Home phone clarification for non-techie

[#1]

As PN are now merely the 'no-frills' brand of the BT Group's internet supply arm, @mwwagain , I doubt you can blame them specifically - the direction/instructions will be coming direct from BT Consumer Division in London.

[#2]

@FridayFeeling 

Thank you FridayFeeling for describing all the reasons somebody may have for keeping a home telephone with their landline number. If I may just add one you seem to have omitted, which I was aware of but didn't mention above - it is understandable that somebody running a business out of their home would prefer to keep a home phone and telephone number.

I was interested, and a bit curious, by your first reason:

# Preference of handset – mobiles can pretty heavy in the hand (large-ish battery and decent size screen). DECT home phones tend to be much smaller and lighter. Perhaps an important factor for some. You can prioritise your mobile phone design for see google maps and DECT phone for lightness.

Particularly so, because it was the typically large size of smart phones that long put me off getting one. An old 'dumb' or feature phone (misnamed nowadays as a 'brick phone' - more appropriate to a smart phone IMO) was lighter and easier to casually carry around in any available pocket and use for phone calls. I still keep one in use.

According to the Internet the weight of the handset of my now redundant DECT phone is 91 grams (don't know if that includes batteries), while my smartphone weighs 194 grams (6.84 ounces), comparing the two it does feel noticeably lighter than the smartphone. Though personally I wouldn't find it any problem. Then again, there are cheap, modern 4G, Wi-Fi capable, feature phones that would be lighter than a smartphone.

[#3]

@pvmb 

Good call (pun intended) on the second phone number for business use. That’s something that’s much easier to implement over VoIP. In the old PSTN days I’m guessing you’d probably need to have a second line strung across from the pole unless a multicore cable was run initially.

You piqued my interest on actual phone weights. My Samsung A15 mobile is 219g and my Grandstream VoIP DECT handset is 135g. I’m sure my parents Yealink VoIP DECT handset is less than that. After an hour of holding the phone to the ear, my arm definitely aches less if I’m on the DECT handset. Maybe I should get myself a more comfortable bluetooth earpiece so I don’t have to hold the mobile! I still make most of my calls on the mobile as they’re inclusive on the pay monthly Lebara SIM. I’m pay-per-minute on Sipgate VoIP (though there’s no "line rental" to pay).

[#4]

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@julianb wrote:

 I am unwilling to proceed with something that says in writing "You will lose your home phone number and will not be able to get it back" that I have to agree to. We also have the same concern with an elderly relative who is on Plusnet (on our recommendation) and still using ADSL. I am not in a hurry to do anything 

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In preparation for the shut down of the PSTN and ADSL broadband, be aware that Plusnet are currently contacting ADSL customers and giving them notice that unless they agree to give up their landline phone service and convert to SoGEA or Full Fibre, they will be transferred to EE.

[#5]

@Baldrick1 If I read @julianb 's first post on this topic correctly, he is currently on FTTC+phone, so merely needs to request a move to SOGEA, and when that is completed, move his home phone number to the chosen VOIP provider.

However the relative on ADSL will have to convert to SOGEA, if possible, and again, switch the home phone service to a VOIP provider within 30 days, if they wish to keep a home phone.

[#6]

@pvmb said " In the old PSTN days I’m guessing you’d probably need to have a second line strung across from the pole unless a multicore cable was run initially." Not necessarily. 😎

It's a bit of a divergence from the thread, but until not that long ago (late 2022 maybe) BT had "Call Sign" which was a cheap add-on service that allocated an additional number to your line which had a different ring. There were inexpensive little plug-in gadgets that would identify the rings and phones plugged into them would only answer the corresponding numbers. I used this very effectively to run a part-time business from home "back in the day" receiving incoming calls to it on separate phone/answerphone from the main house phones.

I retired the business before Call Sign closed, but kept the number active (it was VERY cheap) until then just in case old customers called.

[#7]

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@jab1 wrote:

However the relative on ADSL will have to convert to SOGEA, if possible, and again, switch the home phone service to a VOIP provider within 30 days, if they wish to keep a home phone.

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The point that I am trying to make is in response to @julianb's comment  'I am not in a hurry to do anything'. I am making the point that whilst they might not be in a hurry to do anything, Plusnet are in the process of moving customers off ADSL, so they might pre-empt any personal plans. If the relative is in a fibre priority area or has a care alarm, that opens up another potential can of worms for an elderly person that might need help.

Regarding Plusnet stating that landline numbers not being recoverable contravening Ofcom rules. Surely it's the act of preventing the number from being recovered, which is not the case, rather than making a confusing statement that is the offence? 

[#8]

Although I am no longer a PN subscriber, I follow this subject with interest. I am aware that personal circumstances (of which we are not aware), may add to the confusion.

If the relative has a care alarm or similar, then the alarm provider should have been in contact to pre-empt any potential problems with the switch-off of the PSTN network.

As  to the erroneous statement - that needs amending/rectifying. 

[#9]

Hi,

Many thanks to all of you that have replied to my initial post - I have read around some of the links and hopefully have a better idea now of what is required, even if I am still feeling pretty apprehensive about diving into the 'new' technology (for me, anyway).

Coincidentally or not (I wondered if it might have been pre-empted by logging in to my account to check on current offers) I have now received an email from PlusNet basically saying they will transfer me to EE in 30 days if I do nothing - as far as I am concerned, this just adds to my stress as I now have a 'ticking clock', rather than my initial intention of being proactive.

I categorically do NOT want to be transferred to EE (friend lives in the sticks, 'unreliable' (at best) mobile signal wanted to retain home phone; recently had a nightmare with multiple engineer visits, unable to get EE to connect reliably - ended up cancelling EE contract and going back to PlusNet - has now been told that since it is more than 30 days it will count as a new contract, therefore they have lost not only their phone number but also their email addresses, and they have had to purchase additional PAYG SIM cards to try and ensure they have some means of calling for help due to medical issues).

So, I guess, one decision made, particularly since the only options I then seem to have are PlusNet full fibre.

To provide a bit more information in case it makes a difference, I currently have two DECT phones - the main base station upstairs, next to my router, plus one extension downstairs.  These are >15 years old, so I am happy to purchase newer replacements if this would make things easier.  Technically I don't even need a second extension as the screen on the phone downstairs hasn't worked for ages, so I rarely use it as I can't see who is calling.

My next problem may be the full fibre installation itself - I've seen references to needing plus sockets and I don't have any spare sockets!  My router is currently upstairs in my study, and ideally I want to keep it that way as I work from home, so if for any reason my WiFi fails, I know I can plug in an Ethernet cable.  Not only that, most of the plug sockets I do have are behind furniture which I can't move myself - I didn't design the house!

My next steps are to research the VOIP phone options.  I've seen mention of and 'Analogue Telephone Adapter' - does this still apply with DECT phones which I thought were digital?  It is better to buy an adapter, or a new phone(s)?  If I go for a new phone, is there anything I need to look out for or will they all work nowadays with any VOIP service?  Does the phone/adapter just plus straight into an existing (or new) PlusNet router, or will it require a new router as well?

Thank you.

[#10]

@Polaris1 

"My next steps are to research the VOIP phone options.  I've seen mention of and 'Analogue Telephone Adapter' - does this still apply with DECT phones which I thought were digital?  It is better to buy an adapter, or a new phone(s)?  If I go for a new phone, is there anything I need to look out for or will they all work nowadays with any VOIP service?  Does the phone/adapter just plus straight into an existing (or new) PlusNet router, or will it require a new router as well?"

So you are staying with Plusnet but want to keep a Home phone? And you have a couple of DECT phones.

I believe the options are:

Buy an ATA, plug into your Plusnet router and plug your DECT phone base station into the ATA. The ATA will need power, generally via a mains outlet. Also, the ATA may need to be configured.

Buy another router! e.g. One of the Frizt!Box routers (as supplied by ZEN) that has its own built in DECT base station. You then need to configure the Fritz!Box to work with your Plusnet account (not generally a problem) and pair the DECT phones to the Fritz!Box wirelessly.

There are some on here who have done this kind of thing and know the fine details.

[#11]

@Polaris1 

There is a certain leeway as to where the ONT (Optical Network Adapter) goes, especially if there's no immediate power source available.You speak to the engineer on the day to confirm ONT / locations.

The router is connected by ethernet cable so can go anywhere you're happy to run cable. If needed, you could get someone in to run a cable to where you want the router to be.

Have a look at

https://www.openreach.com/help-and-support/full-fibre-broadband-installation-checklist#accordion-b43...

As already stated for VOIP you either need an ATA or a router which supports a phone port (the Hub2 doesn't). Depending on your chosen VOIP supplier they may supply what you need or offer to sell it. I believe A&A offer both an ATA and their router for sale.

Whatever you do, you CANNOT start the phone number port until Full Fibre is up and running.

As for phones, I would wait until your're up and running and see what you need. Your current phone should work.

Brian

[#12]

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@Polaris1 wrote:

I categorically do NOT want to be transferred to EE (friend lives in the sticks, 'unreliable' (at best) mobile signal wanted to retain home phone; recently had a nightmare with multiple engineer visits, unable to get EE to connect reliably - ended up cancelling EE contract and going back to PlusNet - has now been told that since it is more than 30 days it will count as a new contract, therefore they have lost not only their phone number but also their email addresses, and they have had to purchase additional PAYG SIM cards to try and ensure they have some means of calling for help due to medical issues).

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While Plus cannot reopen their phone, the number should have stayed live (with EE) while EE were making a mess of things.

If the cease at EE was less than 30 days ago it should still be available to port to a 'true' VOIP service (eg A&A - many others are available) and run that over the PlusNet internet connection