Getting DV on Full Fibre using non BT router

[CHRISMAY3]

I was told by BT and Open Reach that I HAD to convert to fibre and the old copper wire was going to be out of use soon. I was perfectly happy with the BT Broadband service and speeds that I had been getting, but when I needed to renew my contract I was told I had to renew with EE and had to have Fibre. My problem arises from the fact that I am electrically hyper sensitive, therefore my whole house is wired with Ethernet outlets so that I can use the Internet without having the WiFi switched on. I have asked, but BT/EE cannot provide, (even if I buy a different one from them), a router with an on/off button, so that I can easily turn the WiFi on or off, as it is only required very occasionally.  I have been using a Netgear router which has an on/off button for the WiFi. Unfortunately, this does not have a phone socket, so I have now bought a tplink router which does. I have after many hours managed to get it connected to the Internet with the help of tplink tech team, but am not able to get the phone to work with the tplink router. However the phone, a BTDecor 2600, will work when connected to the BT home hub.  Does anyone know how to fix this please?

[jac_95 · Accepted solution]

@CHRISMAY3 

The BT and EE Digital Voice service only works and requires the use of the BT/EE smart hub. 

You can disable the WiFi however if you want to continue using the ethernet ports on the router

[Keith_Beddoe]

I was told by BT and Open Reach that I HAD to convert to fibre and the old copper wire was going to be out of use soon.

@CHRISMAY3 

Very misleading. Copper is not going to be out of use, its the PSTN phone network that is closing, and if people need a phone service from BT, it has to be BT Digital Voice, which works just as well on a copper broadband connection.

As @jac_95  has said, you can turn off the wireless on the Smart Hub 2, but I doubt it disables the DECT base signals.

[iniltous]

You don’t have to renew , if you are ‘out of contract’ if you do nothing , you continue as you are , that could mean you are paying more that necessary, but that’s a choice you can make ….however the conversation to DV is not a contractual event , being advised that you are being migrated to DV is simply a change to the way telephony is supplied……if this means you get a SH2 router , then apparently can turn off the WiFi and use just the wired Ethernet connections, presumably thought of DECT wireless signals doesn’t worry you , if you have purchased your own router with this facility, but it’s of no use with DV , you could always put the router in a Faraday cage , with some access for cabling .
Primarily you need to confirm why you have been told , there is a world of between being offered something beneficial ( to the average punter ) but ultimately it’s an offer not compulsory, or you have been notified of a change to DV , it seems like why you have been offered is voluntary, simply don’t take the offer , in the short term you remain as you are

[michaelkenward]

---

@CHRISMAY3wrote:

I have been using a Netgear router which has an on/off button for the WiFi. Unfortunately, this does not have a phone socket, so I have now bought a tplink router which does.

---

Pity you abandoned the Netgear. There are ways of getting it to play nicely with BT's horrid HomeHub. The trick is to set up the network so that the Netgear router suits in the "DMZ" of the HomeHub.

You can use the two routers on the same network without causing clashes.

The key is to set up the Smart Hub2 with a local IP address that does not clash with whatever you have the Netgear router on.

By default Smart Hub2 squats on 192.168.1.254. That clashes with the Netgear router which will allocate itself 192.168.1.1. I wanted to keep that for everything already on my local network. All those fixed and reserved 192.168.1.XXX addresses.

I set my Smart Hub2 to use 192.168.2.1. Then in the SH I went to:

• My Devices

Look in the list for your Netgear router's IP address – in my case, it was on 192.168.2.175.

After I connected things, I went into the Smart Hub2

• Advanced settings
• Firewall
• Configuration
• DMZ On

Look at the drop down and pick the IP address that the Smart Hub2 has allocated to your main router.

Use that as the DMZ address.

Then you can set the Netgear on 192.168.1.1

Since doing that all has been well. No conflicts between the two routers. I have turned off the redundant wifi from the Smart Hub2.

Both routers are accessible using the a web browser and the graphical user interface (GUI). Just aim the GUI at their IP addresses, 192.168.2.1 for the SH and 192.168.1.1 for the Netgear.

The HH has scary warnings about the safety implications of letting traffic through its defences, but your Netgear router may be at least as protective, especially of you have signed up for one of its security add ons. I haven't.

I have yet to be forced on to Digital Voice so I don't know if that works. But I would certainly try that before buying yet more hardware.

This is from memory a few months ago. It still works, but you may have to tweak it for your setup.

More here on DMZs.

How to Use Your Router and ISP’s Modem/Router Combo In Tandem

[CHRISMAY3]

Thanks for your help. I did not realise that BT/EE DV service only works with BT/EE smart hub. Using the BT/EE smart hub is not an option for me as I need to avoid all wireless signals, (due to hypersensitivity to them), and I have seen on other posts that turning the WiFi off may not stop the DECT wireless signals. I have actually bought the tplink modem router, which I can receive the internet, but not the phone service. My thought now is to search out a service provider who will allow me to use my new router, and can reassure me that the phone will also work. Do yo know of any?

[Keith_Beddoe]

You would have to use a third party VOIP service. Porting your BT number across, may be a problem.

Alternatively enclosing the home hub in a Faraday cage may be possible.

[CHRISMAY3]

Thanks for your help. The phone has now been switched from the copper. As I want to eliminate all WiFi signal, and turning it off through the settings may not stop the DRCT signal, my thought now is to find a provider who will allow me to use my tplink modem router and reassure me that the phone will work too. do you know of any?

[licquorice]

This is a BT forum , not a forum for discussing other providers.

[CHRISMAY3]

Thanks for your help. As I want to eliminate all WiFi signal, and turning it off through the settings may not stop the DRCT signal, my thought now is to find a provider who will allow me to use my tplink modem router and reassure me that the phone will work too. do you know of any?