Hiya, I am thinking of getting broadband as my ISP and hotmail have been sh*te all christmas and they are driving me batty, I have resisted up till now cause i`m not sure i use it enough to warrent paying the differance, but now have decided what the hell..
My query is this, i`m sure i read somewhere you cannot use phone extensions with it. I have an extension in the kitchen and one upstairs wired into the socket box and the wire running under the floorboards and i would not want ot lose them, i know you get a gadget to plug into other sockets but would it still cause interferance on these lines?

The line on the extensions will buzz. You just need a filter. they cost about a fiver

and this thread may be useful (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23444&highlight=broadband)

Probably best bet would be blueyonder cable if thats in your area as that has no affects on extensions. And there's some good deals at the moment.:)

I thought blueyonder would be a completly new setup, i would lose the bt boxes anyway would`nt i ?

Originally posted by Strix
The line on the extensions will buzz. You just need a filter. they cost about a fiver What are these filters Strix and where do you get them from ?:)

Originally posted by Bikertec
What are these filters Strix and where do you get them from ?:)

They are ADSL filters and you need one on every phone socket in the home. You can buy them in lots of places, i've even seen them in B&Q.

Originally posted by vidster
They are ADSL filters and you need one on every phone socket in the home. You can buy them in lots of places, i've even seen them in B&Q. They wouldn't work on a dailup then ?.:confused:

If you have broadband down your bt line, the computer data appears as white noise on your phone line. To eliminate this there's a doubler thing that you plug 1) the phone 2) the ethernet cable into. It's a 'noise' filter. Extension phones split off before the signal reaches the main filter, so you'll need additional filters.

You can't plug the ethernet cable into an extension though, because the extension lines have less connections in them.

What's so difficult about that, Bikertec?

Originally posted by Bikertec
They wouldn't work on a dailup then ?.:confused: What for? :confused:

Strix sorry to sound thick the ethernet cable is the broadband one is it? and for me is that a yes or a no i did not get that.
This is my setup now, the bt box has a entension that we wired in, ( not just the plug in type ) that leads to the kitchen where we put a phone box, then a wire from that to another phone box upstairs.

Originally posted by mollie
Strix sorry to sound thick the ethernet cable is the broadband one is it? and for me is that a yes or a no i did not get that.
This is my setup now, the bt box has a entension that we wired in, ( not just the plug in type ) that leads to the kitchen where we put a phone box, then a wire from that to another phone box upstairs. Your bt line needs to be activated for broadband. Your ISP will see to that. the filter plugs into the main incoming bt box. The ethernet cable is the special computer cable which plugs into the filter at one end and the computer at the other. Your extensions will need filters on coz they will crackle (like ours).

I edited a linked thread into my original post, so scroll back up and have a browse.

Logging off soon. Vidster is a good source of info :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Strix
What for? :confused: My brothering law has Dialup with lots of extensions, there fore his dial up is crap.:gag: thought a filter might help.

Originally posted by Bikertec
My brothering law has Dialup with lots of extensions, there fore his dial up is crap.:gag: thought a filter might help. nope. That's just what happens when you split the signal up too much - it's weak. Unplug all the extensions and get cordless phones :thumbsup: that's what we've done. I picked a set where I can dial from one handset to another. Handy if I nip next door :D

Originally posted by Bikertec
My brothering law has Dialup with lots of extensions, there fore his dial up is crap.:gag: thought a filter might help.

As far as i know ADSL filters will have no effect on a dial up connection.

This is starting to get spooky, Vidster. :shocked:

How do we keep posting simultaneously?

Originally posted by Strix
This is starting to get spooky, Vidster. :shocked:

How do we keep posting simultaneously?

Great minds Strix.....Great minds!

Originally posted by Strix
If you have broadband down your bt line, the computer data appears as white noise on your phone line. To eliminate this there's a doubler thing that you plug 1) the phone 2) the ethernet cable into. It's a 'noise' filter. Extension phones split off before the signal reaches the main filter, so you'll need additional filters.

You can't plug the ethernet cable into an extension though, because the extension lines have less connections in them.
Just a couple of things here, firstly, broadband isn't presented as ethernet, it's a similar socket that is used, that's all.

Secondly, who said you can't use ADSL on extensions? ADSL uses *less* wires than a standard telephone. As a rule of thumb, if there's a socket you can plug a phone and\or ADSL modem into it.

Mollie, if you have the modem plugged into the master socket, and it's a newer style with the split front, then you can get a faceplate filter that will save having to buy individual filters for all the extensions.

thanks Lurch for the info, i`ll scream for more help if i get stuck.

Originally posted by Lurch
Secondly, who said you can't use ADSL on extensions? ADSL uses *less* wires than a standard telephone. As a rule of thumb, if there's a socket you can plug a phone and\or ADSL modem into it. Perhaps I wasn't listening properly to my uncle when he was imparting all the whys and wherefores about phone installations to me. He's a bt engineer. If your's works on your extension lines, I stand corrected.

Originally posted by Strix
Perhaps I wasn't listening properly to my uncle when he was imparting all the whys and wherefores about phone installations to me. He's a bt engineer.
Ah, I see. The old 'eyes glazing over trick!
Originally posted by Strix
If your's works on your extension lines, I stand corrected.
Well, mine doesn't actually, it's wired in a reasonably complex manner! I have installed a lot of ADSL and telecoms equipment elsewhere though and it does.

There is a limit to the extension cable lenght. Broadband is very sensitive and i think that the reccomended length is something like 10 metres maximum.

Try putting the Microfilter at the end of the extension, or at the beggining of it. Swap it over and see what happens.

Originally posted by Strix
Perhaps I wasn't listening properly to my uncle when he was imparting all the whys and wherefores about phone installations to me. He's a bt engineer. If your's works on your extension lines, I stand corrected.

Mine works quite happily on an extension - just have to have the filters in place properly.

You can get a couple more dB loss on an extension, though, due to losses at the plug / socket connections.

But it works fine - our router is plugged in to an extension in my study which is upstairs, fed by an extension from the Master Socket. In fact, I even have a telephone plugged in to the same extension as the ADSL modem.

The length of the extension does make a difference - ours is about 15 metres and I think we're pushing the relationship. But, I get about 28dB SNR and relatively few CRC errors, and the expected up and down speeds so I'm happy! :)

Joe

Originally posted by coolwill2k
There is a limit to the extension cable lenght.
There isn't, there's a limit to the quality.

The ADSL signal travels over miles of good\not so good BT cabling and connections. Adding a few metres on the end of it won't make any difference if you have a decent quality setup.

Don't be drawn into the 'high quality' leads that are sold by Curry's etc, any good quality standard extension cables will be fine.

Originally posted by Lurch
There isn't, there's a limit to the quality.

The ADSL signal travels over miles of good\not so good BT cabling and connections. Adding a few metres on the end of it won't make any difference if you have a decent quality setup.

Don't be drawn into the 'high quality' leads that are sold by Curry's etc, any good quality standard extension cables will be fine.

According to the BT engineer I cornered at Christmas (when they came to replace the 30 year old wiring between pole and The Towers) he basically said that I could afford to go down another 5 or 6 dB on the SNR without worrying.

One thing I did notice made a difference was replacing a socket near the door that had some oxidised pins inside it. They caused a lot of grief.

Lurch, what's the issue of passing the extension cable near mains / electrical noise sources in the house?

Joe

Originally posted by JoeP
One thing I did notice made a difference was replacing a socket near the door that had some oxidised pins inside it. They caused a lot of grief.
There you go then, quality installations make it better!
Originally posted by JoeP
Lurch, what's the issue of passing the extension cable near mains / electrical noise sources in the house?
Not a good idea. Always try and keep mains and signal\communication cables apart by at least 60mm.

Without going into any detail whatsoever, mains cables can cause quite a lot of inteference in the line that can cause all sorts of minor\major troubles.

Originally posted by mollie
Hiya, I am thinking of getting broadband as my ISP and hotmail have been sh*te all christmas and they are driving me batty, I have resisted up till now cause i`m not sure i use it enough to warrent paying the differance, but now have decided what the hell..
My query is this, i`m sure i read somewhere you cannot use phone extensions with it. I have an extension in the kitchen and one upstairs wired into the socket box and the wire running under the floorboards and i would not want ot lose them, i know you get a gadget to plug into other sockets but would it still cause interferance on these lines?
You can still have your house extensions so not to worry.

Just make sure you have MicroFilters (you can get them from Maplins) to enable the broadband signal.

If I may too I thoroughly recommend the Sheffield Broadband Company Plus Net (www.plusnetadsl.co.uk). They have great deals on broadband access and I can vouch for their 2 meg line cos I have it. And at £22.99 per month (which i pay) it's a steal.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler
If I may too I thoroughly recommend the Sheffield Broadband Company Plus Net (www.plusnetadsl.co.uk). Hmm, they were good once. They've got a bit too big to cope now and are gradually falling apart from many posts on newsgroups recently.

ADSL guide (www.adslguide.org) is a good place to start.

Hi
How about Telewest blueyonder cable broadband if its available in your area (Try the postcode search on www.telewest.co.uk, it will tell you if its available). They have an offer on at the moment £14.99 a month for a year plus free instal. They instal a separate line that is used only for the Broadband.

Originally posted by Lurch
Hmm, they were good once. They've got a bit too big to cope now and are gradually falling apart from many posts on newsgroups recently.

ADSL guide (www.adslguide.org) is a good place to start. Gosh - must check up I can still get internet access.... My plusnet connection may be fraying at the edges as I type..... Most of the ramblings I've read about F9/plusnet being rubbish refer to experiences that pre-date the hardware upgrades they carried out last year.

Originally posted by Strix
Gosh - must check up I can still get internet access.... My plusnet connection may be fraying at the edges as I type..... Most of the ramblings I've read about F9/plusnet being rubbish refer to experiences that pre-date the hardware upgrades they carried out last year.
Agreed.

Plus Net is an excellent provider and can cope with their client base very well.
I for one have had no problems with their service what so ever (and I'm a happy 2meg customer).

Originally posted by Strix
Most of the ramblings I've read about F9/plusnet being rubbish refer to experiences that pre-date the hardware upgrades they carried out last year.
You've obviously got an out of date source of info then.

Only links posted on this site

But I think it was you who posted them, Lurch :D

Originally posted by Strix
Only links posted on this site
Ah well, there you go then. Biased you see! Try a nationwide poll and see what you come up with. There's loads of disgruntled customers on other sites and newsgroups.

You pays your money, you takes your chance. At some point in the coming months most of the top 5 ISPs will be at the no.1 spot, you amy as well just stick a pin in the list.

Nice to see you posting your sources mate ;)
The disgrunted ones are the ones with something to complain about - the 90+% of people with a great service both in terms of speed and customer service have no requirements to make any noises.

We're the ones happy enough to just surf and be merry (or complain about other things like MODS removing threads ;) cos our Broadband is so amazing).

I read ADSL Guide mate, daily and I see the same old people complaining, it's not thousands to you - it's tens.

Plus Net are one of the top ISP's in the country whether you like it or not. Are you even a Plus Net customer? Do you know what the service is like? I'm guessing not.:loopy:

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler
Nice to see you posting your sources mate ;)
The disgrunted ones are the ones with something to complain about - the 90+% of people with a great service both in terms of speed and customer service have no requirements to make any noises.
Even so, there's still more complaints recently about PlusNet than any else. Other ISPs of similar standings haven't got 10% of customers screaming and moaning at the moment, although they have had\will do in the past\next 12 months.

By the time this thread is done someone else will be the ISP not to go with.