Does the BT Business Smart Hub 3 have an analogue telephone socket on the back?

[imajeenyus88]

Short version: Please confirm whether or not the BT Business Smart Hub 3 has socket on the back for connecting analogue telephones.

Long version. We run a small shop and have previously been using Plusnet Business. This is closing, and we have been advised to move to BT Business. We have 2x telephones and a card terminal, all currently connected to the analogue phone line. We want to keep these existing devices, as it is too much bother to upgrade, especially the card terminal.

I initially started looking at BT home broadband and phone / "Digital Voice" and was pleased to see that the Smart Hub 2 includes an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) socket on the back, to which analogue phones can be connected. The socket is coloured green. Here are several links to where this is demonstrated:

https://www.bt.com/broadband/digital-voice ("When you switch to a digital phone line you can still use your current home phone by plugging it into the back of your hub. ")

https://business.bt.com/help/guides/smart-hub-2-guide/smart-hub-2-getting-started/setting-up-smart-h...

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/learn-about-the-ports-on-your-bt-hub

I was also interested to read about the battery backup option which is available.

I then thought I should also check BT business broadband and phone. From what I gather, this is provided with a Business Smart Hub 3. Looking at BT's documentation, for example:

https://business.bt.com/help/guides/smart-hub-3-guide/smart-hub-3-getting-started/setting-up-your-sm...

this does not show a green analogue socket, which worried me. However, other photos of the Smart Hub 3 online appear to show either a socket covered with a black sticker, or a fully functional green socket:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/bt-smart-hub-3-launch.39068/page-7

I have also seen a teardown video of both the Smart Hub 2 and Smart Hub 3 which appears to show they are functionally identical inside. There is also a hint that BT is branding the Smart Hub 3 slightly differently depending on whether it's a business or home user.

Additionally, I don't see any mention of the battery backup option on the BT business site.

So, I am now totally confused. If I go for BT Business, will the hub I get have a functioning analogue telephone socket on the back or not? If not, then I'll just stick with BT home instead.

Many thanks for your help.

[jac_95 · Accepted solution]

Hi @imajeenyus88 

This forum is for residential BT customers so help and info on here is more specific  to residential products and services.

For business customers the BT Business forum is: https://business.forums.bt.com

BT Business offer more bespoke voice based services for business customers. 

https://business.bt.com/products/voice-collab/digital-voice/

These may also have ATA adaptors available, but best to query with BT business for more on their specific offerings.

The UK's traditional analogue phone network is closing, here's BT Business information on this and some steps for you to prepare https://business.bt.com/why-choose-bt/insights/digital-transformation/uk-pstn-switch-off/

It is advised that you also check and upgrade any devices that connects to your phone line today  (such as epos and payment systems ) so that it's compatible with a digital Internet based phone line system or able to communicate over the Internet 

[Keith_Beddoe]

@imajeenyus88 

Its not permitted to run a business on a residential account anyway, so you will need to look at the BT Business options. There are plenty of other business users with similar requirements, on the BT Business forum.

[imajeenyus88]

@Keith_Beddoe Where does it say that it is not permitted to run a business on a residential account?

[Keith_Beddoe]

@imajeenyus88 

https://www.bt.com/terms/home-phone-and-broadband-12-jan

6. How you can use the service

a. Each service is just for you and your household for personal use (meaning that it should not be used for any trade, business or profession). You're responsible for how each service and the loaned equipment are used.

11. When we may restrict, suspend or end a service

xii. You use a service for any trade, business or profession.

15.  What we're not responsible for and limits on our liability

iii. Any loss you suffer caused by you using a service in a way that breaks the agreement.
iv. Any commercial or businesses loss.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@imajeenyus88 

All you need on BT Business is a single ATA adapter, that will provide the equivalent analogue appearance, the same as the BT Residential hub.

Primarily BT business supplies phones are IP phones, however if you want to keep everything as it is at the moment, then an ATA adapter is going to be the only way.

You would need to confirm with your card machine provider as to whether it will work over a VOIP service, as some equipment that uses modem tones, will not work.

It would be best to ask for advice on the BT Business forum, as others have posted about card machines.

[Keith_Beddoe]

I see you have posted on the BT Business forum, for anyone else who may wish to follow.

https://business.forums.bt.com/t5/Broadband/Does-the-BT-Business-Smart-Hub-3-have-an-analogue-teleph...

I do know that the BT Business Hub has a socket but its not used, and cannot be enabled. I am sure you will find that out by reading the posting on that subject.

I am not sure of the cost of the ATA adapter, and whether it will work with your machine, so you may find it cheaper to replace the phones with the ones that BT Business supply, and contact your card reader supplier for a unit that works over the Internet, as I am sure by now, they must be available. 

[imajeenyus88]

@Keith_Beddoe Many thanks for the info, appreciate it! So it's definitely going to have to be BT Business.

For the ATA adapter, is the "BT Digital Voice Adapter" suitable? This one - 

https://store.ee.co.uk/products/bt-digital-voice-adapter-100121-GN1T.html

They connect to the hub over DECT.

I had a look through the manual for my card terminal and, unfortunately, there is a note that it may not work reliably over a VOIP connection. Someone did suggest enabling fax mode in the router settings, but it's a bit of a guess.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@imajeenyus88 

No the DV adapter is simply a DECT receiver with a socket on it, and is only suitable for the residential Smart Hub 2. The BT Business hub does not have a DECT base unit.

You would need to ask about a suitable ATA adapter for BT Business, and its likely to be a CISCO one, which I believe is not cheap and may not work with your card reader.

I would be inclined first of all, to ask your card terminal provider what they supply (rent?) for an IP based network. Bear in mind that these are primarily digital devices which have a modem inside, so there must be a replacement, as thousands of businesses have already moved over to VOIP, as a replacement for ISDN2 and ISDN30.

As for the phones, BT Business supply Yealink IP phones, which replace any existing analogue phones. You need to discuss your requirements with BT Business Sales. I would expect your Plusnet number to be ported over to BT Business.

As you may appreciate, this residential forum is not going to be able to help. Most of what I have posted here, comes from reading the BT Business Forum.

[imajeenyus88]

@Keith_Beddoe Thanks again for the info. It appears that the terminal I currently have has Ethernet connectivity so I should be able to use that.

This is turning into a nightmare. Everything sailing along just fine with an analogue phone line, and then wham, we've got to turn everything upside down. Progress, I suppose.....

I'll keep an eye on the business forums and see what I can find out. Thanks again!