This topic

Digital Voice Hub Backup

JSMills — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 11:38:16 GMT

Hi - I have just read the FAQs on Digital Voice which says my contacts will be stored on the hub and not my handsets/base phone (I am doubtful of this but let's assume it's true).and that if the hub is replaced or reset I will lose my contacts. It says the contacts can be backed up to my PC. When I go to the hub manager and do the backup it seems to say I can select a file to store them in it doesn't let me do this and stores them in a file called hub.conf. It doesn't say where this is on the PC and when I try search it can't find the file. Can anyone advise a) whether I will lose the contacts from my handset and b) where is the backup, or how to change it to a destination of my choice.

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

jac_95 — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 11:40:25 GMT

Hi JSMills,

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 Hub Backup

VeteranISPUser — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:07:31 GMT

Hi @JSMills

It is difficult to give precise instructions as it depends on which OS you are running on your PC and the software release on your SH2.

The default will be the Download folder on your PC. In my case Windows 10 Pro and v0.33.00.12274-BT the file is named contacts.vcf.

Obviously when found you can rename and move the file to wherever you like. I save mine in the cloud with the date like contacts_2022_06_10.vcf and backup every time a new contact is added.

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

philip42h — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:10:49 GMT

To add to the above:

If you log-in the the SH2 and go to Advanced settings > System > Backup / Restore you can then "make a back up copy of all your Hub's settings" to a file on your computer called by default 'hub.conf'.

If you log-in the the SH2 and go to Phone > Contacts you can then "Export your phone contact data to a file" on your computer called by default 'contacts.vcf'.

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

VeteranISPUser — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:16:45 GMT

Hi @JSMills

Apologises, having just reread your question you appear to be backing up the hub configuration and not the phone contacts. The screen to backup your phone contacts is:

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

licquorice — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 14:37:17 GMT

@JSMills wrote:

Hi - I have just read the FAQs on Digital Voice which says my contacts will be stored on the hub and not my handsets/base phone (I am doubtful of this but let's assume it's true).and that if the hub is replaced or reset I will lose my contacts..

Do you think I just made it up for a laugh?

Don't come whingeing on here if you lose your contacts.

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

JSMills — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:03:41 GMT

Thanks. Nice to know there is somebody who is never wrong.😉

I still find it hard to believe that the hub could suck all contacts out of my phone handsets. Anyway the hub backup doesn't work as it is supposed to. It saves to a file called hub.conf rather than allow me to name a file of my choosing (and one that is readable which hub.conf isn't. But maybe I'm doing something wrong (I occasionally do).

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

licquorice — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:52:15 GMT

The hub is the DECT base station hence the obvious place to store contacts rather the individual handsets.

Are you sure you are using DV handsets and not an existing DECT system plugged into the green socket on the hub?

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

JSMills — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 18:32:53 GMT

I am indeed using an existing system plugged into the green socket. Are we perhaps talking at cross purposes here?

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

licquorice — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 18:46:00 GMT

Obviously if you are using an existing analogue system plugged into the green socket as opposed to Digital Voice handsets as your thread title implies, then your contact list will not be held in the hub.

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

philip42h — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 09:54:18 GMT

As you mention above, I suspect that a large element of cross purposes have entered into this thread. You asked:

Hi - I have just read the FAQs on Digital Voice which says my contacts will be stored on the hub and not my handsets/base phone (I am doubtful of this but let's assume it's true).and that if the hub is replaced or reset I will lose my contacts. It says the contacts can be backed up to my PC. When I go to the hub manager and do the backup it seems to say I can select a file to store them in it doesn't let me do this and stores them in a file called hub.conf. It doesn't say where this is on the PC and when I try search it can't find the file. Can anyone advise a) whether I will lose the contacts from my handset and b) where is the backup, or how to change it to a destination of my choice.

Where the FAQ states:

Personalised data such as handset names, Speed Dial numbers, Ringtone choice and Contacts are all stored in the Hub rather than the handsets. A factory reset or change of hub will therefore result in the loss of this data. The contact list can be backed up by exporting the list to file on a PC. Other data is not backed up and will need to be re-entered.

It is referring to the use of the SH2 as a DECT hub with one or more satellite handsets (as supplied by BT in conjunction with the Digital Voice switchover). In this case, the SH2 is the DECT hub, the handsets are registered to that hub and the corresponding data is stored there. If you 'lose' the SH2, you 'lose' the DECT hub, your phone registrations and all the associated data.

The FAQ is also very clear that you can continue to use a pre-existing cordless phone base station (connected to the SH2) together with its satellite handsets. This will continue to function exactly as before. There is no Borgian or Dementor-like capability within the SH2 or Digital Voice to devour the data contained within your existing base station / DECT hub. (So, in that case you would be right to be sceptical.)

As mentioned elsewhere, there appears to be confusion over the term 'hub manager' - there being two 'hubs': the SH2 itself and the DECT hub within the SH2. You appear to be looking at the backup and restore facilities for the SH2 itself (hub.conf) rather than the contacts list for its built-in DECT hub to found under Phone (contacts.vfc). Since you are not [yet] using the built-in DECT hub you won't [yet] care about the latter.

Either way, you access the SH2 management functions using a browser on your PC, tablet or 'phone. It is that browser's download functionality that is used to download hub.conf or conacts.vcf to your device and this works as defined for your browser. For me, I am using Chrome under Windows so a window opens inviting me to change the default file name and specify a storage location. Other browsers may blindly store files in the default 'Download' location. But this behaviour is defined by your choice of browser. (If this aspect is still causing an issue let the Community know what browser and OS you are using.)

HTH (and sorry if this response is already redundant 😉 )

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

JSMills — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 11:32:50 GMT

Hi Thanks for the clarification.

Re: Digital Voice Hub Backup

JSMills — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 15:53:39 GMT

Thanks. Actually I misunderstood the FAQs. I have a conventional set of phones plugged in tater than a Dect phone so there no need to back up the hub to ensure contacts are saved. They will still be in the phones as I thought.