This topic

Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:38:38 GMT

Dear BT community, hope you can advise me? My broadband is on a third-party legacy package dating to pre-2009.

It's delivered to my desktop PC via USB which goes to a Thompson Speedtouch 330 USB ADSL modem (not router: modem only) which then goes through an RJ11 cable, plugs into a small adaptor (this adaptor is also a splitter which permits a wired landline telephone to be plugged in) and that adaptor/splitter converts the RJ11 to a standard BT plug, which goes into the BT wall socket. I believe that's a fixed BT Master Socket front LJ 2/1A (based on Wikipedia). This wall socket was here when I moved in nearly 20 years ago.

The speeds and service are more than enough for my needs, and the package is good value. There's no wireless or wi-fi involved anywhere in the setup, and no router. Last time I ran into a problem (several years ago), my ISP indicated that I'm on my own resolving tech issues, and maintaining hardware and software, for as long as I retain this legacy package, because the only help they can give me would require moving to 4G or fibre broadband, and therefore have to change the price plan, which would significantly increase costs, something I can't afford to do.

Can anyone please advise me whether this USB ADSL modem -> RJ11 -> adaptor -> standard BT plug setup, which is currently plugged into the wall socket, will work plugged into the socket for a wired landline telephone, when my area and my BT landline service is changed to BT Voice?

I can manage without using using a landline telephone at the same time as being online, it's the ADSL modem & related broadband package I wish to retain.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:18:37 GMT

@Squirrel898

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

Who is your ISP ?

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:39:30 GMT

Thanks for the reply! At risk of being awkward (and with due apologies), I'd rather not say at the moment, it feels inappropriate naming them in this context since they have, as I said, made it clear they're not able to assist with technical issues around connectivity unless I upgrade my entire package.

I understand this and fully accept their reasons as valid, and that the best support they could give me would be a tech upgrade, but this would mean new T&Cs and a new contract. That costs a lot more, so I do very much want to hang onto what I have, if possible. So my question relates to what the BT Landline change from copper wiring to BT Voice permits in terms of still using ADSL connectivity.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 05:46:05 GMT

@Squirrel898

This forum can only help if you are a BT Retail Broadband Customer.

If you are with another ISP, then you need to post on their user forum.

The closing of the analogue PSTN phone network affects all providers, so if you want to retain a phone service, then you would need to agree to whatever equipment your ISP provides.

This would not affect any existing contract if you were a BT Retail customer, but your own ISP may be different.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:01:40 GMT

I understand, however the landline is provided by BT, and I am able to use ADSL connectivity through that right now. If I didn't pay my BT bill, my landline would be cut off and that would mean the ADSL connection wouldn't work. My ISP can't influence how a change to BT Voice equipment would affect the possibility of making an ADSL connection.

So BT is the first service I need in order to use the ADSL modem. therefore my question is whether a BT Voice base unit (if that's the correct term?) can have an ADSL modem plugged into its telephone socket, in the same manner as the current BT master socket in the wall with old style copper wire.

(I could be in the wrong sub-forum on here however, for which, again, apologies?)

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:13:30 GMT

If you have separate broadband and phone packages, this is a very expensive way of doing things, and will not be possible in the future, and has not been possible for some time now, as broadband packages include any line rental.

If you wish to retain your phone service after 2025, you will either have to move your broadband to BT Retail, and BT will supply a BT Smart Hub 2, or keep your broadband with your current ISP, and accept whatever equipment they send.

You could of course get broadband only, if you do not want a phone service, or you could move your number to a third party VOIP provider, but that would need a router.

This is out of the scope for this BT Retail Customer to Customer forum, so you are going to have to discuss this with your current ISP.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:42:27 GMT

I've already verified that my current setup is much less expensive than a combined landline & broadband setup, given the legacy contract I have.

Based on my research this morning, it seems some ISP forums refer people with this same question back to - BT. 🤣

I do appreciate your time, and that my question is outside the norm, although I am a BT Retail customer for landline, and it's the changes being implemented by BT which are the cause of the problem.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

licquorice — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 06:58:19 GMT

It is quite simple. If you wish to have BT Digital Voice, you HAVE to use the BT Smart Hub2 for broadband and voice.

Your current setup will not work

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Keith_Beddoe — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:06:16 GMT

You could keep your broadband over copper, but there would be no phone equipment on the end once the PSTN closes, so you would have to arrange something with your ISP, their equivalent to BT Digital Voice.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:58:37 GMT

Thank you for the replies. @licquorice you wrote:

"If you wish to have BT Digital Voice"

As far as I know I get no say in the matter (I don't mean that sarcastically, just a statement of fact).

May I impose upon your patience with one more question? Do third party DECT-compatible modem/routers work through BT Digital Voice base units, which otherwise only supply the new version of landline telephone coneection?

If I can find a modem/router which works through the BT Voice equipment, then I may be able to retain the contract I have with my ISP for a while longer. A very big "if" indeed, but given the costs over time, one worth pursuing.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

imjolly — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:58:14 GMT

digital voice only works with BT SH2 and this must be connected direct to broadband connection

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

gg30340 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:07:00 GMT

You do not need to use BT Digital Voice. You can use any VOIP phone provider that you want if you wish to retain a landline phone.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

iniltous — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:52:53 GMT

If you are on a legacy shared metallic path facility ( SMPF ) and you pay BT for ‘line rental’ and another company provide your broadband, that is these days extremely rare , you say it’s better value , although that is debatable but what you actually pay per month with both bills combined and your setup not using a router is not really the issue.
You will be one of the last BT customers having to convert to DV , or you will have to make other arrangements, because of your now incompatible setup ( SMPF ) , but you will eventually have a choice , want to remain with BT as a phone only customer, ( this will not be your current PSTN phone service) you will have to give up your SMPF broadband, and you will be provided with a DV phone service that runs on a 0.5Mb BT broadband service that won’t allow ‘internet’ access ,but will deliver DV , you obviously could becomes a BT customer for both phone (DV) and broadband ……or you can leave BT.

After the PSTN switch off ( end of 2025 ) you will not be able to have a BT phone service and someone else’s broadband on the same ‘line’ .

Want to keep broadband with whoever supplies it , you would have to move to whatever non SMPF broadband they can supply you with , BT ( and therefore DV phone ) will not be your concern because you won’t be a BT customer, your telephone service ( if you chose to have one ) will be supplied by your broadband company or you will organise one yourself with a third party VoIP provider.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:52:45 GMT

That's a helpful reply, thank you. I have run the numbers (I check them every year) and my current setup is cheaper.

I know my situation's odd but I'm trying to avoid getting inferior service, or sacrificing a landline, either of which will cost more, for a change which is not of my choosing, when I currently have a stable and perfectly working setup.

Will BT need to check the strength of the local area wi-fi signal for the VOIP connection, if I stay with them?

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

iniltous — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:22:57 GMT

No point discussing the relative value of your current setup , if you think it’s good value, that’s fine.

There is no such thing as ‘local area WiFi signal for VoIP’ , I cannot imagine what you think that is.

Basically, this ‘problem’ depends on your choice , if it’s to stay with BT as phone only customer , the equipment supplied for that isn’t yet public ( hence why your move to DV will be later rather than sooner ) , so it’s only speculation, but I would think it’s a ‘box’ that plugs into the mains and a phone plugs into that, no WiFi , possibly has DECT for cordless landline phones ….the BT broadband behind the scenes that delivers this is 0.5Mb ( probably less than your current SMPF broadband ) so easily has the bandwidth to handle telephony but you won’t be able to use it for anything other than telephony, but the price is only what a phone service costs ( cheaper than broadband )

only or join BT as a broadband and telephony customer, you will get the current SH2 router that delivers broadband and DV, you won’t be able to keep BT and someone else’s broadband on the same line.

Any other choice that means BT won’t be involved , so that option wouldn’t really have anything to do with this forum

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

VeteranISPUser — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:01:32 GMT

@Squirrel898wrote:
Will BT need to check the strength of the local area wi-fi signal for the VOIP connection, if I stay with them?

Hi @Squirrel898 Your question doesn't make any sense. BT Digital Voice does not use WiFi. Traditional phones simply plug into the Smart Hub 2 which will be your new master socket for telephony.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:16:16 GMT

If you're happy with what you have now then it's probably best to worry about the implications of PSTN closure when it happens for you. As @iniltous has alluded to, that's probably still a couple of years away in your case.

Personally I'd be much more concerned with using hardware with no firewall, so you're entirely reliant on a software firewall on the PC. Even more so if that PC is running an unsupported legacy version of Windows.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

Squirrel898 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:19:04 GMT

Apologies, let me re-word it: firstly putting aside my ISP and my broadband as irrelevant now, and sticking with the BT telephone service.

Is BT's Digital Voice service provided via 4 or 5G connection, which originates from 4 or 5G transmitted signal in my area, and is then received by a BT Voice wi-fi receiving device, and sent to a base unit which converts it for telephony use?

Or will BT lay new fibre lines which can provide broadband signal, converted inside the user's property to Digital Voice telephony (and/or for internet access if they also pay for that) to every home?

Or is BT going to use existing connections currently supplied by copper wire, right up to my side of the wall socket, to send a broadband (only) signal, which it then converts to a VOIP service for telephony use?

If the latter, the entire process seems a little baffling.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

gg30340 — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:45:04 GMT

@Squirrel898 wrote:

Apologies, let me re-word it: firstly putting aside my ISP and my broadband as irrelevant now, and sticking with the BT telephone service.

Is BT's Digital Voice service provided via 4 or 5G connection, which originates from 4 or 5G transmitted signal in my area, and is then received by a BT Voice wi-fi receiving device, and sent to a base unit which converts it for telephony use? No

Or will BT lay new fibre lines which can provide broadband signal, converted inside the user's property to Digital Voice telephony (and/or for internet access if they also pay for that) to every home? It will at some point in the future. Could be years away.

Or is BT going to use existing connections currently supplied by copper wire, right up to my side of the wall socket, to send a broadband (only) signal, which it then converts to a VOIP service for telephony use? It will be a broadband only signal along copper cable from the fibre cabinet until the above happens.

If the latter, the entire process seems a little baffling.

Re: Using a USB ADSL modem (not router) when changed to BT Voice?

iniltous — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:49:45 GMT

No , DV is not delivered by mobile communications ( 4G/5G) , it’s not ‘mobile ‘ .

BT will not provide FTTP for anyone, Openreach may ( and eventually most will have it ) but it’s not essential, your existing copper pair will provide the connectivity for DV , it already provides your broadband.

DV is necessary because the PSTN network is past it useful life , IP telephony ( Internet protocol ) needs a broadband connection, you already have one , but it cannot continue on a shared basis , with two companies delivering products on the same ‘line’

Your choices have already been pointed out