept incoming calls. but there is quite alot of
> background noise.
>
> Any ideas??

I would reckon it's highly unlikely to be a failed filter. There is after
all very little inside them and what little is there is usually just
passive components that aren't likely to 'go wrong' as a rule.

OTOH, swapping it out for a known good one is the simplest practical way
to find out.

Graham

On Dec 6, 6:52 pm, CS <colinst...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
> - 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
> modem switched on.

yes they can fail, I had one where the voice path failed completely.

It is also worth pointing out that you need filters on all phones, sky
boxes, alarms, dialler boxes, faxes etc as you may have added
something to your system and forgotten to filter it.

If you can test your filter elsewhere or substitute one known to be
working elsewhere you would know.

If your ADSL modem connection speed has fallen a lot you may have a
line fault causing the noise and need to report it as a broadband
fault to your ISP.

Phil

On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 10:52:27 -0800 (PST), CS <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
>- 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
>modem switched on.
>
>Can't make outgoing calls, after dialling the number the dialling tone
>returns. Can accept incoming calls. but there is quite alot of
>background noise.
>
>Any ideas??
>
>TVMIA

Yes they can and do fail. I've been in my present property 4 years and
have had 3 pack up on me. The first time cause me no end of problems
trying to trace the problem. After that when my ADSL went dodgy it was
the first thing I went for.

>
> It is also worth pointing out that you need filters on all phones, sky
> boxes, alarms, dialler boxes, faxes etc

There must be a filter upstream of all the devices you mention,
that doesn't mean that each device needs a separate filter at its socket.

Ideally, if the wiring topography allows, a single filter where the
line enters the premises is all that is required.

--
Graham

%Profound_observation%

"CS" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9441a74c-b12b-45e3-aabd-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Do microfilters breakdown??? My broadband has been working fine for 2
> - 3 years but now the phone line is almost unusable with the ADSL
> modem switched on.
>
> Can't make outgoing calls, after dialling the number the dialling tone
> returns. Can accept incoming calls. but there is quite alot of
> background noise.
>
> Any ideas??
>
> TVMIA

Most filters use the cheapest parts around, like Chinese capacitors which
have a terrible reputation in the trade. Add that to the fact that they
have 48v DC across them and yes they can fail after a couple of years.