topic Re: Dital switch confusion in Home Phone

Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:45:48 GMT

I have read lots of answers to posts on here and I am completely baffled.

I don't have access to fibre broadband. The nearest cabinet is at least half a mile away. I want to keep my home phone. If I migrate to EE I assume I will have to have a new router. What does this plug into as I only have a copper connection. I am sure I am being thick but please help.

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:57:52 GMT

@nuttyknitter Are you saying you are still on ADSL - a copper line feed all the way from your exchange?

If you migrate to EE, yes, you will have to have a new router. It will plug into exactly the same connection as your current router, unless Full Fibre is available to you, in which case, you will need a different connection method - but first, a couple of questions: I assume you are, shall we say, to be polite, of the older generation, and all this is confusing? Do you have any younger relatives/friends who could help you?

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:05:00 GMT

I think there is a full fibre cabinet on this side of the main road but it is a good half mile away. The actual exchange is over two miles away. From the cabinets along the main road (I think there are two cabinets) to our house, we only have a copper line. We are both getting on in years and we don't have any younger folk who could help us. It is all left down to me and I am finding it all very confusing.

Re: Dital switch confusion

bmc — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:09:18 GMT

@nuttyknitter

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

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

To attached the image start a reply and either click on the paper clip below the window or the icon above the window that looks like a rectangle with a hill in it.

When we see the results we'll be able to offer better advice.

Brian

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:14:30 GMT

@nuttyknitter OK. As I totally understand what you are saying (I'm no spring chicken, either), maybe I'll try and split the questions into easy bits. First one: do you know what your service is described as on your monthly invoices?

Re: Dital switch confusion

pvmb — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:17:10 GMT

@nuttyknitter

"I think there is a full fibre cabinet on this side of the main road but it is a good half mile away."

No, there isn't - FF doesn't use cabinets! (This is Openreach marketing confusion "Fibre has Arrived")

So you are either on ADSL of VDSL (Fibre To The Cabinet - FTTC), I'm guessing the latter. What speed does your Broadband contract supply? You don't need Full Fibre (FTTP) to use a digital home phone.

If you want to keep a home phone, and your telephone number, the simplest choice for you would be to accept the migration to EE. Your current telephone should be able to simply plug into a 'Phone' socket on the EE router - assuming you have just the one telephone at home and it is a reasonably modern DECT (cable free handset) phone.

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:43:11 GMT

I hope I have done this right

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:45:47 GMT

I only have ordinary broadband and home phone

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:53:34 GMT

@nuttyknitter wrote:

I hope I have done this right

You have done right, @nuttyknitter and the results are not a pretty sight. Your distance from the exchange is very long, and from the FTTC cabinet, not much better.

Re: Dital switch confusion

pvmb — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:00:49 GMT

@nuttyknitter wrote:

I hope I have done this right

It looks to me as if you had an ADSL Broadband service on 14 January 2025, but have presumably recontracted some time since to a higher speed Fibre To The Cabinet (FTTC) service - though your speeds look poor. You must be on a long copper landline from the local cabinet. I believe you should be able to get a digital home phone service with EE. Have you been contacted about this yet by Plusnet? Or is BT your telephone service provider?

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:10:54 GMT

@pvmb I find it strange that that BTw matrix is so old - they are usually refreshed on a much more frequent basis.

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:22:22 GMT

I am with Plusnet and my contract was for two years, it expires in mid July. They have emailed me to look at what to do next.

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:27:30 GMT

@nuttyknitter Without giving too much detail, what does that email say?

Re: Dital switch confusion

pvmb — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:37:19 GMT

@nuttyknitter wrote:

I am with Plusnet and my contract was for two years, it expires in mid July.

Two years? So then you will still be on ADSL? I guess you will be moved to a SOGEA contract in July, if staying with Plusnet. As that is all that seems available to you. That should increase your speed somewhat, then you could be moved to EE. I expect.

Do you use Plusnet email? If so, has your email service been moved to Greenby yet?

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:49:27 GMT

The email just said it is time to renew as my contract is coming to am end.

I don't use a Plusnet email address.

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:52:52 GMT

In that case, I suggest you call them tomorrow and ask them to explain your options. Don't commit to anything but take careful note of what they say, and let us know.

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:06:05 GMT

I did phone them this afternoon, my only choice seems to be migrate to EE to keep a home phone, or part fibre broadband only with Plusnet. Or look elsewhere I suppose. I have always been happy with Plusnet and I don't like change for change sake.

Re: Dital switch confusion

jab1 — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:13:42 GMT

I thought that may be what they would say,and to be honest, for you, it is probably the best option to move to EE. If you stayed with PN for 'part fibre', you would need to arrange a phone service with another (VOIP) supplier.

Re: Dital switch confusion

nuttyknitter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:29:57 GMT

I think I will have to because I don't know how to do anything else.

Thank you all for the helpful replies.

Re: Dital switch confusion

bmc — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:01:30 GMT

@nuttyknitter

Thanks for the information.

The first question is do you want to keep a phone service?

If the answer is yes then you have two basic options. Stay with PN and arrange for a VOIP provider to take over your line (more work to start with but potentially cheaper in the longer run) or move to an ISP who offers both (easiest way to keep the phone).

You don't have to move to EE. As you're so close to the end of your contract you could go elsewhere. For example Zen Internet have a good reputation - https://www.zen.co.uk/ There are other providers.

Note that VOIP doesn't work during power custs without backup power.

Finally, you could have a look at www.openreach.co. uk to see what they say about Full Fibre.

Brian