Setup, cost etc of Digital Voice

[patrober]

We are due to get FTTP in the next few weeks and looking at options. I believe I can replace my landline with Digital Voice line. Some questions-

1- what does it cost?

2- Can i keep my current number?

3. Can i still use my analogue phones?

[imjolly]

Are you an existing customer upgrading to FTTP or are you a new customer and if so who is current provider?

[Anonymous]

There seems to be a lot of hysteria about Digital Voice, bear in mind that a corded phone connected to your old copper line will continue to work in the event of a power cut whereas  with DV your SH2 will turn off and so will your landline

[patrober]

Not a current customer of BT. Currently with plusnet who don't do fttp 

[patrober]

I'm aware of the power issue with digital Voice but I have a mobile so not a major concern.  Main concern is I have multiple phones on extensions and a fax machine (I know!) that I need to consider as well.

Really mainly considering it for savings in cost (assuming there is no cost!) otherwise I probably would continue with the copper but not with my current provider as they won't do voice without BroadBand and they don't do fttp.

[Anonymous]

A Fax machine??? For a moment there I almost thought you were being serious 😅

[patrober]

I'm afraid I'm serious. It's one of the ways I communicate with my 88 year old deaf mother. She can text but for longer messages she faxes me. Working on facetime to sign but proving a challenge!

[imjolly]

If you get digital voice the the hub acts as dect base station and your phone socket no longer works-for calls so neither will your extensions.  I think that may also rule out your old fax machine

[patrober]

Is it really dect? I assumed it would be over WiFi but that was just an assumption.

I thought I saw that there was a phone socket on the back of the router but not sure if I misread that (hence my question).

[Keith_Beddoe]

Its DECT and you have to use the Smart Hub 2. It has a phone socket on the back, to plug in a normal phone.

If you want to use a different router, then it would be best to keep your copper landline connection.

I doubt very much that a fax machine would work over Digital Voice, owing to the way that calls are carried over the IP network. So you need to keep your copper landline.