Thread
DSL modem interfering with Cordless Phone
Hello,
I'm helping a friend with her DSL installation. She has Earthlink DSL, which piggybacks off of an existing phone line, necessitating the use of microfilters.
In her office, the most obvious place for the DSL modem, there is one phone jack. A RadioShack phone line splitter allows the DSL modem (no filter!) and a microfilter to be connected to the jack. The microfilter connects to a second splitter which connects a 900MHz cordless phone and a fax machine to the phone jack.
When the DSL modem is powered up, it becomes impossible to hear what people are saying when you're talking with them on the cordless phone. The volume constantly oscillates from "100%" to maybe "10%" and back again over a period of maybe 5 seconds. The fax phone and the other extensions in the house (all microfiltered) don't have this problem.
This phone has always been something of a problem child, so replacing it is a distinct possibility. Will this problem persist with a new phone though?
Do DSL modems not get along with 900MHz cordless phones?
She also has an AirPort so I believe 2.4 GHz phones would have another set of difficulties. Am I right?
Thanks in advance,
Peter
I'm helping a friend with her DSL installation. She has Earthlink DSL, which piggybacks off of an existing phone line, necessitating the use of microfilters.
In her office, the most obvious place for the DSL modem, there is one phone jack. A RadioShack phone line splitter allows the DSL modem (no filter!) and a microfilter to be connected to the jack. The microfilter connects to a second splitter which connects a 900MHz cordless phone and a fax machine to the phone jack.
When the DSL modem is powered up, it becomes impossible to hear what people are saying when you're talking with them on the cordless phone. The volume constantly oscillates from "100%" to maybe "10%" and back again over a period of maybe 5 seconds. The fax phone and the other extensions in the house (all microfiltered) don't have this problem.
This phone has always been something of a problem child, so replacing it is a distinct possibility. Will this problem persist with a new phone though?
Do DSL modems not get along with 900MHz cordless phones?
She also has an AirPort so I believe 2.4 GHz phones would have another set of difficulties. Am I right?
Thanks in advance,
Peter
interestingly enough, I ran into a problem with my 900 MHz cordless not long ago. It was placed near my phone jack, which has a splitter as well, except our splitter is for two phone lines. the phone would often cut in and out, then eventually kill its signal.
you should try moving the phone to another phone jack, far away from the problem area, and see if the problem persists.
and I don't quite understand your description of her DSL setup. All DSL configs I've seen have two jacks--one for voice, one for data--no splitters (though an external splitter may be accomplishing the same thing that the two-jack wall mount is doing). If you don't like the splitter, ask for the separate voice-data ports via wall jacks, not splitter.
you should try moving the phone to another phone jack, far away from the problem area, and see if the problem persists.
and I don't quite understand your description of her DSL setup. All DSL configs I've seen have two jacks--one for voice, one for data--no splitters (though an external splitter may be accomplishing the same thing that the two-jack wall mount is doing). If you don't like the splitter, ask for the separate voice-data ports via wall jacks, not splitter.
When the DSL modem is on, the phone still acts up even on extensions that are well-removed from the modem.
Before my friend got DSL, she had a one-line phone jack that the fax and phone shared with a little Y adapter, the "splitter" above. This is just a hardware store phone accessory, not a DSL line splitter that the telcos install.
To use the DSL, we unplugged this adapter from the jack, plugged it into a microfilter and plugged that into a second adapter. The DSL modem plugs into the second leg of this second adapter., which plugs into the phone jack.
Before my friend got DSL, she had a one-line phone jack that the fax and phone shared with a little Y adapter, the "splitter" above. This is just a hardware store phone accessory, not a DSL line splitter that the telcos install.
To use the DSL, we unplugged this adapter from the jack, plugged it into a microfilter and plugged that into a second adapter. The DSL modem plugs into the second leg of this second adapter., which plugs into the phone jack.
Is that your DSL provider's recommended configuration, and does your local phone provider agree?
if so, then I'd get the tech back there to make it work--and for free.
but maybe in the meantime someone here can help you further. hope all works out.
if so, then I'd get the tech back there to make it work--and for free.
but maybe in the meantime someone here can help you further. hope all works out.
It's a self-install so there's a $110 fee to get a tech on site.
This isn't a textbook installation but it replicates the installation instructions sufficiently.
Fullmer: could you elaborate on your problem and how you solved it?
-Peter
This isn't a textbook installation but it replicates the installation instructions sufficiently.
Fullmer: could you elaborate on your problem and how you solved it?
-Peter
I stopped using my cordless phone, and started using a standard one. 
no problems since. however, don't forget I'm using 2 phone lines via a splitter, rather than DSL. But I'd remove the cordless phone from your system's lines and see if things clear up.
no problems since. however, don't forget I'm using 2 phone lines via a splitter, rather than DSL. But I'd remove the cordless phone from your system's lines and see if things clear up.