topic Re: Broadband and virtual Landline in Everything else

Broadband and virtual Landline

Jonchilly — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 19:09:02 GMT

I've currently got a 4 months left on my broadband contract and I'm looking at what to do with our landline.

I've seen a number of services available that provides a reasonable service.

My question is can I transfer my current landline number to a virtual solution and still keep my broadband service?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

jab1 — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 19:13:34 GMT

The only way to do that, if you wish to stay with PN, is to ask for your BB service to be switched to SoGEA, and once that is done, move your phone number to a VoIP provider, within 30 days.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

mechanic123 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:10:43 GMT

And then hack the hardware?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

jab1 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:12:14 GMT

@mechanic123 Why would you need to do that?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

mechanic123 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:19:43 GMT

Why? To replace the function that the filter seperating the data stream from the phone line currently supplies?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

jab1 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:28:11 GMT

If you are on SoGEA with a VoIP service, the 'phone' side is over the internet, and doesn't need separating.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

dvorak — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:31:23 GMT

Moderators Note

This topic has been moved from Broadband to Everything Else

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

MisterW — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 11:32:40 GMT

To replace the function that the filter seperating the data stream from the phone line currently supplies?

@mechanic123 assuming we are talking about the DSL filter, then it doesnt separate the data stream, it just prevents interference of the high frequency DSL signal by the low frequency phone signals.

As @jab1 says, when there is no analogue phone service there is no interference to prevent , hence no filter required!

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

mechanic123 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:01:20 GMT

@MisterW wrote:

To replace the function that the filter seperating the data stream from the phone line currently supplies?

@mechanic123 assuming we are talking about the DSL filter, then it doesnt separate the data stream, it just prevents interference of the high frequency DSL signal by the low frequency phone signals.

As @jab1 says, when there is no analogue phone service there is no interference to prevent , hence no filter required!

So where would I plug the RJ11 connector in?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

RealAleMadrid — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:07:13 GMT

@mechanic123 The same place it is plugged into now. The DSL connection is a direct connection to the line. It is only the POTS phone connection that is filtered. So just use the existing data connection on a filtered faceplate or separate filter.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

jab1 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 12:09:01 GMT

Deleted - @RealAleMadrid beat me to it.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

mechanic123 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 13:54:05 GMT

@RealAleMadrid wrote:

@mechanic123 The same place it is plugged into now. The DSL connection is a direct connection to the line. It is only the POTS phone connection that is filtered. So just use the existing data connection on a filtered faceplate or separate filter.

That would put wideband data onto the phone leads - not good surely? Isn't that what the adsl filters are supposed to filter out?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 15:53:56 GMT

Perhaps a picture will help ?

Here is a very simplified circuit diagram of a DSL filter.

As you can see, the 'modem' outlet is wired directly across the incoming landline - and is NOT filtered !

The 'phone' outlet has an inline filter that passes through low frequency voice signals but blocks frequencies above 3KHz coming FROM the telephone handset and internal phone wiring, which otherwise could interfere with high frequency DSL signals and reduce broadband performance.

@mechanic123 wrote:

And then hack the hardware?

Once a line is converted to SoGEA and the analogue phone will never be used again, if you still wanted to "hack" your hardware, you could try and return to the simplest setup, by replacing the landline Master Socket filtered faceplate with the original unfiltered phone socket faceplate, and then get yourself a replacement DSL cable with RJ11 to BT431A plug, which you would then connect into the unfiltered phone outlet. Theoretically not having a filter on the line, should slightly reduce the insertion loss of your Master Socket and might slightly increase the available VDSL signal, and consequently there is a small chance that sync speeds improve. I suppose if you really wanted to go hardcore minimalist, you could plug the RJ11/BT431A DSL cable in to the landline "TEST socket" and eliminate the faceplate entirely !

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

RealAleMadrid — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 16:37:21 GMT

@mechanic123 You say .. " That would put wideband data onto the phone leads " I don't quite follow, there is no phone service so no phone connected to the incoming copper line if you switch to SOGEA.

Perhaps you are thinking of VRI (Voice re-injection) where internal phone extensions could be connected to a VOIP service from an ATA or router to allow standard phones to be connected around the house? The extensions would be disconnected from the POTS line so would have no DSL data on them so no filtering required.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

mechanic123 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:26:07 GMT

So what's the relation of voip to sogea? If we have to use voip, how is that saving me money? And do I need a new phone?

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

jab1 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:30:49 GMT

@mechanic123 wrote:

So what's the relation of voip to sogea?

If you are on a SoGEA connection, that is without a voice component .

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:59:25 GMT

@mechanic123 wrote:

So what's the relation of voip to sogea?

It isn't, other than if you want to disassociate your existing phone number from your combined broadband+phone service, you need to remove the phone part, which usually means converting the broadband to SoADSL, SoGEA or FTTP !.

FTTC (using copper wires) = VDSL (broadband) + analogue landline phone service.

SoGEA (using copper wires) = VDSL (broadband) and NOT associated with a telephone number.

VoIP is a standardised digital telephone service, which can use ANY internet connection to make/receive calls.

The UK analogue telephone system is being phased out and switched off before the end of 2025.

If you wish to continue to use your existing analogue landline telephone number, then you can port your number to a VoIP service provider, and then it's up to you how you make and receive calls using that number.

You could get an adaptor for your existing phone to allow it to connect to the internet via your broadband router.
You could install a VoIP app on a mobile phone, and use that to make calls using your old landline number.
You could run a VoIP program on your laptop/computer, and make calls using the microphone and speakers.
You could buy a VoIP specific phone, which has an internet connection, and use it like your old house phone.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

mechanic123 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:13:36 GMT

ok I'm getting it after some reading. Pity most literature is aimed at business users.

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

simonc2 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:41:53 GMT

@jab1

@jab1 wrote:

The only way to do that, if you wish to stay with PN, is to ask for your BB service to be switched to SoGEA, and once that is done, move your phone number to a VoIP provider, within 30 days.

I'm in a very similar situation, with a Plusnet joint broadband and landline package running out soon. We want to stay with Plusnet to keep our email addresses but also want to keep a landline. We'd like to upgrade to a full-fibre package but none of these include a landline. In addition the analogue phone signal won't be around for much longer. So I have the following questions:

Who do you have to ask to have the broadband service switched to SoGEA?
What do they have to do and where (ie in your house or at the exchange or entirely with software)?
After the service has been switched to SoGEA can it be used with a full-fibre package?

Many thanks

Simon

Re: Broadband and virtual Landline

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 19:06:13 GMT

@simonc2 wrote:

Who do you have to ask to have the broadband service switched to SoGEA?

Go to your Plusnet Member Centre and look for Upgrades & Offers, and you should be able to switch from there

@simonc2 wrote:

What do they have to do and where (ie in your house or at the exchange or entirely with software)?

For FTTC to SoGEA, no home visit required, no change to your router etc, they just switch off your phone number from working at the exchange

@simonc2 wrote:

After the service has been switched to SoGEA can it be used with a full-fibre package?

Yes, if FTTP (full fibre) becomes available to you in future, you just go to your Member Centre Upgrades & Offers, and choose your FTTP upgrade. SoGEA comes to your house over copper cables, whereas FTTP will be a new fibreoptic cable that will need to be installed, and your existing phone Master Socket will be replaced with an "ONT" which is a wall box similar sized to your existing socket (but needs a nearby mains wall socket for the plug-in power supply). If you have a Plusnet HUB-2 router, then you disconnect the current DSL cable, and instead use an Ethernet cable (in the WAN) socket to connect to the ONT. Job done.

If FTTP is already available to you, then you don't need the intermediate step of changing to SoGEA, just upgrade directly from FTTC to FTTP, then port your landline phone number to a VoIP service within 30 days.