I am trying to hook up my DSL computer and router with my fax machine, answer machine, Dish satellite TV and another telephone. I was told I needed a splitter to do this. My internet connection works fine when the phone line from the router does directly into the phone jack. If I put the splitter in the phone jack, then try to connect all the devices they all work, except the internet connection. Can you please help. Thank you.
Tam Gray

Put the splitter in the jack first, one side goes to phone/fax and should have a dsl filter, the other goes to the dsl modem with no filter installed.

We have filters and splitters and most people don't know what a splitter is.

A maximum of 5 filters can be installed on a DSL line. If you use filters, you don't need a splitter. A filter is required to just allow the voice frequencies to pass to the devices. You need one of these between the telephone line and every other device BUT the DSL modem. Usually the DSL company provides a few filters.

You hopefully will note that when the DSL modem is on there is a high pitched noise on the line if no filter is installed.

Splitters are a bit more complicated, but can offer better connection speeds. They are usually placed in the NID (The box outside the house). From there the telco line is SPLIT into DSL and VOICE. DSL goes to the DSL modems and the VOICE side goes to the existing telephone circuit in the house. They can be difficult to find and for a novice to install and are about $80. The phone company may do it for you.

The reason why this is true is because the older telephone systems use quad wire and the new stuff is wired with CAT 5. The older stuff typically had many branches rather than being a home run. These twists are responsible for the ability to run at high speeds.

I believe she may be referring to the regular garden variety 89¢ phone line splitter.
Example: http://www.tti.net/pix/Phone-Accessories/line-splitter1.jpg