Fitting Microfilters

If you want a stable broadband service, you'll need to make sure your microfilters are fitted properly. The act of fitting a microfilter is easy, but knowing how many you need and where they should go can seem complicated if you have a lot of equipment connected to your line. It's easy when you know how though. Here we'll explain why you need microfilters, where to put them and what to avoid.

• Why you need Microfilters?
• How many Microfilters do you need?
• Key Terms
• Where to fit your Microfilters and Broadband hardware?
• Having Problems?

Why are Microfilters needed?

Broadband shares space on your line with your telephone service. A microfilter is needed to separate the two and stop them from interfering with each other. Without microfilters you'll have problems with your connection and you may hear background noise when using your landline.

How many Microfilters do you need?

It depends how many devices you use and where they are.

By devices we mean:

• Telephones
• Sky Digital Boxes
• Fax Machines
• Burglar Alarms

And anything else that plugs into your telephone line.

In short, if it uses your line then it needs a microfilter.

Key terms

Microfilter

This is a typical microfilter. The style varies between manufacturers but all filters should have two sockets, one for your broadband hardware (usually marked ADSL), and one for a telephone device.

Master socket

This is the point where your telephone line enters your house from outside.

You might have several telephone sockets in your property, but all other sockets are connected from this one.

Where to fit your Microfilters and Broadband hardware

It can seem daunting if you've got a lot of equipment in your property, but bear the following in mind and you shouldn't go wrong:

• Every device on your line needs to pass through a microfilterfilter before it connects to a wall socket
• You can connect more than one device through a filter with a line splitter.
• Make sure your Broadband router or modem only passes through one filter

If you can, try to install your broadband kit as close to the master socket as possible as this is where the broadband signal is strongest. If your computer isn't close by, try to use as little extension cable as possible.

If you're using wireless you should be able to connect your kit directly to the master socket and connect to the wireless network from anywhere in your home.

Below you'll see a few examples of how to install your microfilters. We can't cover every combination but these should give you an idea of what to do.

How not to do it

This is how not to set up your equipment. If you follow the connection back from the router, you'll see that it passes through 2 microfilters before it gets to the master socket:

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Having problems?

If you're having problems and this guide hasn't helped, take a look at our Broadband Fault section.

This article last updated 18th September 2008