HOW CAN I CHECK FOR FAULTS IN MY BT PHONE CONNECTIONS PREVENTING A
BROADBAND CONNECTION?  HAVE ALREADY ADDED SPLITTERS TO ALL CONNECTIONS
AND PUT ADSL CONNECTION FIRST.

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 18 May 2004 22:01 PDT

millie...

I'm not sure if BT is any different than US service,
but you mention adding 'splitters' to all connections.

In the US, a splitter splits one phone outlet into 
two. You don't need these, except perhaps on the 
one phone outlet near your computer, if you are 
using a phone from the same outlet. 

What you do need is a special microfilter, which would
be connected in between every outlet and phone (or fax,
answering machine or other device which is attached to
it. This filter segregates the voice signal and the DSL
signal so that using the phone doesn't interfere with 
your DSL signal, and vice-versa. You don't need one of
these filters on the line that goes to your computer's
DSL modem. Adding one will cause a problem, which may 
be why you're having a problem. 

An image of the filters I'm describing is on this page
from Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000A42XM/026-9609249-1755633

Please clarify based on this information, or, if I've
resolved your problem, let me know, and I'll post a 
formal answer.

sublime1-ga

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Clarification of Question by millie1133-ga on 21 May 2004 05:20 PDT

YES this is what Icall a splitter.  We have done everything you
suggest and have even disconnected everything except modem but it
still comes back as 'connection error'

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Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 21 May 2004 17:18 PDT

millie...

I'm sorry to hear it wasn't something simple.

The book that came with my DSL modem is over 50 pages.
There are different ways to set up the service, and it
tends to be a little complicated. 

There is actually a device called a 'splitter' which is
used in a configuration called POTS Splitter (Plain Old
Telephone Service. This is a junction box which has one
input for your outside line, one output for your modem,
and one output to which all other telephony devices are
hooked up.

The configuration that uses the microfilters in-line with
every telephony device except the modem is called EZ-DSL.

There are also different kinds of software with which you
can connect to DSL. PPP is one, and 1483 is another. Your
ISP should have told you whether you need to use a POTS
Splitter or EZ-DSL, and should have told you what software
protocol to use. Another thing you need to know is the 
number the modem uses to connect with the ISP. On mine it
was simply '1', but, again, your ISP should have told you
what you need to use for yours, and provided documentation
to assist you in the process. 

When I signed up for DSL (which you'll love, by the way),
I had the option of setting it up myself, for free (having
been given plenty of documentation) or I could have paid 
a one-time fee to have a pro come in and set it up. Do you
have similar options?

One of the first things I'd check is to see if your modem
is listed as working in Windows Device Manager. Do you know
how to do that?

You haven't said what Operating System you're using, either,
but if the modem is listed and working, the next step might
be to go to a DOS or Command Prompt and type ipconfig/all
and hit Enter, and report back exactly what the response
is.

This can be very difficult and tedious to accomplish by
way of text, which is why I asked if your ISP might send
someone out for a reasonable fee.

sublime1-ga

Have you actually checked to see whether your line is capable of
handling an adsl signal using the availability checkers found on
almost all decent adsl ordering websites? If the checker comes back as
a negative then there's nothing you can do yourself to get yourself
broadband enabled - it's nothing to do with what's in your house but
what's between the cable running out of your house and your local
exchange. Perhaps the cable's just too long, or is old and of inferior
quality.

yes all that has been checked, I should say too that I have asked
binatone.  The tech help there got it to work once.  Next time I
switched on my computer it was no go.  Thats when I was told it was a
line connection problem.

You should really contact BT wholesale through your DSL ISP as they're
the ones who are responsible for the upkeep of your line. You'll find
that if it's a fault with some equipment within your house they'll
charge you for the callout (but you look like you've tried everything
already), otherwise if it's a problem with the master socket in the
house or the cable from your house to the exchange BT will fix it for
free.

Going back to equipment in your house, I found that when I used
"cheap" filters (referred by you as splitters) they didn't work
properly and cut my line off when the phone was used. You could try
purchasing some more expensive/decent ones and see if that helps.
Additionally do you have any other modems on the phone line? - this
includes a sky digital box - as these can cause problems with cheap
micro filters as well.