topic Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband in Home Phone

Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

aks100 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:19:45 GMT

I have poured through many threads, but still have some confusion :)!

Phone and FTTC broadband package renewal is due early Feb (not mine, but elderly mother-in-law), but I want to take this opportunity to separate the phone - not least because PN won't offer phone packages in future. PN have offered an upgrade to FTTP, or could probably stick with FTTC (to avoid BT OpenReach visiting the MIL).

So, if I renew a broadband package only, will that automatically release the phone line/number for me to port in to a VoIP provider, or must I change her connection to fibre to release the LL number?

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

bmc — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:26:03 GMT

@aks100

Have a look at the following for your MIL's address (use Address version if you don't know the number).

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Is VDSL shown with SOGEA to the right? If uncertain post a screen image of the results (after hiding details) including the narrative below the window and Members can advise.

Brian

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

jab1 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:29:36 GMT

Deleted - @bmc replied with a better answer.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

aks100 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:40:54 GMT

Here is the info:

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

bmc — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:47:11 GMT

@aks100

Thanks for the information.

It appears your MIL can transfer onto a SOGEA line which is internet only. If this option is chosen then you would look to port the number out after the change (you have 30 days to do so but it's better done sooner rather than later).

Couple of things about FFTP from the results. The Exchange isn't a Priority Exchange which allows the transfer to SOGEA. If FTTP is ever chosen there's a possible line of sight issue on the O/H line.

Brian

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

aks100 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:49:03 GMT

Thanks Brian, would SoGEA be automatic if I renew for BB only, or do I risk it not being SoGEA?

The renal system is recommending switching to Full Fibre, which might be my safest option, even if they can't complete it somehow, so long as I can extract the number.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

bmc — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:11:13 GMT

@aks100

Are you an authorised person on her account? If not PN won't speak to you.

I think your MIL (with you present if possible) should phone the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 to confirm what's available. It may be SOGEA is only available by phone.

Brian

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

RealAleMadrid — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:13:54 GMT

@aks100 Old fashioned FTTC with phone is no longer available as shown in the checker so you would definitely get SOGEA.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

bmc — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:21:41 GMT

@RealAleMadrid

It is showing on the Checker (see post #4) - it's the PN website that won't show it.

Brian

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

aks100 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:25:09 GMT

Thanks, yes I am authorised on her account - but I can also do a 3-way call from my mobile if necessary.

To be honest, I'm wondering if starting a brand new full fibre broadband connection (in parallel) would allow her to benefit from the new customer bonus (£50 reward) 😀?

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

aks100 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:26:54 GMT

It's what she has today, so I assume (maybe incorrectly) a simple renewal minus her current unlimited call package would not change anything about her connection, hence my concern.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:33:24 GMT

A 'renewal' is likely to be a continuation of the existing FTTC (VDSL + landline phone)

whereas an 'upgrade' or 'product change' would convert the FTTC to SoGEA (without phone)

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

bmc — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 11:46:22 GMT

@aks100

As you are authorised on the account I would speak to COT to see what the options are and get prices. You could -

Renew as is (internet & phone) to buy time.

Change to a SOGEA line with immediate move to VOIP afterwards

Set up a new account and order FTTP

Does your MIL use PN email or have any other add ons on her account? These would be lost by going down the new route. When ordering FTTP on a new account I believe there io an option to keep existing connection. This must be selected.

You can set a VOIP account up in advance to see that it works (with a temporary number I believe). As soon as FTTP is installed you can port the telephone number on the old account which will "cease" the account. She'd be paying two bills for a while. If I remember she's close to the end of her contract so little fall out from the account closure.

Brian

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:09:46 GMT

@bmc wrote:

You can set a VOIP account up in advance to see that it works (with a temporary number I believe).

When I ported my landline number to A&A VoIP, I wasn't offered a temporary phone number (while I waited two weeks for the landline number port), however immediately following A&A verifying my bank details, I was emailed my account login, and VoIP internet connection details. Within minutes I had my Gigaset VoIP DECT base configured, and it was obvious from the Gigaset status, and from the A&A equivalent of the "Member Centre" status, that my VoIP connection and equipment was registered and working (without having a phone number assigned).

I guess if you wanted to experiment with a temporary number to test that VoIP works BEFORE attempting to port your landline number, then you could pay the couple of pounds for one month use of a real number.

If you are already on FTTC or FTTP, I'm not sure that it is worth the extra step of pre-testing whether VoIP works before doing a number port, as the configuration is pretty straight forward (unless you are technophobic). It probably is worth pre-testing VoIP if your ongoing broadband connection is ADSL (<0.7Mbps upload speed), or using mobile data in a poor reception area, but even then I didn't have any troubles with using Plusnet (Gradwell) VoIP from 2013 to 2015, when my ADSL connection was as slow as 6.8/0.7Mbps and using QoS VoIP traffic prioritisation on my router.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

aks100 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:26:19 GMT

Thanks both, I already orgered a Gigaset N300A and handset package, which arrived today. I tested on my own 'Sipgate' account (that's an old free one, no longer available), and everything works fine - including adding existing Panasonic DECT phones to the N300A base. So far, so good.

Next I need to tackle the broadband change, which I'll attempt today. I'm inclined to start a new account/package for FTTP, and then port her existing LL number to A&A once that's up and running. Of course, she'll gave a bit of phone downtime, but hopefully this is a once and final change.

No other services are used or required from PN, i.e. no email with PN.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

MisterW — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:48:00 GMT

@aks100 if you don't mind the short period when you are paying for both services, then that is the 'least risk' and downtime scenario. I did this for a family member recently. You order FTTP as a new account , making sure that you select 'keep existing services' (as the system will spot the fact that the address already has them), then when FTTP is installed you simply request the number port. The number is still active at this point so there no possibility of the port initially failing, and having to be done manually. The number port will automatically cancel the old Plusnet phone and broadband account.

There need not be any downtime at all. With the N300 you can install it now, since it can handle a landline as well. If you setup the A & A account in advance, then you can also configure the N300 for this. So when the port completes, incoming calls instantly get changed from the landline to the voip account but are still received by the N300, no downtime!. There is probably one change you need to make and that is to set the default line (fixed or voip) for outgoing calls on the N300

NB one other thing, if YOU have a PN account, make sure you specify it as the referrer on the new account ( you'll get £1.25/m credit )

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

MisterW — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:55:17 GMT

@Anonymous

Within minutes I had my Gigaset VoIP DECT base configured, and it was obvious from the Gigaset status, and from the A&A equivalent of the "Member Centre" status, that my VoIP connection and equipment was registered and working (without having a phone number assigned).

I did that with a family member recently. They already had an N300 with landline and another voip account. Creating the A & A account and configuring it on the N300 showed initially registered. However , some time later it failed registration and it did not register again until the port completed. Seems there was a short window where the A & A system didn't recognise there was no number associated with the account, once it did, it wouldn't register until a number was associated.

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

bmc — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:14:13 GMT

@aks100

If you do go down the FTTP route I would look to be there on the day just in case any decisions need to be made on location of the ONT etc.

If you are there then you can set up the VOIP equipment so it's ready and then port the phone number immediately FTTP is working.

Brian

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:30:06 GMT

@MisterW , for the two weeks that I was waiting for my landline port, I was upgrading modem, router, access points, UPS, VoIP setup, vlans, house cabling, IPv6, /30 WAN IP routing, a Minecraft server, a Proxmox server, and tidying up 20+ years of incremental network bodges, so I must have been checking my no-number VoIP connection probably every day and I never saw the N300 VoIP registration fail. Maybe I was just lucky ?

Re: Split phone number (move to VoIP) from broadband

MisterW — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:46:17 GMT

@Anonymous

Maybe I was just lucky ?

Strange , maybe!. I was handling this for my B-i-L , I'd initally added the new A & A account to his N300 via remote access and it registered and I logged into his A & A account and checked. Also double-checked by adding his account to my N300, also showing registered. Then disabled the account on my N300 leaving his active. Unfortunatey he was due to be away from home a few days prior and on the day of the port. So the day before the port I enabled the account on my N300 to check everything was ok, and it wouldnt register. Slight panic, but then again nothing I could do!. So on the day of port when he was notified of port completion by A & A, tried again on my N300 and it registered. Then fully tested by calling his number and letting it go to voicemail.

When thinking about it afterwards, it made sense, since if it allowed registration without a number, what would it do if you tried to make a call ? Would it fail and with what error, it certainly hasn't got any CLI to present with the call.