DV Handsets v Home DECT Phones

[licquorice]

BT Digital Voice is proprietary form of VoIP. The handsets are DECT and connect to the DECT base station embedded in the hub. They can only be used with BT Digital Voice. They are not VoIP handsets in the normal sense.

The BT hub also has a built in ATA which is presented as a standard phone socket which can be used for analogue phones or a DECT base station.

[Keith_Beddoe]

@google1901 

No need to use the BT phones, just plug your existing working system, into the socket on the back of the Smart Hub 2. It will save you the hassle of entering all the numbers into the BT phones, the numbers are stored in the SH2.

BT Digital Voice is not a standard VOIP implementation, and you can only use the SH2.

If you move provider, then you would ask your new provider to port your number over.

[oldbuffer1]

I thought along similar lines while researching digital phones. However, since I now have Full Fibre and DV phone service (3 x BT DV handsets), I did wonder if my Panasonic DEC phones would also work. As it turns out they’re fine. The base unit is plugged into the phone socket of the SH2 with all the attendant Panasonic digital phones and the BT handsets are wirelessly connected to the SH2. (The SH2 is effectively acting as a base unit for the BT handsets). I now have phones “coming out of my ears!”

So if you already have DEC phones they will work with your BT hub. In theory, just unplug your base unit from the old master socket and plug it into the back pf the hub and away you go.  (Always assuming your digital phone service has been activated.).

[google1901]

Thanks for your replies.

I think I'm trying to understand why BT DV is not VOIP or why proprietary. Ultimately, with DV, any restrictions. From the Router angle (broadband/phone) it is. Nevertheless, for phone, I suppose it leads to (I'm guessing) the phone port function on Smarthub2.  Does SH2 convert to phone to digital i.e. phone call/voice to ADSL/IP packet (or in the street cabinet once switched over).  Also,  if I understand correctly, other providers, rely on BT Openreach (via same cabinet) e.g. SKY their routers must function the same as SH2.

It suggests (with change of service provider)  'BT DV' handsets should work as well.

n.b. I'm trying to convince myself no restriction either with DECT or BT DV phones! 

[licquorice]

As previously explained, BT Digital Voice is a proprietary form of VoIP. It is more secure than other forms of VoIP which can be easily spoofed

How broadband is physically delivered is totally immaterial, the VoIP function is supplied at the MSAN (exchange in old money).

DV handsets ONLY work with BT Digital Voice.

[Roseey]

Help elderly parents at a distance who had change over to digital voice in December. Phone not working and they were told by BT on Friday that they would have to get a BT digital voice twin set phone and to look on products. Im struggling to find what they need.
any help with easy link to purchase a BT DV twin handset ?

[rbz5416]

@Roseey 

If the migration is complete they simply need to plug their existing phone into the green socket on the back of the router. This may be covered by a sticker.

The DO NOT need to buy new phones.

[google1901]

As has been mentioned you do not change existing phone. However, do not plug it in the back of the router. Order the DV phone adapter (BT DV should have advised on this?) and once received sync it to the router then plug the phone into the adaptor. Had to do it for the old chap accross the road, works just fine.

[licquorice]

Why would you need to use DV adapter if plugging a phone into the hub is more convenient? It depends entirely on individual circumstances which method to use, categorically saying don't use the hub socket is nonsense.

[google1901]

What do I know, other than (after a 7 - 10 days)  BT remote tech got involved  (he hooked into SH2 remotely). Repeated all the tests, which failed, then he arranged for new SH2 & adaptor as phone directly connected to SH2 did not work. After a couple of days. We resumed; sync'd the adaptor & phone was working fine. His words 'use the adaptor'. Was it phone socket on the back or SH2 issue? Either way it failed miserably & for this vunerable person to be without a phone for so long is unacceptable. Throughout the 7-10 days I gave him one of our phones (hooked to my base station) in case he needed help. As for BT DV  'seamless changeover', it was not.