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Using Surge Protectors on ADSL lines

Hi Folks,

As a result of the recent thundery weather in my area of the UK, I decided to install an APC PTel2 surge protector. This is fitted between the BT 'phone socket and the microfilter. This has resulted in a very substantial reduction in download speed - from 1900 kbps to 750 kbps.

Has anyone else tried fitting surge protection and, if so, did you also see a major reduction in download speed? Are there any products on the market that protect the line but don't have such an impact on connection speed?

On the face of it, it seems to make sense to protect telephones and modems from transient surges caused by nearby lightning strikes but maybe not if it results in such a large reduction in connection speed. Incidentally, my upload speed is less affected - it's about 350 kbps with or without surge protection.

All comments welcome.

Keval
 
I bought one of these
a25fu.jpg




I put it in BT master then connected phone and computer no fiilters needed I sync normally between 7100 and 6500

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=97672&doy=3m8
 
Never had a problem with power surges on phone lines myself, although most of the places I've worked and or lived in have had the lines underground anyway. Kits is correct though, if you're worried about that sort of thing then it's best to get a device that both acts as a filter and surge protection.
 
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Thanks for the feedback.

I was particularly interested in the comment about underground telephone lines. Whilst it makes sense to me that overground lines would be more susceptible to the effects of lightning, is it the case that underground lines are unaffected by nearby lightning strikes?

Keval
 
I have a surge protector power plug adaptor. It includes functionality for the phone line too. I've been meaning to plug it in to the phone line as well.

I've been meaning to for the last 3 years or so!
 
I recently suffered from a violent flash of lightning. It fried my router. The telephone cables are underground.
 
Thanks guys,

Well, I guess that crash79's post says it all. Even if the 'phone lines are underground, lightning is capable of wiping out your router.

I also need to add that the APC PTel2 surge protector no longer appears to be the reason behind my ADSL speed reduction. I bypassed it yesterday and still am seeing 750/350 kbps DOWN/UP. I'm now beginning to suspect the fact that we've had a lot of rain in my area of the UK recently. Although I'd forgotten about this, I do remember times in the past when heavy or prolonged rain has coincided with an ADSL speed reduction. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Keval
 
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Keval do two BT speed tests on from the routers normal place the second with all equipement removed from phone line and the router plugged into the BT test socket behind the faceplate post both results with which is the test result
 
Kits,

I tried this before and it made no difference whatsoever. BT advise leaving the connection alone for 3 days to allow the adaptive ADSL to do its thing. So, that's what I plan to do at the moment. Then I'll start investigating again.

Keval
 
Poles; they seem to be really nice people.

Could it be that some of the telephone lines (say near the Telephone Exchange) are above ground? If, for instance, you live in a recently built (say, 1970's onwards) house or flat, then the telephone line from the local street cabinet to your house, would always be underground. Further away, nearer the Telephone Exchange, it would most likely be on overhead poles. Not that I've got anything against Poles; they seem to be really nice people.:D

"Theoretically" it would be highly unlikely that lightning directly affected the underground cable as that cable is surrounded by "an earth"; that is, the actual earth or ground. However, strange things do happen sometimes.

I recently suffered from a violent flash of lightning. It fried my router. The telephone cables are underground.
 
"Theoretically" it would be highly unlikely that lightning directly affected the underground cable as that cable is surrounded by "an earth"; that is, the actual earth or ground. However, strange things do happen sometimes.

A lightning strike is likely to be conducted over the surface of the wet ground and will induce voltage in phone cables or any other conductors buried in the area.
 
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