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Knowledge Base document #3441

FRITZ!Box reports 'Interference may have been caused by powerline'

As soon as powerline devices are in use, the FRITZ!Box's VDSL connection drops frequently or the DSL data rate is significantly lower than the speed guaranteed by the internet service provider.

The FRITZ!Box's Power LED flashes while the connection is interrupted. One of the following error messages is displayed in the event log of the FRITZ!Box:

  • 'The internet connection (DSL) was cleared. Interference may have been caused by powerline.'
  • 'The DSL signal may have been distorted by powerline.'

Cause

  • Powerline is interfering with the VDSL connection: Both technologies use some of the same frequencies, which can lead to mutual interference.

Simply proceed as described below. After each measure, check whether the problem is solved.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Box.

1 Checking the cabling

  1. Plug the powerline device directly into an electrical socket. Do not use a power strip or an extension cord.
  2. Lay the DSL cable at a distance of at least 10 cm away from electrical wiring and outlets. The greater the distance between electrical wiring and the DSL cable, the better.
  3. Do not roll cables and avoid loops in the cables ('cable spaghetti').
  4. Test whether you can solve the problem by positioning the powerline device connected to the FRITZ!Box further away from the DSL connection. For example, plug it into a different electrical socket.

2 Running malfunction detection

  1. Click on 'Internet' in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click on 'DSL Information' in the 'Internet' menu.
  3. Click on the 'Line Settings' tab.
  4. Click on 'Interference Resistance Settings' to display all of the settings.
  5. Click on the 'Detect and Resolve Malfunctions' button. Now the FRITZ!Box checks the powerline connections and attempts to resolve problems with the DSL connection.
  6. If the 'Detect and Resolve Malfunctions' button is still shown after running the test, repeat the test until no further improvement of the DSL connection is possible.
  7. When you have finished testing, click on 'Finished'.
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