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Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

anytbut
Grafter
Posts: 242
Registered: ‎19-02-2009

Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Is there much improvement to be had using a filtered faceplate instead of the microfilter that came with the router?
Possible improvement in the sync rate/attentuation?
16 REPLIES 16
VileReynard
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

If the filtered faceplate is just a connector with a built-in filter, the effect is marginal.
But it looks much neater.
If you also get a filtered bell wire (and have extension phones), then you can get dramatic improvements,
Your required noise margin for stability can be greatly reduced, allowed an increased sync speed.
[An i-plate will do this for about £10 - but you still need those trailing filters.]
The first step is to measure your noise margin - if it's about 6 - 9dB then it's probably not worth doing anything.
If it's bigger than that - try getting PN to reduce it and if this fails, start thing about various faceplates / i-plates.

"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."

dvorak
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Quote from: Axis
The first step is to measure your noise margin - if it's about 6 - 9dB then it's probably not worth doing anything.
If it's bigger than that - try getting PN to reduce it and if this fails, start thing about various faceplates / i-plates.

I've always had a noise margin of 6dB, but by fitting a filtered faceplate and thus sorting my internal wiring my speeds more than doubled.
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Oldjim
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Actually the first step is to check the speeds using the test socket - if there is no change then it probably won't help unless you are using a poor quality filter
anytbut
Grafter
Posts: 242
Registered: ‎19-02-2009

Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Well,it`s usually around 6db give or take,if i decide to get a filtered faceplate is there much difference in in who makes them?
Like one from maplins over adsl nation?
Oldjim
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

i would always recommend the ADSLNation one
samuria
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Registered: ‎13-04-2007

Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

My experience is it makes a fantastic difference but its no good just putting in the new face plate you as also need  a high speed modem cable as its gold contacts and multi shielded. Everyone forgets you snr etc isnt the speed and noise at the master socket its the master socket speed and noise plus a rubbish bit of cable that connects the router to the master socket  cable of adding noise and dropping speed.
Here were my stats
27/07/08  5280 ds 9
28/07/08  5376 ds 9
29/07/08  5408 ds 2
30/07/08  5248 ds 3
31/07/08  5344 ds 7
01/08/08  5248 ds 6
02/08/08  5504 ds 7
03/08/08  5280 ds 6
04/08/08  5312 ds 7
They were with the bell wire removed
30/01/09  6240 ds 2
31/01/09  6144 ds 2
01/02/09  6208 ds 3
02/02/09  6016 ds 6
03/02/09  6208 ds 6
04/02/09  6272 ds 4
05/02/09  6208 ds 6
06/02/09  6240 ds 4
07/02/09  6144 ds 6
08/02/09  6336 ds 4
These are the stats since having the facplate and high speed modem cable to me its evidence that the cable/plate works my sync speed used to be 3500 now its 5000.  The cable is a lot better than an extension if its for BB
If your speed is above 7000 then any increase would be very small
mal0z
Grafter
Posts: 3,486
Registered: ‎02-10-2008

Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

I'm not questioning your results Samuria, if it works for then it works for you
but if you use a length Cat5 or high speed cable between your router and telephone sockets - how does that help if you then have a kilometer or so of CW1308 twisted pair / unscreened cable or equivalent with thicker outer covering to the exchange, via one or two distribution boxes with wires exposed ?.
Just a bit puzzled ?  Smiley
VileReynard
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Also, remember if the difference isn't enough "to get you onto the next level" and you're still operating on the same BT profile.
Then your speed will not change!
(Things should be different on ADSL2+ though).
Generally, you will get a better improvement if you are cluttered up with telephone extensions (especially unused ones).
I assume that your router is plugged directly into the BT master socket?
I think samuria is reffering to the wire from BT socket to router and the need for it to make good physical connections.

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samuria
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Because most of the noise is inside the house from radio,tv microwave, mains wiring etc and the very poor cables they supply with routers picks up noise like nothing on earth as they are not shielded. Speaking from experience I saw a difference the second I plugged it in.
I used to do a lot of network problems in  the ICI factory and the noise cables pick up is surprising moving a cat 3 cable 2 feet meant the difference between a printer working or not
mal0z
Grafter
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Registered: ‎02-10-2008

Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Granted the cables supplied with the routers are very poor and most  sold in shops not much better, but what about the cable from the master socket to the outside, that is near all the noise from computer / TV as well !!!. That isn't screened, just good twisted pair.
But of course you are right - if it works it works -  Smiley
But just a tale - when I first brought this laptop home and wanted to connect to the router in the office with the desktop and work in the lounge ( no wireless ) al I had was one of those horrible cheap extension leads with 15 meters of flat cable. I thought - this will never work - but it did and I got a sync of about 5M !!. I was amazed.
I still don't use Cat5 - just a reasonable twisted pair - and I get 7M. But I do live in the country, and it's very quiet electrically here.
[edit - not like an industrial site - ]
This ADSL is a funny unpredicable beast at times.
198kHz
Seasoned Hero
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Well it is RF - funny stuff.
There are advantages to being out in the sticks - no RFI.  Smiley
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HPsauce
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Quote from: Samuria
I saw a difference the second I plugged it in.

Ditto.
Replaced my ISP-supplied router cable with an ADSLnation (0.5m) one and went up 500k or so.  Smiley
penfold
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Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

I did have a crappy extension from the master socket to my office, and got a sync speed of around 3000 on a 42dB line.  Got a faceplate, wired Cat5E cable from socket to dedicated socket in office, got a sync of over 5500, but still a little bit unstable. After seeing samurias post in another thread reagrds RJ11 cables, got one from ADSL nation. Didnt improve sync, but stability amazing. SNR varies between 6.5 and 7 no matter the time of day, and not dropped sync for over 40days.
anytbut
Grafter
Posts: 242
Registered: ‎19-02-2009

Re: Filtered faceplate over basic microfilter.

Ok,just about to order a faceplate and a pro RJ11 cable off ADSLnation,would i be right in thinking that keep the cable as short a length as possible before i click buy? Smiley