Do I need a special microfilter for FTTC/VDSL?

Question

My ADSL is being upgraded to FTTC/VDSL next week. I'm told that it no longer involves an engineer visit - BT are sending me a new router, and I just plug in the new router where my current ADSL router is plugged in.

I'm using a microfilter because I don't have a filtered faceplate. Do I use my existing microfilter, or do I need a new type of microfilter for FTTC/VDSL?

Extra info: I have just the one phone socket with no extensions so it's a very simple config. The existing ADSL has been working fine for several years so the existing filter is fine for ADSL.

Answer 1

Do I use my existing microfilter, or do I need a new type of microfilter?

Using an existing microfilter can result in much lower speeds than when a filtered faceplate is fitted.

Faceplate filters are inexpensive (£9.95 from Amazon) and will generally deliver significant improvements in broadband speeds.

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Fibre Broadband (FTTC) Self Install and the Risks to Broadband Speeds Without a VDSL Faceplate Filter

BT has recently instigated a self-install option for FTTC fibre broadband where an engineer no longer needs to visit customers’ premises.

At first sight, this new self-install option looks to provide a win-win situation for broadband users and BT. Self installation will be cheaper for broadband users and they no longer will need to wait in for a visit from an engineer. For BT, there is a significant cost saving as the engineer will no longer need to visit customers’ premises to fit an Openreach modem and faceplate filter. Currently, the self-install option is only available for BT Infinity 1 and ‘up to 38 Mbps’ download services offered by other ISPs.

However, there is potentially a significant downside to the self-install option that broadband users need to be aware of. Self installation relies on broadband users installing microfilters on every telephone socket, as with the installation of conventional ADSL and ADSL2+ broadband services. However, installing microfilters filters can often result in much lower speeds than when a filtered faceplate is fitted.

The difference in speeds achieved by using a faceplate filter at the BT master socket rather than microfilters will generally be much larger for fibre broadband than for ADSL and ADSL2+ services.

We urge anyone considering or opting for a self-install fibre broadband service to install a faceplate filter. These are inexpensive and will generally deliver significant improvements in broadband speeds. Given the low cost of a filtered faceplate, you will still save money compared with an installation by an engineer and should achieve the same speeds!

For simplicity, here is a link to a high-quality, low-priced VDSL faceplate: VDSL Faceplate from Amazon UK

Source Fibre Broadband (FTTC) Self Install and the Risks to Broadband Speeds Without a VDSL Faceplate Filter