This topic

Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:27:42 GMT

We are due for Digital Voice w/e Nov 15 and due to my almost zero knowledge can I ask a couple of questions which might be simple.
1 Will the wiring from the post to the house have to be changed as I believe its copper wire is over 25 years old.
2 The previous owner of my property installed telephone sockets in all rooms via I think the loft and my modem is upstairs using those sockets. He also did the same with TV signal's.
What is likely happen when Openreach turn up, will they ignore all the sockets and only use the master socket downstairs. and if so will the modem provide a signal for our two upstairs computers..
Hope I have made myself clear. and I have no idea where the wiring for the extra sockets starts.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

licquorice — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:35:31 GMT

Nobody will visit, the only change is your phone srvice will appear on the green socket at the rear of the hub rather than the wall mounted phone socket. Nothing will change as far as your broadband is concerned.

https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-phone-including-Digital/Digital-Voice-FAQs/td-p/2207485

Re: Digital Voice Installation

iniltous — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:47:34 GMT

Conversion to DV doesn’t need an engineer visit , you simply plug your phone into the router phone port after removing it from the wall socket on the day of the change ….are you sure it’s not a conversion to FTTP ( fibre to the premises) that the engineer visit is for ?
It seems the opportunity to install FTTP (if it’s available) is taken as part of the migration to Digital Voice , but FTTP is the reason for the engineer visit , not the migration to DV as you can do that yourself.

If you get FTTP , the extension sockets around the property will be redundant unless you retro wire them to connect to the router phone port ( this isn’t the engineers job but yours ).

The master socket isn’t needed , you get an ONT which within reason you can chose where it’s fitted , the copper wire , if it’s from a pole may be removed or may be left in situ , depends on the the tech that visits , underground service it will remain in situ , if you are served from a pole , fitting the ONT upstairs may be possible, you and the installer negotiate a suitable position, it has to be practical, not take too much time to install and be near power outlets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XDl0-KkPy8

This video gives a guide to what to expect

Re: Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:51:27 GMT

Thanks for the quick replies. We were given a choice of appointment times, so I assumed that was for Openreach to come calling. Ah, well, we will have to see what happens. It would appear we will lose all those extra sockets, though.

Thanks again

Re: Digital Voice Installation

licquorice — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:57:44 GMT

No, you can backwire them yourself if you want them.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

iniltous — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:03:40 GMT

The visit is for Openreach (or a contractor working for them) to come calling , it’s just the purpose of the visit isn’t to move your phone cord from the wall socket to the green phone socket on the BT router to enable DV , you could do that yourself…but installing FTTP will disable your all copper pair sockets including the master socket, but it is possible to adjust the wiring for the sockets , to enable them to be reused …search ‘voice re-injection’ , it can be a simple DIY task or employ a tradesman to do it if keeping the sockets working for telephony is required

Re: Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 17:30:49 GMT

My goodness, I am very grateful for all the help. The engineer visit is only timed for ten minutes. I was assuming that, as we are in the older brigade, we might be getting a bit more help but as you say, plugging in a socket is within our capabilities. We have already been sent a modem, telephone and a plug-in socket.

All your replies have made me more understanding of what happens. Thank you all.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

iniltous — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:27:24 GMT

If the visit is only scheduled for 10 mins , then it’s not going to be FTTP being installed , presumably you have been identified as ‘vulnerable’ requiring assistance in the DV migration …in which case , the tech may simply move the phone from the wall socket to the router socket ….

Re: Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:41:49 GMT

A follow-up to the installation, which shows that nothing simple gets to me.

This morning, an Openreach rep came to the house and told me our line was showing a fault, but I told him everything was working OK.

He asked if we had just changed your internet or upgraded because that sometimes shows up as a fault on the line.

Having been out all afternoon, we came home to Openreach vans at the end of the road and two in our road by the post

Once inside, I got a text message from BT saying that my broadband had been fixed, set your equipment as advised so I checked all the phones and they are all dead.

So I take it that I have been set up for Digital Voice.

So do I take it that no other equipment is required, like the smart socket for the normal phone,

So what on earth has taken place while we were out. I am present connected to the internet via the original modem as I feel a bit nervous to disconnect what is working.

By the way the phone we have been supplied with is battery powered emergency phone that only works during power cuts.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

licquorice — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:50:45 GMT

There is a green phone socket at the rear of your hub, plug your phone into that.

A battery powered phone will be of no use in a power cut as you will have no internet. A backup battery is required to power your hub. This should have been provided by BT if you are eligible.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:40:18 GMT

Thank you once again for all the replies. The situation now is that the engineer came on Nov 13.

He had a look around and went to the master socket, but seemed to have difficulties with it.

I told him one of the sockets upstairs was live as I was using it for the internet.

He replied, we will use that one which pleased me I want to keep a socket upstairs.

He did what he had to do, and also transferred my modem details to the new modem and as we have three phones around the house he recommended buying a new phone instead of those plug in connectors.

We had intended that anyway and so purchased a Panasonic base and two phones but prior to installation today we noticed that the lead connecting the hub to the modem on the connection leaflet was missing. Contacted Panasonic who said that as the lead was widely available they do not supply one and advised the lead was a RJ11. Obtained said lead but it is not the one.

Contacted BT for info but the music was interrupted by a lady saying they had detected a fault on the line and that Openreach had been informed and that I should hang up.

That is the situation so far and if anyone is still awake I welcome your further advice and comments on what lead is needed.

Thank you as always.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

WSH — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 14:59:04 GMT

The lead supplied with the Panasonic base station should work. (That is what I’ve used for the past two years).

It should be an RJ11 plug, (at the base station end), to a standard BT phone plug, (at the BT Smart Hub end). As has been said, the BT plug fits into a green phone socket on the back of the Smart Hub, not the old wall socket.

(RJ11 plugs can vary a bit. In this case it’s the centre two pins that connect to the BT plug, known as a 431A plug).

Re: Digital Voice Installation

licquorice — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:03:41 GMT

The socket at the rear of the hub requires a BT431 plug. Presumably the socket on the Panasonic base station is an RJ11, hence an RJ11 - BT431 lead is required. There are 2 types, straight and crossover. Although only 2 wires are required and are not polarity conscious, it refers to the pins used. Probably best to order both and return the one that doesn't work.

Re: Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:48:41 GMT

Thanks, yes, the BT lead has gone into the green socket; it needed more pressure than expected so we assumed it was wrong. We had actually purchased the leads from B&Q so as you say we can take one back

Now, following on from this, the Panasonic leaflet shows what I think is called a micro filter in the line, so I assume this should be included

We can get on now installing the phones.

I think you know how grateful we are for your calm explanation's which enabled us to understand .

Re: Digital Voice Installation

linkyyork — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 15:53:54 GMT

Thank you very much, how I managed to turn it into a big deal, probably the fear of new things

Re: Digital Voice Installation

licquorice — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:00:36 GMT

Micro filter is not required with Digital Voice.