Newbie Query

I am thinking of changing from a BT standard line to BT broadband.
Currently the line in question (X) enters my office where the master socket
is placed, then has an external cable to my house where there are three
(used) sockets. Another line is currently used for dial-up services & fax -
line Y.
My intention would be to have line X as broadband because it has the
publically known telephone number which I wish to continue to use; and allow
line Y (fax & dial-up) as act as a standby while I get things sorted.
BT apparently supply a modem, which I think allows one to use two computers
(which we have), and a phone line. They also supply two micro-filters I
believe.

Questions arising:
I appreciate the phone in the office will need to be microfiltered from the
computers, but can the 3 house sockets be feed from the output of another
microfilter? Or do they require a microfilter each.
If I then abandon line Y which will only have a fax.on it at this stage
(hopefully) am I right in thinking it too will require a microfilter.

Many thanks
John Burgess

John Burgess wrote

> I am thinking of changing from a BT standard line to BT broadband.
> Currently the line in question (X) enters my office where the master socket
> is placed, then has an external cable to my house where there are three
> (used) sockets. Another line is currently used for dial-up services & fax -
> line Y.
> My intention would be to have line X as broadband because it has the
> publically known telephone number which I wish to continue to use; and allow
> line Y (fax & dial-up) as act as a standby while I get things sorted.
> BT apparently supply a modem, which I think allows one to use two computers
> (which we have), and a phone line. They also supply two micro-filters I
> believe.

Why are you going with BT? There are better ISPs around. Take a look
at www.adslguide.org.uk and check out the options.
If you're using 2 or more computers, don't use a modem. Get a router.
That way only the computer you are using needs to be switched on. A
good router** is also more secure. If you're going to use broadband for
business, ensure you're security is sorted and understood by all those
who are going to use the computers.

** avoid a wireless router, unless you can set it up properly.


> Questions arising:
> I appreciate the phone in the office will need to be microfiltered from the
> computers, but can the 3 house sockets be feed from the output of another
> microfilter? Or do they require a microfilter each.
> If I then abandon line Y which will only have a fax.on it at this stage
> (hopefully) am I right in thinking it too will require a microfilter.
>
>

Only the lines connected to broadband require a microfilter.
Otherwise, buy a couple of good filters and see what works.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
John Burgess <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I am thinking of changing from a BT standard line to BT broadband.
> Currently the line in question (X) enters my office where the master
> socket is placed, then has an external cable to my house where there
> are three (used) sockets. Another line is currently used for dial-up
> services & fax - line Y.
> My intention would be to have line X as broadband because it has the
> publically known telephone number which I wish to continue to use;
> and allow line Y (fax & dial-up) as act as a standby while I get
> things sorted.
> BT apparently supply a modem, which I think allows one to use two
> computers (which we have), and a phone line. They also supply two
> micro-filters I believe.
>
> Questions arising:
> I appreciate the phone in the office will need to be microfiltered
> from the computers, but can the 3 house sockets be feed from the
> output of another microfilter? Or do they require a microfilter each.
> If I then abandon line Y which will only have a fax.on it at this
> stage (hopefully) am I right in thinking it too will require a
> microfilter.
>
> Many thanks
> John Burgess

You haven't said explicitly where the computers are - presumably in the
house rather than in the office?

In brief, any analog equipment (phones, faxes, analog modems) connected to
line X need to be filtered. ADSL equipment *doesn't* need to be filtered,
but it is often convenient to use the unfiltered ADSL socket on a plug-in
filter, simply as a way of providing a BT to RJ11 adapter. If the computers
were in the office, it would make sense to use a filtered faceplate on the
master socket rather than plug-in filters. All extension sockets would then
automatically be filtered - but wouldn't be suitable for connecting ADSL
equipment, so may not be the best solution in your particular case.

Whilst your fax machine remains connected to line Y that *doesn't* need a
filter - it's completely independent of your ADSL setup. If you move it to
line X, it *will* of course require a filter. Unless the fax is in extensive
use, it would be best to move it, and to get rid of line Y. You don't
actually need it for *receiving* faxes - there are plenty of services out
there which will give you a dummy fax number, and convert any received faxes
to emails.

I'm not quite sure what you mean about BT supplying a modem which enables
two computers to be connected. An ADSL modem will only directly support one
computer at a time. You *could* connect the computers together and use
Windows ICS (internet connection sharing) but a far better solution would be
to use a modem/router rather than a modem.

Just because BT supply the line, you don't necessarily have to use them as
your ADSL ISP. There are lots of perfectly decent cheaper alternatives out
there. Have you considered any of them?
--
Cheers,
Tim
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John Burgess wrote:
> I am thinking of changing from a BT standard line to BT broadband.
> Currently the line in question (X) enters my office where the master
> socket is placed, then has an external cable to my house where there
> are three (used) sockets. Another line is currently used for dial-up
> services & fax - line Y.
> My intention would be to have line X as broadband because it has the
> publically known telephone number which I wish to continue to use;
> and allow line Y (fax & dial-up) as act as a standby while I get
> things sorted. BT apparently supply a modem, which I think allows one
> to use two
> computers (which we have), and a phone line. They also supply two
> micro-filters I believe.

Depends on which flavour you are subscribing to, just because you get 2
micro filters doesn't mean that the CPE they supply will support 2
PC's..

>
> Questions arising:
> I appreciate the phone in the office will need to be microfiltered
> from the computers, but can the 3 house sockets be feed from the
> output of another microfilter?

Well that's one way of doing it, another would be the fit a SSFP onto
the master socket, if that is where you want your connection to be


> If I then abandon line Y which will only have a fax.on it at this
> stage (hopefully) am I right in thinking it too will require a
> microfilter.

Why? It hasn't got braodband on it so no filtering will be required..

Thanks for the info.
The computers are in the office.
BT is being considered because I want retain the current BT email addresses.
BT Broadband Option 1 offers, & I quote -
"A free broadband modem router will allow you to share your Internet
connection with another computer, laptop, games console or other
Internet-enabled device" + 2 microfilters.
So I was envisaging the following setup:
Broadband line to filter from where -
broadband o/p via the modem router connects to the computer/computers
(presumably USB?)
& phone o/p from filter spilt between office phone & to external extension
cable which carries the phone service to house for 3 further phone sockets.
Am right in believing that the service on the "phone" side of the filter can
be treated and split further as a conventional phone line?
The fax machine is a low priority and could even be used as a phone/fax
since it allows that option.
Many thanks,
John Burgess

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
John Burgess <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Thanks for the info.
> The computers are in the office.
> BT is being considered because I want retain the current BT email
> addresses.

You can almost certainly do that anyway - by downgrading your account to
PAYG. I can still use the email addresses from my Freeserve dial-up accounts
even though I'm using PlusNet ADSL. Many people needlessly stick with BT
simply through fear of the unknown - just as they continue to pay through
the nose for their gas and electricity because of the fear of switching
suppliers. You're not one of those are you?

> BT Broadband Option 1 offers, & I quote -
> "A free broadband modem router will allow you to share your Internet
> connection with another computer, laptop, games console or other
> Internet-enabled device" + 2 microfilters.

Ah - that's not what you said originally - there's a world of difference
between a modem and a modem/router!

> So I was envisaging the following setup:
> Broadband line to filter from where -
> broadband o/p via the modem router connects to the computer/computers
> (presumably USB?)
> & phone o/p from filter spilt between office phone & to external
> extension cable which carries the phone service to house for 3
> further phone sockets.

If the computers are in the office, by *far* the best solution is to use a
filtered faceplate on the master socket, plug the ADSL router into that, and
connect the extension wiring into the back of that. You won't then need
*any* other filters. For details, see
http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/adsl_faceplate.htm or
http://www.solwise.co.uk/adsl_splitters.htm
--
Cheers,
Tim
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On 4 Dec 2005 12:12, "Tiscali Tim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>If the computers are in the office, by *far* the best solution is to use a
>filtered faceplate on the master socket, plug the ADSL router into that, and
>connect the extension wiring into the back of that.

It's just one option, and far from necessary, IMO. I've run ADSL kit for the
past 30+ months without getting any filtered faceplates, and when wanting to
be sure I could answer calls on the second line (before getting a two-phone
DECT unit) had 3 rooms on two floors fed from an extension off the 'filtered'
socket (it is not one of the 1.99 or 1.25 filters, but a better quality one,
supplied with the first [USB, yuk!] ADSL modem I had from Freeserve as one of
the trial users before 'wires only' connections were possible.

Having a simple socket doubler at the master socket, one side having a filter
and the other an extension to the rest of the house, with a further filter at
the other end may be a convenient way to allow for moving the ADSL router for
periods if you have visitors and they can then plug into ADSL without needing
to be isolated in the 'office', and having a second filter allows for testing
if there is a problem at some point, rather than depending on a single filter
[and the arrangement using just the working filter, then a socket doubler for
an office phone and extension to phones in the house, is a fallback position]
so using one or more filters is still an option, and cheaper too. Peter M.
Morgan.

On 4 Dec 2005 10:21, "John Burgess" wrote:

>If I then abandon line Y which will only have a fax.on it at this stage
>(hopefully) am I right in thinking it too will require a microfilter.

Abandon it from what ? No need for any filtering, unless you opt to have
a second ISP connection (which can be handy, especially for someone whose
business depends on the internet). Peter M.

Peter M wrote


> Abandon it from what ? No need for any filtering, unless you opt to have
> a second ISP connection (which can be handy, especially for someone whose
> business depends on the internet). Peter M.
>


You *must* be a pussnet user.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Peter M <us-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On 4 Dec 2005 12:12, "Tiscali Tim" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> If the computers are in the office, by *far* the best solution is to
>> use a filtered faceplate on the master socket, plug the ADSL router
>> into that, and connect the extension wiring into the back of that.
>
> It's just one option, and far from necessary, IMO. I've run ADSL kit
> for the past 30+ months without getting any filtered faceplates, and
> when wanting to be sure I could answer calls on the second line
> (before getting a two-phone DECT unit) had 3 rooms on two floors fed
> from an extension off the 'filtered' socket (it is not one of the
> 1.99 or 1.25 filters, but a better quality one, supplied with the
> first [USB, yuk!] ADSL modem I had from Freeserve as one of the trial
> users before 'wires only' connections were possible.
>
> Having a simple socket doubler at the master socket, one side having
> a filter and the other an extension to the rest of the house, with a
> further filter at the other end may be a convenient way to allow for
> moving the ADSL router for periods if you have visitors and they can
> then plug into ADSL without needing to be isolated in the 'office',
> and having a second filter allows for testing if there is a problem
> at some point, rather than depending on a single filter [and the
> arrangement using just the working filter, then a socket doubler for
> an office phone and extension to phones in the house, is a fallback
> position] so using one or more filters is still an option, and
> cheaper too. Peter M. Morgan.

Your suggestion is extremely messy compared with having extension wiring
hard-wired into the back of the master - as it probably is at the moment.
ISTR that he's got about 3 extension sockets in the house - so he's likely
to need 4 filters, and BT only provide 2. He can get a filtered faceplate
for the price of 2 decent plug-in filters.

I accept that my solution makes it more difficult to use ADSL equipment in
the house. But if I wanted to do this, I'd run a dedicated digital extension
cable from the master rather than relying on the existing extension wiring
of dubious parentage.
--
Cheers,
Tim
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