A distributed filter, or micro-filter, is a small electronic component that fits between your phone line and a regular voice device, such as a phone, a fax, or any device with a regular modem such as a cable box, alarm system or digital TV.

When DSL (ADSL) is provided over voice lines, all devices in the house except the DSL modem must be connected through filters. The filter protects the phone devices from high frequency noise. They are low-pass filters. The filter is also there to protect the DSL signal from being contaminated by high frequency noise added by analog phone devices, answering machines, etc.
--
Above by 2kmaro

---

Note: rcnetguy reports a problem with filters when a power strip is used:

said by rcnetguy:

---

We had tried to set someone up with DSL and they had no connectivity b/c they set up the filter into the power strip. We set the line away from the strip and it worked just fine.

---

got feedback? got feedback?

Any feedback you provide is sent to the owner of this FAQ for possible incorporation and shown publically as well.

by KeysCapt
last modified: 2004-01-05 14:40:06