What are microfilters and how to use them

This article explains what microfilters are, when you need them, and how to connect them correctly.

What is a microfilter?

A microfilter is a small device that prevents your phone and broadband signals from interfering with each other. Without microfilters, you may experience slow broadband speeds, connection drops, or noise on your phone line.

Microfilters have two ports:

• ADSL/DSL port: For connecting your router.
• Phone port: For connecting your telephone, digital TV box, or answering machine.

Do I need microfilters?

You only need microfilters if you have a standard master socket (one port on the front). If you have a pre-filtered master socket (two ports built in), your phone and broadband signals are already separated and you do not need microfilters.

If you have a standard master socket, you need a microfilter plugged into every socket in use at your premises. Two microfilters are included with your router. If you need more, you can purchase them online or from any electronics retailer.

How to connect your microfilters

1. Remove any devices that are plugged into your master socket.
2. Plug your microfilter into your master socket.
3. Connect your phone cable (or other device) to the Phone port on the microfilter.
4. If this is the socket where your router is connected, plug the broadband cable from your router into the ADSL/DSL port on the microfilter.

Troubleshooting microfilter issues

If you are experiencing broadband or phone line issues, check the following:

• Do not plug two microfilters into each other.
• Do not plug a microfilter into a socket that is not in use.
• If you do not have enough microfilters for every socket in use, unplug devices from the sockets without microfilters until you can purchase more.
• If a microfilter may be faulty, try replacing it with a spare to see if the issue is resolved.

Related articles

• What are master sockets?
• Set up and connect your router
• My Wi-Fi connection keeps dropping