That is, the power attenuation of the POTS signal caused by the DSL or HomePNA signal results in interference, causing noise on the line. Phone filters are installed between an analog phone or device and the wall via a standard RJ-11 phone jack. Low-pass filters enable the signals at lower frequencies, such as the POTS signal, to pass through while they completely filter out the higher frequency DSL signals. The consumer can then have clear conversations on the phone, even when someone else is using a computer to get online in another part of the house. But filters do more than clear up static on the line.
Filters enable the rapid deployment of broadband services to the consumer market.
In other words, the phone company doesn't have to install a piece of equipment called a splitter, which separates the line so that DSL comes in on one wire and POTS comes in on another. In a splittered environment, you would need to have a truck roll so the phone company could install the splitter, a costly, time-consuming process that requires the consumer to be home during installation. Analysts predict use of a splitterless DSL configuration to surpass the splittered DSL setup by the end of 2000, so the growing trend toward splitterless DSL service will further accentuate the need for high-quality filter products. Because DSL subscribers no longer need an external splitter, DSL providers can more effectively compete with cable providers. In the splitterless DSL environment, service can be initiated by the subscriber without a truck roll.