Keeping phone extensions working with Fibre Broadband and Digital Voice

[imjolly]

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@Tula100 wrote:

Maybe  I am  being unfair to BT but Vodaphone categorically states my extensions will stop working with a VOIP phone!

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that may be true for vodafone but no so for BT as you are able to use the phone socket on back of SH2 to connect to master and then activate the extension sockets.  there are posts explaining how to do it

[licquorice]

Vodafone no doubt have a different implementation of their VoIP service to BT.

BT have thoughtfully provided a built in ATA intothe hub, they also provide a movable DECT to analogue converter in the form of a digital adapter which can simply be plugged into any convenient mains socket.

[Tula100]

I have just checked my cordless phones are not plugged into the telephone wiring so maybe I will have to take a punt on the master base station working with the Vodafone adapter!

[licquorice]

Why do you keep talking about Vodafone on a BT Retail forum?

Are you a BT customer or Vodafone customer?

[ChrisGee]

@iniltous  “ if it’s imperative to have your extension sockets made useable again” and therein lies the problem. We have become used to taking calls around the home and no longer have a telephone seat ion the hall. Extensions are necessary  since we’ve moved forward since the 1950’s. What’s needed is an explanation in plain English and jargon free in how that communication can be maintained after Digital Voice whether there are hard wired extensions or not. Is there anyone able to do that? Let’s assume that the person the advice is being given to is not a BT engineer and doesn’t need sarcasm or patronisation. Please.

[licquorice]

It is perfectly possible to utilise hard wired extensions with Digital Voice.

However, how that is achieved is entirely dependent on how your current WiFi g is implemented and whether you have a copper based service or full fibre.

With full fibre, you simply need a double ended phone lead to connect the green socket at the rear of the hub to any phone socket after first disconnecting the incoming external wires in the master socket.

If you still have a copper delivered service, it is more complicated as the broadband and telephony need to be isolated from each other.

Not wishing to be rude, but if you don't understand the jargon and are not familiar with how phone wiring is accomplished, you should seek assistance in rewiring your sockets as necessary.

[imjolly]

@ChrisGee 

you have already an existing post with the same question and basically the same answer provided by @licquorice 

please stick to your own posts and save duplication and confusion

https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-phone-including-Digital/Any-advice-on-extension-phones-after-the-sw...

[iniltous]

If you already have DECT cordless phones , you can simply remove the base station from the traditional phone socket it’s plugged in now , and plug it into the SH2 router phone socket , providing the handsets are within range of the new location of the base unit , then no change to how they currently work .

If you also have hard wired extension phones which you want to incorporate , then search voice re injection, but as already commented, although it’s not a difficult, it may be something better left to a tradesperson if you are struggling with the concept.

All that DV does is change the location where the phone connects, in essence to keep wired extension sockets ‘live’ , they have to be physically connected to the SH2 , and not connected to the phone line ( even if the router is still connected to it ) this should be easily done as the master phone socket is designed to isolate extension wiring and sockets from the phone line itself.

Extensions should be wired from the master socket consumer panel ( search NTE5 master socket ) , by removing the consumer panel , the extension wiring connected to it , needs , by whatever means , to be reattached, possibly by a cord with two plugs , or extra wiring , into the SH2 phone socket , obviously your DECT base station would need to be connected to an extension socket instead of the SH2 in this case.

TBH , I would imagine that most situations a set of DECT cordless phones and a DV phone  adapter ( that BT will supply to BT phone customer on request after DV changeover ) that can convert a wired landline phone into a DECT cordless one ( it’s basically a portable phone  socket ) should allow most people to do away with the extension wiring and sockets completely and simply have DECT phones wherever you want them , if you have a wired phone because the location is out of reach of the DECT base station, and it’s required to keep it ‘live’ then ultimately it’s up to you to do this , DIY , or employing someone, but extension phones are not the responsibility of your service provider, BT make some concessions, by supplying a ‘DV adapter’ on request , most providers when providing IP telephony just leave you to it .

[chrisjp]

Once you've been migrated to DV, you can either plug your distribution box into the green socket of the Smarthub 2 (which BT will supply if you don't already have one) or, if that is not convenient, just plug a DV Adapter into any mains electricity plug that is convenient for your distribution box, and plug the distribution box into the DV adapter. The DV adapter talks wirelessly to the SH2 using DECT, so it supplies a "roving green socket".
That saves having to mess about with any of the connections in your master socket, or getting any sort of new faceplate for it.
And note that the first DV Adapter is free from BT - you should get info on how to claim this when you get the blurb from BT about your imminent migration to DV.

[chrisjp]

"Maybe I am being unfair to BT but Vodaphone categorically states my extensions will stop working with a VOIP phone!"
Well of course they do, because its only BT that has arranged for a pseudo-analogue phone socket to be on their SmartHub 2. You can plug your original phone into this, or you can plug your extension wiring into this, or you can get DV adapters, plug them into any mains electricity outlet you like and plug phones into these. So you can have phones wherever you want them in your house.
Vodaphone VOIP phones do not provide any of this functionality and never have done.