VDSL Filter Geek Question

[#1]

Hi

This is an academic/geek interest question, not a fault!

Firstly, some background. I have both the Plusnet supplied "Hub Two" and a DrayTek 2866 Router. The DrayTek 2866 supports VDSL and G.Fast. I live about 200m, line of site, from my BT PCP, I don't know my pair length. I live on a modern estate, that had a new PCP installed to service, and all cabling is subsurface. My DSLAM is Huawei. The incoming pair is presented on a BT Master Socket 5c. There is no internal house wiring connected to the NTE and my router is connected directly to the master socket. My indicated downstream bit rate increases slightly if I remove the 5c face plate and use the Plusnet supplied filter into the 431 test socket inside the master socket, which is how I normally operate. My connection is rock solid with Down Stream: 69,244Kbps/Up Stream: 19,996Kbps indicated on the DrayTek. The Plusnet Hub 2 provides similar performance.

My understanding, which is probably wrong, is that the VDSL filter provides a full range signal to data (with a little insertion loss) and  a low pass filter for voice. As I'm using VDSL I have no voice connection. I tried to connect by router's VDSL port directly to the master socket without a filter (using a new RS RJ11 to 431 cable) and while my VDSL connected my bit rates reduced significantly to Down Stream: 38,170Kbps/Up Stream: 14,192Kbps. This implies the filter is not just providing a full range signal to the data port. As soon as I re-install the filter my bit rates go back to normal. I'm interested to understand why my bit rate dropped when the filter was removed, any ideas?

Thanks

[#2]

My understanding, which is probably wrong, is that the VDSL filter provides a full range signal to data (with a little insertion loss) and  a low pass filter for voice.

@BertTwildge you are essentially correct. Where no phones are connected, then connecting directly to the master socket should not be a problem. https://superuser.com/questions/194729/will-connecting-the-phone-line-directly-without-the-splitter-...

I suspect a fault with your Rj11 to BT 431 cable. Likely a poor BT431 plug. The latest NTE5c master socket has a poor reputation for connector quality, although it mainly affects the faceplate

[#3 · Accepted solution]

Thanks @MisterW!

You were right about the 5c being the issue. I tried a couple of RJ11 to 431 cables but the issue remained. I then bypassed the 5c, as per the attached photo, and my speed jumped to Down Stream: 73226Kbps/Up Stream: 20000Kbps, so I've gained quite a bit down.

I appreciate my test setup has bypassed lightening protection etc, I won't be leaving the system like this!

Thanks again

[#4]

If its ok using the filter plugged into the master socket , then I'd carry on like that. Although I suppose it dosnet look quite as neat!