Run Lifeline and broadband on one line

Q I would like to connect to the internet with a broadband service. My wife uses the Piper Lifeline Service that is connected to the telephone line and wears a pendant to set off an alarm in an emergency.

I had been told that some sort of filter may be necessary to stop the lifeline equipment and broadband interfering with one another other. Can you tell me what is required and how should it be installed?

CWE Trippett

A The filter is exactly the same as the filters used to plug in ordinary telephones to stop them interfering with the broadband connection. The term broadband does not actually refer to the increased speed of an ADSL internet connection but the fact that the cable going from your house to the exchange is used for different things at the same time; voice calls and the internet.

The filter box makes sure that the broadband modem router does not get interference from the telephone and vice versa. The Lifeline Service uses the telephone line and so needs a filter as well.

Given the importance of this equipment, always check with the manufacturer when making changes to your telephone provider or equipment and test it to make sure it is working.

Baffled by jargon? See our free online jargon buster