DSL Phone Lines

andy7079 · Post by **andy7079** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 1:46 am

I just got DSL. I enjoy the speed a lot, but I'm getting a few times where the service interrupts and the modem resyncs. Its a pain because everything goes on hold for about 10 seconds. to my knowledge, the phone line running to the modem goes all over the house before it reaches the modem. Would it be better for me to run a new cable straight from our phone distribution block? This would simplify everything because i would only need one DSL filter because I could split the line coming from the Telco. My question is, would running a new, shorter line reduce the number of dsl interruptions?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:25 am

It's a rule of thumb I always try to follow...yes, nice clean line from the phone punchdown block, to the location where you DSL modem will be. And if it warrants...a whole new line in from the street to the house...punchdown block too.

andy7079 · Post by **andy7079** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:02 pm

I had the day off due to the snowfall (I live in chicago). I ran a cat 5 line straight from the telco jack to the modem. Fixed the problem. This morning was horrible, it couldn't keep sync for more than 1 sec. Now I haven't lost sync in ages. Speed is great too!

Are all dsl filters the same, or are some better than others? Right now I' running a splitter off the telco jack, one side goes straight to the dsl modem, the other goes filter>house. Despite the filter, I still get some noise in the phone lines, but only on two phones. Is there a different filter that I can use at the telco jack or am I stuck with some noise?

Rouse · Post by **Rouse** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:32 pm

I have seen this noise problem before on certain sets even though the sets are individually filtered. Some people have had luck double filtering these sets but for the most part if the set is sensitive to DSL noise then you should try another set. I have seen people with up to 4 filters on one phone trying to eliminate the noise, in which case I tell them to replace the phone. A good quality set should not be affected when properly filtered. It sounds like you are using one filter for the whole house. You could try individually filtering these noisy sets? Really all the filters do is block all noise above 4khz which is where the DSL modem operates, the cause of the set noise may be interference from inductive noise form a near by power source amplifying the DSL frequency. Not much you can do.

Like Cat said, when it comes to DSL, line quality is the most important thing you should consider. If you run a new line from a distribution block directly to your modem but still have corroded jacks or a fault elsewhere in the house, then line speed and quality will suffer because they are all on the same circuit. If you ever have a problem with static or line speed make sure to check your jacks for moisture or corrosion. The center 2 pins in your jack are used for line 1 (or the main number if you have 2 line these are Red/Green) The outer 2 pins on either side of the center ones are used for line 2 and are Yellow/Black buy default. If they are bridged with green corrosion, then replace the jack. Corroded jacks will create static and high Db noise and loss of bandwidth, both analog and digital.

For those with newer wire 3-4 pair:

Line 1 White/Blue is equal to Green/Red (if quad)
Line 2 White/Orange is equal to Black/Yellow (in quad)
Line 3 White/Green
Line 4 White/Brown
Line 5 White/Slate (Probably won't see this unless a business line)

All Whites, Green and Black are Tip colours, Everything else is Ring (Doesn't really matter though unless you are on a party line or AML)