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“Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 23:17:26 GMT

Hi,

My housebound mum’s installation has been fraught with problems. One that is still outstanding is that her lifeline won’t dial out.

The council who provide the lifeline stated “We have been assured that the current Lifelines we are using will still work with the new digital network as it attaches to the hub. The only issue is that there will not be a battery back-up but you can obtain these from your provider. ”

Do these devices have to plug straight into the back of the hub? My mother’s in another room and moving it to the room where the hub is would be far from ideal.

Any advise on these would be gratefully received.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

jac_95 — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 23:29:35 GMT

Yes the lifeline unit would need to be plugged into the phone port (ATA port) on back of smart hub 2 in order for the lifeline to be able to dial out and connect over the digital landline service.

I would however urge the council to upgrade the unit to communicate over IP and also fallback to the mobile network as per recommendation by the technology enabled care industry association, the TSA:

https://www.tsa-voice.org.uk/campaigns/digital-shift/

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 12:29:46 GMT

Thanks for this @@jac_95

The hub is at the far end of the property whereas the lifeline is currently in the middle. Even being in the middle it doesn't work at the extremities.

I don't suppose anyone is aware of a way of extending its range? By moving it to the hub, my mum's main living area and kitchen won't be covered....

Thanks

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

jac_95 — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 12:36:54 GMT

You could try a DIY solution and wire the internal extension phone sockets to the ATA port on the back of the smart hub 2 or use an extension phone cable.

Alternatively but not sure how well it would work is try using the BT Digital Voice adaptor

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 13:24:01 GMT

You could try a DVA which is a DECT adapter that plugs into a mains socket & the alarm would then plug into that. That would then communicate directly with the Hub. Only way to find out if it works would be to try it. Hopefully BT will supply one FOC given your Mum is vulnerable but if not, they're around £15. If you bought one online you should be bale to return it if it doesn't work.

https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-digital-voice-adapter-100121-GN1T.html

The Hub can be relocated by running an ethernet cable to where you want it. An electrician could probably do that but no idea what they'd charge. You'd need to ring around locally. Maybe the Council would do it?

It's also possible to connect the Hub directly to extension wiring if it's already in place both at the Hub & where you want the alarm.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

jac_95 — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 12:55:52 GMT

Also to note if you do go down the digital voice adaptor route and you have a battery backup unit or UPS for the smart hub 2 (and ONT if applicable) the digital voice adaptor won't be able to work in a powercut unless you provide a backup power supply for that too.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 11:36:09 GMT

@jac_95 which port would it need to be plugged into please? I suspect you're going to say the one her phones are in 😞

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 11:50:38 GMT

@sallypoo

You would need one of these.

This allows both the phone and lanyard base unit to be plugged in together.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 12:32:31 GMT

Thanks @Keith_Beddoe . That’s a good idea.

I’ve unplugged the old phones for now & plugged in the lifeline. As I suspected it doesn’t pick up the signal from the lanyard on mum’s living room but is at least now working-confirmed with a test call from the base unit.

Now to fathom if there is a way of it picking up the signal when she’s not at the far end of the house!

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 12:37:48 GMT

Did you read the bit about the Digital Voice Adapter, as that can be positioned elsewhere, and links back to the home hub base station? The lanyard base unit can plug into that.

https://shop.bt.com/products/bt-digital-voice-adapter-100121-GN1T.html

BT should be able to send one free of charge.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 12:47:09 GMT

Oh thanks. BT told me there wasn’t any other option! Much appreciated @Keith_Beddoe

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 12:48:15 GMT

Guess only issue with that is it won’t work in a power cut?

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

Keith_Beddoe — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 13:59:49 GMT

Neither would the home hub socket, as you would have no power on it.

How often do you get power cuts these days, and surely that is the responsibility of the utility provider?

The pendant base unit would also lose power.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

jac_95 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:05:40 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

Most pendent units have a battery backup built in.

The recommendation to plug into the smart hub 2 is so when you also use a battery backup or UPS to power the smart hub 2 the communication can still be achieved to the alarm receiving centre.

However, as I stated in my original reply the industry association recommends also having a fallback such as using mobile network too.

Re: “Lifeline” emergency lanyard not working with Digital voice

sallypoo — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:28:47 GMT

We have a power back up for the hub & the lifeline does have a power backup built in.

power cuts can be 1-3 day on bad days but most of the time it’s that number a month….