Digital voice options and alternatives

[PeterD23]

Hello.

Does anyone know if I can use digital voice (BT or any other brand of handset) with SH1?

Explanation: I cannot use SH2 due to an incompatibility with the old network cards in my work-supplied computer limiting my choice of bandwidth - apparently it has something to do with the smart-switching between 2.4 and 5ghz. Digital voice switch-over took place today - despite me informing BT several times that I cannot use SH2 and returning the router multiple times. So it seems I have the option to forget my landline until my work hardware is updated - not going to happen anytime soon... or source alternative digital voice support. I have given up calling BT about this as they always try to sell me something instead of helping. Thanks for any advice.

[jac_95]

Hi PeterD23,

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.

To learn more about the nationwide change to this Internet based voice service visit landlinesgo.digital

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[Keith_Beddoe]

@PeterD23 

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

You have to use the BT Smart Hub 2 if you want a phone service, however you do not have to use the wireless signal from the home hub, as you can use your SH1 to provide the wireless signal, by connecting it to one of the LAN ports on the Smart hub 2, and turning the SH2 wireless off.

Alternatively you could use a separate wireless access point, or better still, connect your computer to the home hub using an Ethernet cable.

[licquorice]

Digital Voice can ONLY be used with the SH2.

I very much doubt there is an incompatibility with your network card and the SH2, if your network card is only single band, that is the only band it will 'see' from the SH2. You can always turn off one or other of the bands in any case.

Edit: Or as Keith has suggested, use the SH1 for WiFi.

[PeterD23]

Ar you suggesting I chain the two routers together via ethernet cable? Use SH1 for wifi with the ability to manually select bandwidth and SH2 to plug the phone into. Sounds an interesting idea.

It wasn't only my work hardware that failed although that was the deal-breaker. My security system, printer and my sons slightly aging iPhone all failed on SH2 - but operate fine on SH1. All my other computers, phones and smart TV's etc work fine on SH2.

[PeterD23]

The connection was intermittent on the problem devices - and drove me to despair trying to figure out why 'the wifi seemed broken'. I noticed the network cards missing - I think it was - the /g on the card tech-spec and made an assumption. Thanks for your feedback.

[Les-Gibson · Accepted solution]

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@PeterD23wrote:

Ar you suggesting I chain the two routers together via ethernet cable? Use SH1 for wifi with the ability to manually select bandwidth and SH2 to plug the phone into. Sounds an interesting idea.

Exactly that.

You'll need to give the SH1 a static IP address, anything from 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.63 will do.
Turn off the DHCP server on the SH1 and connect the two hubs LAN -LAN then connect to the SH1 SSID

EDIT: You'll find that the SH1 will produce an annoying and very bright flashing purple light from the front, there's nothing you can do to stop it but you can dim it down significantly by removing the silver/grey panel across the front (it just clips in place) and colour the light guide with a black permanent marker pen (that'll make more sense when you remove the centre panel)