Dear Ms Connected,

I am finally upgrading from dial-up Internet access to broadband. My Internet provider has told me I need some “line splitters”. What are these?

Hayley J., Burwood, NSW

Dear Hayley,

A typical ADSL line splitter.

A common method of receiving broadband Internet is via your regular telephone line, using a technology called ADSL. This allows the same phone line to be used for both voice calls and Internet access.

Even though they are using the same line, the voice and Internet data must be kept separate. Why? To avoid high-pitched Internet noise interfering with your voice calls, and to maintain a “clean” signal level for the ADSL connection.

This is where a line splitter is required. It’s a matchbox-sized device that literally splits the signal into voice and Internet. The splitter is installed between the phone socket and your ADSL modem or phone handset.

Your Internet provider may also mention a line “filter”. This achieves the same effect, but in a different way. Rather than splitting the signal, its filters out the ADSL signal and allows the voice to go through.

You’ll need either a splitter or filter on every phone socket in your home that’s on the same line as your ADSL connection. A splitter will most likely be used on sockets that connect to a modem; for phone-only sockets, just a filter will do the trick.

These should be provided as part of your Internet upgrade. If not, you can buy them from retail outlets such as Dick Smith Electronics for around $25.

Yours in simplified technology,

Ms Connected

For her contribution to Ms Connected, Hayley has won a ViewSonic digital photo frame valued at $199. Send your question to msconnected@connectedaustralia.com.