an extraneous length of dangling, unterminated cable on a communications line, usually left over from an earlier configuration, that can cause impedance mismatches and other undesired effects in transmissions
an unconnected cable that is spliced into your telephone line,
a spliced connection of another local loop to the primary local loop
Bridge Tap refers to line that is cut short but continues to be physically connected to the pairs that continue beyond the new termination point. Think of a "T" intersection on a road.
An accidental connection of another local loop to the primary local loop. Generally it behaves as an open circuit at DC, but becomes a transmission line stub with adverse effects at high frequency. It is generally harmful to DSL connections and should be removed. Extra phone wiring within one's house is a combination of short bridge taps. A POTS splitter isolates the house wiring and provides a direct path for the DSL signal to pass unimpaired to the ATU-R modem.
An extension to a local loop (branches off the main line) used to attach a remote user to a central office. Bridge taps can limit the speed of DSL.
Physical wiring within the local loop that has open-ended leads. Bridge taps impact DSL performance by degrading the signal quality. They should be removed from the line before DSL is installed. Generally, telephone companies will remove bridge taps at no charge to the customer, sending a technician out to cut the bridge taps off.
An extension to a local loop generally used to attach a remote user to a central office switch without having to run a new pair of wires all the way back.
An undetermined length of wire attached between the normal endpoints of a circuit that introduces unwanted impedance imbalances for data transmission (also called bridging tap or bridged tap.)
A bridge tap is typically a wire which hangs from a pair of lines in the Public Switched Telephone Network. This line is usually an old tap line to a business or home. Bridge taps create a reflection point for high frequency waves on the line creating problems for DSL use on that line.