This topic

BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:54:19 GMT

Our master socket is in an incredibly inconvenient place in the garage - high on one wall other side of BT cable entering and no power available nearby. The master socket is the type with a single socket - the analogue phone socket type - and not the two socket digital and analogue type (with the splitter built-in).

My current broadband package is FTTC via PlusNet and I want to change to BT Broadband Fibre 2. My current setup is the PlusNet broadband router is plugged into a standard wired phone extension in my office via a broadband/phone splitter and works well with no issues, currently giving 54 MBits/s download.

All the BT help I can find says the Smart Hub 2 must be plugged into the master socket via a splitter which is impossible in my case. Not only is there no power or convenient mounting point, my office computer and printer are directly connected using ethernet to the current router/hub and cannot use wi-fi.

Can I replicate my current setup using Smart Hub 2 (i.e. plugging it into my office phone extension using a splitter)? I accept in theory it will have some small losses due to the extension wiring but cannot think of why it would not work since in theory there is no wiring difference between the single plug master socket and an extension, especially since phone extension are wired off the back of the single socket in the master socket. I note the documentation is slightly ambiguous in this case as it clearly says you cannot use an extension for a two socket master socket but is silent regarding the single socket master socket.

Any help gratefully received, especially from anyone using an extension from a single socket master socket. I don't want to order the BT Fibre 2 package only to discover it will not work.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 18:59:14 GMT

The SH2 will work just as the Plusnet router does now.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

imjolly — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:39:10 GMT

As you are going to be a new customer to BT retail have you checked to see if you are moving to digital voice for your landline calls - or have you selected broadband only?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:00:18 GMT

We are a current BT retail customer - BT currently supply landline and phone service. PlusNet supply broadband only. And our plan is to change to the combined BT broadband and phone package. Also, since the batteries for the current two analogue DECT phone (one base station phone one linked phone) have pretty well given up the ghost we were planning on getting the two new essential digital phones that are offered as part of the package broadband and line package.

If we move to digital voice phones we will still be left with one analogue phone - our alarm system is wired as an extension running from the master socket and has it's own built-in splitter. I should have asked, but it there any reason the alarm system will no longer work if we move to digital voice phones (i.e. wifi from the SH2), or do we have to continue using our analogue phone (at least until the digital switchover whenever that occurs)?

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

imjolly — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:22:38 GMT

If you are getting the free DV essential phones then you are moving to digital voice and your existing master socket and extension will no longer work for phone calls - unless you make some changes . Suggest you read the digital voice FAQ.

You DV phone connect to the SH2 by dect not WiFi. You alarm system will not work so need to contact the alarm company for solution

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:39:26 GMT

Thank you, that confirms what I suspected. Alarm is due a service about now so I'll have a conversation with the alarm servicing company - I believe they have a mobile network option. And maybe a DV option by now as well. If I do move to digital voice do I still need to use a splitter to connect the hub since there will be no analogue connections, or is the splitter still required to filter out low frequency noise?

Also puzzled by your comment that DV phones use DECT to connect to SH2 because the instructions for connecting DV to SH2 state you link the DV base using the WPS button on the SH2 which usually means the base station will be using wifi to connect to the SH2 and uses VoIP, not DECT (although the phones themselves could use DECT to connect to the base station).

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

imjolly — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:45:05 GMT

The DV PHONES connect to hub using DECT not wifi. This has been covered many times on the forum

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

licquorice — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:50:53 GMT

The WPS button is dual function

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 20:52:27 GMT

You said originally that you were moving to Fibre 2. That is an FTTC service the same as you're currently on. Or did you mean Full Fibre 2 which is FTTP? It's possible to have DV on both.

If you're moving to another FTTC package then as I said, nothing will change.

Either way, your alarm may still work by connecting it to the back of the SH2. But you will only know for certain by trying it.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:01:36 GMT

Thank you - Googled the forums and found the discussions. I guess I was expecting DV used VoIP like most work phone systems, and not a proprietary DV system. But I suppose the DECT system makes more sense in simplifying installation given the large number of customers they need to reach and their likely expertise.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:09:44 GMT

Thanks. But given the alarm system is connected as an extension to the master socket and the SH2 will be in my office where I have power and the equipment, I will not be able to connect the alarm to the SH2. I will discuss alternative solutions (such as mobile) with the alarm company to remove dependencies on any analogue phone connections so I can move over to SH2 and DV phones before I order.

And yes I will be moving to Fibre 2 FTTC - not Full Fibre 2 FTTP which is not available here yet (and when it is I will get the master socket sorted out then so it is no longer in its difficult-to-use location).

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

imjolly — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:17:50 GMT

When you move to FTTP then the master socket is no longer used and position is immaterial

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:25:53 GMT

Have you been through the order process & were offered DV? It's not something that you can just choose to have if not.

If the alarm isn't too old there should at least be a GSM module for it, as long as you have reasonable mobile coverage. More modern systems also provide for direct connection to your Internet.

When the time for FTTP comes your master socket will become redundant, as a new fibre connection will be made to the property & an optical modem installed, hopefully somewhere more convenient!

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

licquorice — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 21:37:20 GMT

Digital Voice is VoIP, however, the Hub2 also incorporates a DECT base station in order to connect to the VoIP service. It also incorporates an ATA accessed via the green socket at the rear of the hub allowing older analogue phones to be connected.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 22:05:24 GMT

Yes, the alarm company did mention there was a GSM option last time they were out. Hopefully it is not 3G which is being switched off shortly, but that is another story. In any case my thinking is to bite the bullet and sort out the alarm now since it needs to be done sometime soon anyway with DV coming down the track, as well as being an issue in to moving to SH2.
Thank you (and everyone else) for your patience with all my technical questions. I hope this discussion will also help others with master sockets (with single sockets) in inconvenient places.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

JohnRH — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 10:36:02 GMT

I wonder if you solved your alarm issue?

I ask because I'm going down the same road but appear to have found a way to use my conventional alarm dialler with DV.

Basically the "phone socket" on the rear of the SH2 is what it is, it's a conventional phone socket. Any phone can be plugged into this and so can any conventional speech dialler and a quick search around the internet confirms this.

I find it particularly annoying that many people are spending large sums of money to install a GSM dialler when there appears to be absolutely no need.

John

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

licquorice — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 11:44:25 GMT

As stated in message 14 of this thread back in January

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

JohnRH — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 13:59:23 GMT

licquorice

Yes I know but was just interested if he followed through with this or went down the GSM route or what.

However a question for you if you wouldn't mind.

I have FTTC and my master socket in a newish house is on an internal wall, not simply the internal face of an external wall so somewhere cables coming from the outside, theres the standard grey BT covers over a cable that enters the building. So I assume that at the time of building the house a cable routes its way through the first floor floor and drops down a partition wall to go to the master socket. Ok?

Now at some time in the future I assume I will go to FTTP. Yes?

Now at that time I assume Openeach will install a fibre cable but will be unable to take it anywhere other than the internal face of the external wall. Which in my case is a down stairs toilet. Hence why the master socket isn't there.

The reason I ask is because I can see that DV is going to make me alter how my house is wired for data and for comms. So the last thing I want to do is alter it now and alter it again when FTTP comes along.

My problem is that I need to maintain an alarm and a autodialler. My router is on the end of an internal extension in my office upstairs and not at the master socket. And in order for my alarm to work under alarm conditions everything needs to run off my UPS (uninterrupible power supply) inc the router.

Thanks

John

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

licquorice — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 15:50:12 GMT

The location of the ONT whilst preferably located on the inside of an external wall, it doesn't necessarily have to be. The fibre can be run internally within reason. Also, the fibre can be run externally from where the CSP (the splicing point between external and internal fibre) is located to a suitable location for the ONT internally.

Also, the ONT and router don't have to be co-located, you can run Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable up to 100metres between them.

Ignore last para as you want them to be co-located for ups purposes.

Re: BT Smart Hub 2 usable on phone extension?

RKMC — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 22:03:15 GMT

Hi John,

I got my alarm company to replace the communications board for the alarm with a GSM (4G) board and comms box. It was really the only solution other than doing a lot of wiring back from the router phone socket to the alarm which would have been a real pain. And would have added a layer of complexity and dependency best to do without. Unit wasn't expensive in any case - from memory around £100 - and took maybe 30 minutes. Another option would have been a wireless unit but the alarm company said the manufacturer and they weren't supporting that any more. I think they also said no-one was recommending phone line calling either - mobile comms doesn't have any dependency on phone lines or power being down or disrupted.

Ray