topic Re: New digital phone and utter confusion in Home Phone

New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:05:43 GMT

As you are aware BT is kicking the phone lines we have known, into the ditch. I have tried reading up on what is going to happen to us older folk who are a bit dim on this modern, confusing technology.

I am currently on full fibre and pay line rental for my landline.

My mobile can use Internet calling, but is not always that good.

If I sign up for a new contract and loose my landline, how do I cope with an intermittent phone signal over the internet. My phone is 18 months old and the mobile signal in my area is rubbish.

If I change, I presume I loose my landline number and have to give everybody my mobile number as my only contact.

Can anybody explain the system in English that can be understood? Everything I read seems to be full of VoIP and business calls. Will my mobile be using VoIP or my phone contract.

I hope my questions make sense.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

Gel — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 19:55:47 GMT

When you lose [not loose!] your copper landline, you can use VOIP by plugging in a suitable phone into the dedicated port on back of your router.
This competitors product guide may help clarify
https://gc-strapi-production.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/PF_19012_Gigaclear_Home_phone_install_guide_amends_AW_Spreads_b3455ae7d3.pdf?updated_at=2022-12-12T12:58:34.299Z
and
https://gigaclear.com/home-phone-faq

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

jab1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:02:05 GMT

@Gel The Plusnet supplied routers do not have any VoIP capabilities, you need an ATA which plugs into one of the Ethernet ports.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

bmc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:06:40 GMT

@Gel

Unless you have two accounts you cannot have a landline and Full Fibre. It sounds like you're on FTTC.

Can you post a screen image of the results from the following (after haing your details).

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

Brian

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

jab1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:09:17 GMT

@bmc I think you might be better helping the OP. A certain contributor on here tends to post misleading information.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:25:54 GMT

Thanks for the info and spelling correction, slip of the finger (like I said, I am old, some things do not always press what you want.) The info is not suitable for my area yet. Thanks anyway.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:33:52 GMT

Thanks. The checker is not working at the moment, it states. At the moment I pay extra to keep my landline. When I check with Plusnet what package I have, it states Unlimited Fibre, uses Part Fibre. So it must be fibre to the cabinet.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

jab1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:29:59 GMT

@ronecc Are you sure you are on Full Fibre, and not plain Fibre? Any chance of a full screenshot of the information from this site? https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

jab1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:34:47 GMT

@ronecc wrote:

Thanks. The checker is not working at the moment, it states.

If the phone version isn't working for you, try this one - but redact your address: BT Broadband - Address

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:51:18 GMT

I eventually got it to work on the address. Full Fibre not available yet, but Plusnet are giving me the option of having no landline.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

bmc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:52:04 GMT

@jab1

My apologies for tagging the wrong person.

Brian

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:52:17 GMT

This is the renewal they sent.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

jab1 — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:55:36 GMT

@ronecc I'll leave it to @bmc to help you with this - he's had more experience.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

bmc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:58:16 GMT

@ronecc

Thanks for the information.

You have a choice - you can move to SOGEA (internet only) or by phoning in you can renew "as is" - knowing thtt at some point in 2025 you will lose your landline. The latter option would give you more time to prepare. Phone the PlusNet Customer Options Team on 0800 013 2632 to check.

Given the quoted speeds on the Checker VOIP should work fine - as should internet calling on mobile.

Can you post a speed check using a wired connection?

Brian

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 21:06:33 GMT

Yes I can use my mobile, or rather it is set for internet calling, but as I mentioned it is not always very good. As the mobile signal is not very good, I wonder if I am using the internet or just getting my usual poor mobile signal. I will have to search for a cable to try a wired connection and what would it look like and where would it fit. My router is connected to the DSL socket, then there are 4 empty yellow Ethernet ports and one empty red WAN Broadband Port.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

bmc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 21:14:07 GMT

@ronecc

Do a WiFi test if no ethernet cable can be found. There should be one in the PN router box if you still have it.

If found, plug it into one of the yellow ports.

Brian

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 22:06:04 GMT

Thanks. Tomorrows jobs, I need my bed. 👍

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

corringham — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:51:57 GMT

@ronecc wrote:

This is the renewal they sent.

Rather misleading on several counts.

It says no phone line required - what it actually means is that the phone line IS required, but no phone service is provided.

It says save £10.59 a month - but is more expensive than your current contract, so there is no saving even though you are losing the phone service. So, pay more for less! There may be scope for negotiating the price.

I'd suggest shopping around - there are ISPs that offer VoIP and you can simply plug your existing land line into their router. (that isn't to say that there is no merit in using a separate VoIP provider to give you flexibility in the future, just that it is easier).

I'm a little confused about your mobile using internet calling and the suggestion of using a cable - there is no way to plug a cable in to a mobile phone. Do you mean a DECT cordless phone or something?

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

ronecc — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:18:13 GMT

Thanks. This is why I find it all confusing. I think the internet calling and wire to my phone was my mistaking me being asked to check my download speeds using a cable, rather than wifi. It is obviously the speed to the router, not my phone. It was late and taxing my brain somewhat.

I am okay with mechanical things but electronics and all the jargon and Letters that represent words is beyond my old brain.

My mobile has internet calling through the router I presume. I did try EE but their PAYG sim did not support internet calling, but 3 does. I am a very minimal user of any phone, so a monthly contract is just a waste of money. My Smarty sim is just £5 a month and I can stop and start it when I want.

Re: New digital phone and utter confusion

Marksfish — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:42:48 GMT

You can keep your landline number and use it on an app on your mobile instead of getting an adaptor, that's what I do. It also means I am "always home" and can answer it anywhere.

If your mobile has wifi calling, once activated it should use your router wifi instead of a mobile signal to make calls. I find it very handy in my house as the 3 signal is terrible indoors.