The difference between DSL and ADSL

[Want-to-know]

I have a fixed landline (not handsfree phone) and also broadband, using a Belkin modem. My line rental is BT, although broadband and phone calls are via Talktalk.

My question is this. I have 2 DSL filters (now a few years old) and was told that this could be the problem why I get hissing on my phone line, unless I completely take out my computer connections out of the wall.

I see that only ADSL filters seem to be sold these days and not DSL. However, I was told that DSL is for cable and copper wiring subscribers and since I do not have either of these, I should get two new ADSL filters to attach to both my phone and computer cables.

Any comments would help as I have had contradictory advice about filters. Please keep any answers to layman's terms, as I am not very technically minded.

Thank you for your assistance.

[ChuckFickens]

Just get the ADSL filters, they are the correct item for you.

[rojash]

"Difference Between DSL And ADSL"
That's like asking the difference between a car and a a petrol-engined car.
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line.
There are two flavours: ADSL and SDSL
The initial letter stands for Asymmetric or Symmetric respectively.
ADSL is the most commonly used because it allocates a much greater portion of the bandwidth to downloading than it does to uploading.
That's because a typical user uploads very little (eg, they type in a URL) and downloads much more (eg a web page or a video)

[old-wos-is-name]

Hissing is a filter problem. make sure every socket that is being used, that includes sky boxes if they are plugged into a phone socket, has a filter in the socket. don't buy filters from the £1 shop, as they are usually rubbish, buy filters that stae they are "ADSL 2" they are the latest ones. some filters have DSL and some have ADSL marked on them, absolutely no difference. don't go to comet or PC world, they charge a fortune, go to asda or tesco, their filters work fine.

[Want-to-know]

Thank you for your answers. I will definitely get two new ADSL filters from a reputable firm. Just saw under wikipedia that is says:

DSL signals may be degraded by older telephone lines.... My line is old (like me), but also I am more than 4 km from the phone exchange, which also can cause problems, according to the article. Still I will give it a shot.

Thank you all for your help.

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi Again,
the Hissing is filters, nothing to do with distance from the exchange. at 4kilometres I would expect at least 2Mbs and hopefully 3 to 4 Mbs. old wiring can cause problems, and the only way to be certain that your internal wiring is not causing slow broadband is to to remove the lower part of the master socket, and plug your hub/modem directly into the the test jack point on the lower right hand side. that way you have no extensions connected and you should get a true speed reading.

[Want-to-know]

Thanks "Wos" for the extra info.

[Want-to-know]

Bought new ADSL filters and problem is solved. Thank you all for the advice.

[northernmonkey]

The difference is "A" ADSL AND DSL