This topic

Digital voice

Dave998 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:30:29 GMT

Hi.

Does anyone know of a good Battery Back Up system to use instead of the non existent one for the Digital Voice system.

It would be to power a Smart Hub 2 and a BT8600 base station in the event of a power outage

Re: Digital voice

jac_95 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:35:25 GMT

Hi Dave998,

Thanks for the post and welcome to the Community.

This is an automated response as I can see you have a question about BT’s Digital Voice service. Rather than waiting for a response from the Community, you may find an answer to your question by using the search bar on the Community homepage. We also have a thread that contains a wealth of info related to BT’s Digital Voice, click this link to take a look, Digital Voice FAQs.

If you have already looked for the answer to your question and have not found anything that can help, then please ignore this message. One of our Community members will be along shortly to help you further.

Re: Digital voice

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:42:25 GMT

@Dave998

I have this one in use for a PC and other kit.

Amazon Basics Line-Interactive UPS-400VA with Shutdown Software and Surge Protection, UK Outlets

About £66.

Re: Digital voice

imjolly — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:47:32 GMT

There is a large post on subject

https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-phone-including-Digital/Digital-voice-and-power-cuts/m-p/2161183

Re: Digital voice

Dave998 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:48:31 GMT

Thanks.

I’ll have a look at it.
Just trying to find something due to BT not having their BBU in stock and then having no idea when it’ll be in stock.

Re: Digital voice

gg30340 — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:52:36 GMT

Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) devices can vary enormously in the length of time that they will power attached devices and the price will reflect this.

You will need to decide on how long you want your devices to stay connected in the event of a power failure and once you have done that you can set your budget or it may be easier to do it the other way round. Set your budget and see what you can get.

Re: Digital voice

Bob1001 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 11:45:47 GMT

BT should provide battery back up as standard, they ramble on about having other things such as a mobile but I would quite like to receive incoming calls as I don't give my mobile phone to many people and rarely answer it anyway.

I will just report it as a fault anytime it fails due to power outage I did not ask for DV and it is up to the provider to provide continuous service if it means BT providing everyone with battery back up so be it.

I have also raised it with ofcom who say this is one thing they are discussing with phone providers.

Re: Digital voice

licquorice — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 12:36:50 GMT

Please point out the clause in your contract that says you are guaranteed 100% continuous service.

Re: Digital voice

gg30340 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 13:04:19 GMT

@Bob1001 wrote:

BT should provide battery back up as standard, they ramble on about having other things such as a mobile but I would quite like to receive incoming calls as I don't give my mobile phone to many people and rarely answer it anyway.

I will just report it as a fault anytime it fails due to power outage I did not ask for DV and it is up to the provider to provide continuous service if it means BT providing everyone with battery back up so be it.

I have also raised it with ofcom who say this is one thing they are discussing with phone providers.

Regarding Ofcom, do you think they are discussing it with BT and other telephone providers because there is no requirement, legal or otherwise, to provide "continuous service" that the phone will always work and in particular if it is out side their control.

Perhaps you should also complain to your electric company if you suffer from frequent power outages.

Regarding you reporting a power outage as a fault, keep in mind that BT under the rules that Ofcom have put in place have to repair faults within two working days and that only applies if the fault is on their network. It does not apply if the fault is out side their control. Also even if the power outage last two or more days any battery back up would not.

Re: Digital voice

JB2016 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 18:11:07 GMT

@Dave998 Some information on the power requirements of the Smart Hub 2 at https://bt-digital-voice.blogspot.com/ if you are considering a DIY solution.

Re: Digital voice

Bob1001 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 21:00:11 GMT

@gg30340 Actually a fault due to power failure is down to BT because BT so far have declined to provide battery back up with hubs.

Had BT provided back up the faults would not occur and as they are trying to downgrade the current provision yes it is their fault. I don't want a downgraded service.

Re: Digital voice

gg30340 — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 21:11:58 GMT

So a power failure has nothing to do with your electric company!!

Power failure through the electrical system is not a fault of the telephone system. It is an electrical fault and as a consequence it has impacted on the telephone system and any other electrical device within your property.

Do you blame your fridge manufacturer or other electrical device manufacturers for not providing a BBU.

You seem to have a very strange idea of what a fault is.

Re: Digital voice

licquorice — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 21:17:03 GMT

@Bob1001 wrote:

@gg30340 Actually a fault due to power failure is down to BT because BT so far have declined to provide battery back up with hubs.

Had BT provided back up the faults would not occur and as they are trying to downgrade the current provision yes it is their fault. I don't want a downgraded service.

@Bob1001 Give it a rest, your broken record is totally tedious and pointless.

Re: Digital voice

Bob1001 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 06:56:36 GMT

@licquorice As is your continual defence of BT, they certainly could do more and remember ofcom only set minimum standards. BT seem to use the abreviation ALARP to mean as low as regulations permit.

I will leave you in peace now and concentrate on trying to get Ofcom to improve their standards which is probably the only way to get any change.

Re: Digital voice

garybs29 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 08:28:18 GMT

TBH I wish I had the time to waste complaining to a company about a fault when my electric goes off that is completely outwith their control, just seems like an absolute waste of time

Re: Digital voice

Bob1001 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:35:13 GMT

I said I would shut up but if believed this quote from "Marc Allera, CEO, Consumer division, BT" it puts a new dimension on the back up problem.

"The option of longer-lasting battery back-up units for customers who want or need them." so perhaps if BT will not provide them an email or call to Marc might help. He is quite easy to find on google.

Link to full statement

https://newsroom.bt.com/were-pausing-our-digital-voice-plans-for-consumers-while-we-work-on-a-more-resilient-rollout/

Re: Digital voice

gg30340 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 11:57:48 GMT

Doesn't say anywhere in this press release or any of the other press releases that were circulating a few weeks ago at the time when BT paused the roll out that the "The option of longer-lasting battery back-up units for customers who want or need them." will be free so while it may be an option it could be only if you want to buy one.

Anyway I doubt that even this old press release will shut you up so I'll leave you to your quest.

Re: Digital voice

Bob1001 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 12:19:20 GMT

@gg30340 But even if a purchase there is no clue anywhere how to buy them, I phoned BT who denied any such thing existed.

Re: Digital voice

gg30340 — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:13:13 GMT

@Bob1001 wrote:

@gg30340 But even if a purchase there is no clue anywhere how to buy them, I phoned BT who denied any such thing existed.

If you had read the press release properly you would have seen it is something they are considering for the future, not that it is something that is available from BT now.

I see that I was also correct that it would not shut you up!