This topic

Friend w/ electrosensitivity, DV without wireless?

ajck — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:36:33 GMT

A friend of mine is very electrosensitive and can't live with RF radiation (mobile phone, wifi etc). She uses wired broadband internet over ethernet cable (provider is Plusnet), and has a standard wired analogue phone. Unfortunately she is being switched over to digital voice and is deeply concerned about being forced to use either wifi or DECT to maintain a working phone line. Is there any way to achieve this without Wifi or DECT being on?

I've read up a bit about it to try and help her (I'm a software developer so OK with technical stuff) but I'm unclear:

1.) Is a BT Smart Hub 2 the only internet hub/router that will allow the digital voice service?

2.) If so, can the DECT (and Wifi) signals be completely switched off? (I know her old phone can be plugged in the back of the SH2).

3.) If not, are there any other possible options she has of any sort, to maintain some sort of phone number, while not being exposed to any local wireless/RF signals?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Alex

Re: Friend w/ electrosensitivity, DV without wireless?

jac_95 — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:40:02 GMT

Hi ajck,

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: Friend w/ electrosensitivity, DV without wireless?

Keith_Beddoe — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:47:10 GMT

@ajck

Its not possible to switch the DECT off but I think you can turn the wireless off. The only real solution is to put the Smart Hub 2 in a Faraday shield.

Take a look at this thread https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-phone-including-Digital/digital-voice-without-using-wifi/td-p/2326250

The phone would need to be plugged into the back of the hub.

There is no other solution to get a phone line, apart from perhaps a third party VOIP provider in conjunction with a route that does not have wireless or DECT.

Re: Friend w/ electrosensitivity, DV without wireless?

licquorice — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 18:06:40 GMT

I presume she is intending to move to BT for Digital Voice, if so, she will need to use the SH2 which doesn't have the capability to disable DECT.

It would be simpler to stay with Plusnet for broadband only and use a third party for VoIP using an ATA.

Re: Friend w/ electrosensitivity, DV without wireless?

ajck — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:11:08 GMT

Great thanks, useful info

Re: Friend w/ electrosensitivity, DV without wireless?

ajck — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 17:30:13 GMT

Thanks very much for that suggestion, I hadn't thought of VoIP or realised you could use the same number, really helpful thanks. Currently looking at Voipfone which seems to be a good and cheap solution to the whole problem.