Dear Geek,
My broadband seems to be fine most of the time but I lose connection every time the phone rings. Help!
Cut-off of Canterbury.
Dear Cut-off,
Sounds like a problem with your microfilters, or a lack of them. A microfilter is that little white box that has a short telephone lead coming out one end and two sockets on the other, one that looks like a phone socket and one smaller, for your modem lead. You should have received at least one with your broadband modem.
When your broadband line enters your house, it has your internet connection and telephone service all mixed together. You need a filter to split the two.
However, you don’t just need that filter on the socket where your broadband modem connects – you need a filter on every socket where you have a telephone connected too, otherwise you will get interference and dropped connections. Spare microfilters are available in most DIY, electronics or computer stores. Or your favourite geek’s toolbag!
If that’s not the problem, check the microfilters already fitted are not faulty by swapping them. If you have one of the newer telephone sockets that is split about halfway down with two screws holding the bottom half in, you can try removing that bottom half. When you (gently) pull it out, it should reveal a test telephone socket – plug your modem into this then you know all the extensions in your house are isolated – it could be a problem with a dodgy extension cable.
And a little tip – try to plug your broadband modem into the main socket where the line first comes into your house. The shorter the line, the better the connection.
Geek x
A Microsoft Certified Professional with many years of large corporate experience and training, he now focuses on helping small businesses make the most of their IT.
- Font Test - March 30, 2022
- An open letter of apology to Anna Firth - November 8, 2019
- My story – being a mum to a colour deficient son - September 9, 2019
