This topic

Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 08:19:42 GMT

I have received an email from BT saying that they are changing to digital voice and to plug the phone into the back of the hub.

This is fine except that I have the hub and master socket in my study and no phone, my main phone a cordless answer phone is downstairs plugged into an extension socket.

I don't want to change where my phones are so how am I going to connect them.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 08:21:58 GMT

@Bob1001

You simply disconnect the extension wiring from the master socket, and connect it to the socket on the back of the smart hub 2, and it will just work as it did before.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 08:26:44 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe I don't have an extension plugged into the master socket to unplug, the wiring is from the back of the main socket to the extension socket.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 08:31:53 GMT

The extension should be connected to the back of the removable front faceplate of your master socket, it should not have been wired to the back A and B connections.

What does your master phone socket look like?

The only other option is to request a BT Digital Voice adapter, and plug that in where your phone is connected to, provided its within range of the DECT bas station inside the smart hub 2.

https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/phones/digital-voice/digital-voice-adapter

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:20:28 GMT

@Keith_Beddoeit is 6 but the extension wiring is hard wired to the removable phone section so nothing to plug in and would not reach anyway.

Thank you for the information on the adapter that should work I just did not know they existed, hopefully if I order one it will arrive before change over.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:37:01 GMT

@Bob1001

The BT Digital Voice Adapter is supplied free from BT, once you get the notification that you are being changed over. Another forum member who already has DV, may be able to direct you to the correct page to request the adapter.

There is an info page here https://www.bt.com/help/landline/digital-voice-migration

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:50:41 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe Thank you, since I started posting I received a SMS and it had info to send ADAPTER so I did, hopefully it worked as I have not received any acknowledgement.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

imjolly — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:58:36 GMT

I would read the FAQ as they might help with queries once connected

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

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:37:11 GMT

@imjolly Interesting this is my situation almost, hopefully an adapter will work I assume if an extension socket is needed BT will fit it FOC.

"This is more complicated if broadband service is still delivered via the copper pair as the incoming wires cannot be disconnected and the hub still needs to connect to the master socket. It will require a new extension socket to be fitted adjacent to the master socket and the extension wiring transferred to it. This new socket can then be connected to the green socket on the hub as with FTTP."

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

imjolly — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:57:31 GMT

@Bob1001 wrote:

@imjolly Interesting this is my situation almost, hopefully an adapter will work I assume if an extension socket is needed BT will fit it FOC.

I would doubt it as internal wiring is your responsibility

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:40:26 GMT

@imjolly Probably but BT have caused it so unless they give an option of not downgrading to VOIP they should sort it out if it is not easy to just plug a phone from one adjacent socket to another one.

There are still people I know have plan 1As which were hard wired by the GPO and when they got broadband BT (not Openreach) just tacked a plug in socket onto it (yes I know they should not do it and it causes bell tinkle but it was bodged by the inclusion of a thermistor.

This wiring is still owned and the responsibility of BT as there is no way of splitting at a non existing master socket.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

imjolly — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:27:08 GMT

the wiring up to the master socket is property and maintained by openreach not BT Retail. any wiring after the master socket is property and responsibility of the homeowner.

If you are getting an adapter then there is no additional wiring required

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:35:45 GMT

@imjolly Yes that is true, assuming I can get an adapter before changeover day, no response to my text requesting them, spoke to BT who said they cost £14 so am not paying that.

Also I am not happy with it not working if there is a power cut, there should at least be a short term battery back up. As mine is in the study my hub is plugged into my UPS but many will not have this. Also if broadband fails no phone perhaps VOIP is not a way forward.

BT assume everyone has a mobile.

"If there is a power outage or your broadband fails, you'll be unable to make calls using Digital Voice, including calls to 999. Please use alternative means such as a mobile phone."

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 11:47:24 GMT

Possibly an easier solution and needs no changes to the existing wiring, just plug from the main socket phone socket to the Hub VOIP socket.

Phone to phone cable.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

imjolly — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:23:36 GMT

that only works if you have FTTP as you can just disconnect the incoming openreach wiring from terminals A&B you still need the incoming openreach wiring connected if you have FTTC and therefore cannot disconnect the incoming openreach wiring. this has been covered in various other posts on the forum

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:38:07 GMT

@imjollyShame I have FTTC, if the adapter does not work, assuming I get one, I will call BT out as it is a fault. I have not agreed to the change over and will not so if it does not work if they change over it is BT's problem not mine.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

imjolly — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:41:08 GMT

once you change to DV I doubt there is any going back

try phoning 150 and ask for adapter which is free as long as you didn't get a free phone

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:40:03 GMT

@imjolly I know there are many versions of master sockets but with mine if I just unplug the phone socket leaving the broadband one in place the hub works and the now unplugged socket just connects to my extension sockets so all I need to do is to leave the part of the socket I have taken off out and plug the lead between this and the phone socket in the hub, simple solution if untidy.
It may not work with all versions of master sockets but it does with mine.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

Bob1001 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:43:44 GMT

@imjollyI am happy not to change in the first place I can see no advantage to me of DV, if FTTP was available that would be different.

Re: Digital Voice - How to connect existing phones

imjolly — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 13:47:05 GMT

as the incoming openreach wiring is still connected to terminals A&B and are need to provide your FTTC connection you should not connect the socket on the back of the hub direct to the master socket without disconnecting the extension wiring from terminals 2&5

this has been covered numerous times on the forum