What Are Micro Filters And Why Do I Need Them?

Micro filters, or phone filters as they are sometimes known, are small devices that plug into your phone socket and provide two connections, one is a standard telephone connection for your phone, and the other is for the broadband cable from your modem or router

A micro filter must be fitted into each of the phone sockets you have. Or, to be more precise, into each phone socket to which you intend connecting telephony equipment.

The filters are required to filter out the hissing noise that a broadband enabled line would produce if you were to connect a phone into the upgraded line without the filter. What the micro filter does is stop line noise interference between voice and data calls, which, although travelling at different frequencies, are using the same physical phone line.

Micro filters are usually supplied by the ISP along with its router or modem. Invariably, there's never quite enough to go round and you will have to buy extra. Prices start at around two or three pounds but it is worth paying a little more to obtain a good quality filter as cheaper alternatives can still permit some line noise at times.