Static IP for voip

[#1]

My parents have switched their Plusnet to broadband only, and their phone number has been ported to AAISP voip. Fine so far, but I want to have static IP on their Plusnet broadband to make the voip more reliable. I cannot find an option to enable static IP when logged in to their Plusnet account, where can I find it please?

[#2]

@OwenSmith  Plusnet no longer supply static IPs, they were discontinued about a year ago. Why do you think a static IP for VOIP is better? I have had a VOIP line for years most of the time with a dynamic IP address, it works for me.

[#3]

If the external IP address changes, the voip server won't be able to send an incoming call to my parents phone for up to 3 minutes which is how often it re-registers with the voip server. When it rains we get several line resyncs per hour due to the wires getting wet, and full fibre is not available where my parents live. Each resync changes the external IP address.

If I had known Plusnet no longer support static IP my parents might have changed ISP. They stayed with Plusnet because I knew from research I did at the end of 2024 that they supported static IP. It is very disappointing to now find out they no longer do, that change was not at all advertised. Now we're stuck with a new 2 year contract and no option to get static IP.

[#4]

Each resync changes the external IP address.

Are you sure ? Yes a resynch CAN change the IP address but these days it doesnt usually. IP addresses are now allocated from small local pools at the DSLAM so are usually quite 'sticky' and a resysnch will likely get the same IP back again.

If I had known Plusnet no longer support static IP my parents might have changed ISP

To where ? AFAIK None of the big ISPs provide a static IP option on a residential connection. Some of the altnets will for a £5/month supplement 

[#5]

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@OwenSmith wrote:

When it rains we get several line resyncs per hour due to the wires getting wet.

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In which case, raise a fault report, using the faults bot - link below.

[#6]

Are you sure ? Yes a resynch CAN change the IP address but these days it doesnt usually. IP addresses are now allocated from small local pools at the DSLAM so are usually quite 'sticky' and a resysnch will likely get the same IP back again.

I observed after 3 resyncs, my parents got a different external IP address every time.

To where ? AFAIK None of the big ISPs provide a static IP option on a residential connection. Some of the altnets will for a £5/month supplement 

My dad didn't like the price of Andrews & Arnold which I use and is 100% static IP, but was prepared to move to them if necessary. Also last time I checked Zen do static IP.

[#7]

In which case, raise a fault report, using the faults bot - link below.

Line drops during rain has been reported several times by each of several neighbours and my parents, at least a couple of dozen reports to various ISPs in total over the last couple of years. Nothing any of the engineer visits did gave any improvement. I've concluded something is old and knackered and they can't find it or fixing it is going to be more work than they can be bothered with (it's over half a mile of very old underground cable to the cabinet) and the solution will be full fibre when it eventually arrives here.

[#8]

My dad didn't like the price of Andrews & Arnold which I use and is 100% static IP, but was prepared to move to them if necessary. Also last time I checked Zen do static IP.

Yes, if you're willing to go to Zen then you can get a static IP but they're not exactly a low cost mass market ISP.  

[#9]

Depends on your definition of 'low cost' I renewed my contract - 100Mb - in August for £29.00/mo for 18 months - a £1.00/mo increase, and you talk to technically competent individuals if you have a problem - not call centre script-monkeys.

[#10]

I like Andrews & Arnold for the same reason, you talk to technically competent people for support. One query I raised that was very technical in nature, they sent me the RFC proving that what they were doing was correct. I'll admit Andrews & Arnold are far from cheap, hence mentioning Zen instead.

I'll see how dynamic IP goes for my parents on Plusnet. It's a real shame Plusnet won't do static IP any more, and we're still waiting for IPv6. Definitely a stone age ISP.