DSL filter and ELk M1

lip

Member
Hi,
Do I need to install a DSL filter(obviously I have DSL) between the RJ31X jack and the alarm panel. I actually have an ELK-952 surge protector as well.

Thanks.
 
This is hard for me to answer without knowing more about your specifics, but short answer - yes. The RJ31X is supposed to be the first thing on your phone line, with all other house phones falling behind it - that's how it gets guranteed line seizure. The problem comes depending on your house wiring.

The idea of using those irritating DSL filters on every jack of the house bugs me - I see people do it wrong so often. The best case way for you to do this is to have the RJ31X either near the Telco's MPOE (Where the phone line reaches the house) or if you have a house with structured wiring, in that panel. What you ultimately want is for your raw phone line (DSL and Telephone) to enter the house, go through a single DSL Splitter/filter - then after the filter, go to the RJ31X, then to the rest of the house phone jacks. The other side (The DSL) should be wired on its own wire pair to wherever you have your modem.

This way you only need one filter for the entire house, and, when the alarm seizes the line, it doesn't knock out your DSL - and it maintains the integrity of the RJ31X circuit which gurantees line seizure. Way too often in a situation like yours, the RJ31X is just off a leg of the telephone line, not preceeding all other jacks like it's supposed to. Someone just calling your house and tying up the line by letting it ring or tying up your answering machine would be enough to keep the dialer from working.

If that isn't clear enough, post some more specifics about your particular household wiring (where the modem is, how many phones have to have filters currently, how the lines come into the hose, etc) and I can answer with better detail.

As for the surge protector, it goes inline between the RJ31X and the alarm panel - and gets grounded; very simple.
 
I've seen quite a few alarm systems connected to a DSL phone line work without a DSL filter. But also, I seen quite a few that do not. To be safe, I'd say yes, use the DSL filter. They are cheap and will help assure your alarm system can send signals reliably.
 
My bet, it won't matter to the Elk or monitoring co. However, I suggest giving your alarm monitoring co. a call and asking them. It is after all a communication issue and that is their specialty.
 
The install docs for HAI Omni specifically addresses filtering the DSL signal from the panel.
If it's not addressed in the Elk docs I assume it would be wise to filter for the same reasons HAI states.
 
If you ever pick up a phone on an unfiltered dsl line, you know why they have filters. You hear faint noises in the background, static like sounds and some faint whining noises. The noises change depending on the traffic. They are not loud and you might think you had a loose wire if you didn't know better.

If you are using contact ID to transmit your alarm data to the monitoring co then it is using dtmf (touch tone) to transmit the info. For the most part, those touch-tone signals are so much stronger than the dsl noise that missed communications is unlikely. But, I would still filter it.

Just split the line where it comes into the building, filter the one side and send it to the alarm and then to the rest of the house. This will then kill two birds with one stone since all of your voice phones will be filtered. Run the unfiltered line to the dsl modem.
 
I have a Wilcom PS-15S DSL splitter connected to my M1 system, and it seems to be working fine. These can be bought at various sites online, but you can checkout the specs at www.wilcominc.com

As Work2Play had mentioned, I installed my splitter shortly after the phone line entered into my house, then took the phone line to the M1 through the surge suppressor before feeding the rest of the house phones. My DSL line goes to a nearby DSL Modem and wireless router.

Haven't had any issues with this splitter as of yet, but it only has been installed for about a year...

Hope this helps...
 
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