Digital Voice - Handset and Voicemail

[Scripto]

Never joined a ‘community’ before. I hope this info is useful to others. I would like to have known this before.

Recently renewed my BT contract (I had the full Monty anyway) and moved to Digital Voice with my package. I bought a BT phone with the deal (they actually sent 2). Set up without problems. I had some subsequent phone issues though in fairness BT helplines proved useful and answered several calls with only a brief delay. The following enacted / enabled via the helplines:

First, voicemail cannot be cancelled without losing Caller Protect (utterly absurd BT). I cancelled and lost all my blocked spam numbers. BT temporarily reinstated Caller Protect which reinstated Voicemail. I was then going to roll back my contract.  But what I now know is that you can delay Voicemail kicking-in so it is effectively useless. I tested it to more than 60 seconds and it did not kick in. I’ll settle for that. Fortunately I had a back-up list of my blocked spam numbers.

The handset has no headset  jack and I absolutely need that as I am invariably on the PC with callers. Hard of hearing and handy for that as well (utterly absurd BT). The phone does not include an option to permanently enhance the listening volume (utterly absurd BT). You can pre-set the ring volume very loud but not the listening volume. The latter needs to be adjusted with each caller.

My existing set of high quality Panasonic DECT phones work perfect when plugged into the back of the router in the (green) analogue converter but with the new phone ‘registered’ that is a different story. That sabotages my perfectly good phones. I could not then hear callers on my own phones. BT phone now de-registered and on its way back. Good riddance. My old phones now perfect and back to normal.

[jac_95]

Hi Scripto,

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.

Got some questions or want to learn more about BT’s Digital Voice rollout? BT are running localised events as part of the regional rollout of Digital Voice - Click here to view the Digital Voice events

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.

[licquorice]

Odd then that I have both 2 Digital Voice handsets and a Panasonic DECT base station plugged into the green socket that co-exist just fine.

[Scripto]

Only my DECT base is plugged into the router green socket. BT literature does say that some third-party phones may be impacted by connection to the router. I acknowledge and accepted that risk. BUT, BT should make it more clear about the impact on voicemail and the extraordinary absence of a headphone jack as well as listening volume which is pitiful at its lowest (default) setting.  Had I liked the new phone I would have bought more to replace my dated stuff. Information could and shiould have been better. BT sending me a return bag for the phones.

I also volunteered to return the BT Disc as my BT broadband has always reached to the end on the drive no problem.

Thanks for taking the trouble to respond.

[RIC9380]

I also have both - 2 Digital Voice handsets and a Gigaset DECT system base station plugged into the green socket that co-exist just fine too.

[Scripto · Accepted solution]

It is all a wee bit academic now. The BT handset is not fit for the purpose anyway, which seems strange when set against the obvious quality of the router, hybrid connect, wi-fi disk and the service in general.

There are thousands out there working flat out, inventing stuff we do not need, yet we cannot get the simple stuff we do need and have been enjoying for years. The absence of a headset jack point and inability to raise the default setting for amplifying the listening experience, seems an absolute minimum common-sense specification to me.

That said, BT is taking that phone back no problem and are sending a postage bag for the purpose.

As my dated but quality Panasonic kit is working well as it has for years, I’ll stick with that. The telephone user (on all phones) can raise the earphone volume and it stays put until it is altered again. No need to navigate a menu to do that either. One simple multi-function button.

In time I may source a new set of telephones that can be guaranteed to be 100% compatibly with BT tech. I know what questions to ask first.