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Digital Voice question

borderline — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:48:50 GMT

Today I received an email about a switch to digital voice.

I have never heard of this before.. so I have questions..

I understand that it will rely on internet only.. and if there is no internet I can't make or receive calls pffttt

when I go on holidays I always switch off my router.. that means nobody will be able to call and leave a message anymore?

so people (specially the elderly) without internet or mobile phones won't be able to make calls anymore.. wow

do I need a new router? I have an old one I think, BT never sends me anything new ever

Re: Digital Voice question

jac_95 — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:52:06 GMT

Hi borderline,

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.

To learn more about the nationwide change to this Internet based voice service visit landlinesgo.digital

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 question

licquorice — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:56:22 GMT

@borderline wrote:

Today I received an email about a switch to digital voice.

I have never heard of this before.. so I have questions..

Really? The subject has been discussed to death on the forum and in the press for the last couple of years.

I understand that it will rely on internet only.. and if there is no internet I can't make or receive calls pffttt

Correct, just like in 99% of cases when you had no internet before. It is extremely rare to lose internet without losing phone on analogue lines.

when I go on holidays I always switch off my router.. that means nobody will be able to call and leave a message anymore?

No it doesn't. 1571 answering service is free with DV and doesn't require your router to be powered.

so people (specially the elderly) without internet or mobile phones won't be able to make calls anymore.. wow

Err, no. They will be supplied with low bandwidth internet and a phone.

do I need a new router? I have an old one I think, BT never sends me anything new ever

Yes, you will be supplied with a Smart Hub 2

Re: Digital Voice question

borderline — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:08:43 GMT

thank you @licquorice

will the new smart hub be free of charge ?

Re: Digital Voice question

licquorice — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 14:09:42 GMT

Indeed it will be.

Re: Digital Voice question

borderline — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:43:07 GMT

sorry I have a new question referring the smart hub.. does BT know I don't have BTsmart hub 2?

how and when do I need to request one?

Re: Digital Voice question

imjolly — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:58:42 GMT

Bt will know you need a SH2 and it will be issued before you are moved to DV

Re: Digital Voice question

ChrisFWood — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 23:51:50 GMT

I know this is marked as solved but, I phoned BT (customer services) to say I haven't got a new smart hub 2 and for some reason I wasn't down to get one, I'm guessing I was down as having one. I got this sorted by that call and good job as it arrived Thursday and at 1:58am Friday I was switched over.

Re: Digital Voice question

HHGTTG — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 08:49:46 GMT

Will we folks also be issued with one or possibly two DV adapters? I will need at least one now that I have decided to not move my DECT cordless phone handset adjacent to the Hub. I see that one can text free adapter or enter one's phone's number and get one free when the time comes otherwise they're £19.99 from BT/EE shop or about £4 cheaper on eBay.

Re: Digital Voice question

borderline — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 09:45:59 GMT

thank you. I will give them a call.

I received a letter and yesterday an email saying I will be moved over the next 30 days. But it doesn't say anything about the hub, whether I need one or not.. or who to contact , very poor information

Re: Digital Voice question

StuartHK — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:16:23 GMT

Just be aware that they also don’t tell you that you need to reboot it for it to work, based on my own experience.

To clarify, set the Smart Hub 2 (SH2) up as soon as you get it. When the switch goes through, (probably during the night), they will remotely reboot it and you will see your phone number appear in a grey box on the home page. You then need to move the phone plug from the wall socket to the green socket on the back of the hub. However, I found it did not recognise the phone until it was rebooted again.

Re: Digital Voice question

HHGTTG — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:17:33 GMT

Define rebooted please. Turn off and on again or press reset button?

Re: Digital Voice question

StuartHK — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:22:17 GMT

I doubt whether it makes any difference, apart from certain memory processes usually survive a warm reboot.

If memory serves, I used the reset option on the home page.

Re: Digital Voice question

HHGTTG — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:26:13 GMT

Ah yes of course. Forgot that.
Thanks.

Re: Digital Voice question

StuartHK — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:29:00 GMT

Sorry, that should have been "restart" not "reset".

Re: Digital Voice question

HHGTTG — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:31:00 GMT

And I think that I meant 'restart' as well! Doh!

Re: Digital Voice question

Jane2018 — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 18:28:16 GMT

That is useful to know. Will add to my lists of future tasks which includes make BT send the hubs, set up new hub, note new passwords - presumably have to change wifi on all devices - ie new passwords etc; check my recorded personal message on 1571 is working; make sure I get rid of call waiting if is the default; log into myBT and look for alilng features and untick international and premium all rate barring (I make and receive international calls so want those available); now I have added restart hub(s) once it is all working.

(One complications is my 3 BT line (on 2 accounts) 2 of which have broadband and 2 of which have landlines. So one of my landlines does not have broadband on that telephone line. Therefore of the 3 lines I think BT will treat me as someone on that line who does not have broadband. I suspect what BT will send to me is homehub 2 for the landline that has BB on it; send nothing for the broadband line with no telephone number so we keep and use the old homehub on that one (confusingly called homehub 6 on the back); and for the other landline number with no BB whatever basic set up they send people who have no BB at home. Goodness knows whether BT will manage that.

Re: Digital Voice question

djenson2000 — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 18:37:03 GMT

You can just note down your existing SSID and password and set these in the new hub, preventing the need to update passwords.

Re: Digital Voice question

imjolly — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 18:35:07 GMT

@Jane2018

Instead of going round changing all your wireless devices just change the hub SSID and PASSWORD to that currently used (name and password of existing router) and that way devices should connect automatically on changeover

Re: Digital Voice question

djenson2000 — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 18:37:21 GMT

snap