My phone number default to answerphone

[iniltous]

If you connect your own router in tandem with the BT router as the first device , although not perfect it’s perfectly possible to have this arrangement working with no obvious issues , for WiFi devices your own router will broadcast a different SSID (network name) so if you feel the WiFi performance will be better on your own router just ensure your WiFi devices connect to the appropriate network name , if you bought this router  thinking  it will increase your performance on wired devices because it can sync at a higher speed (assuming you have FTTC ) , so are disappointed it can’t be the only ‘router’ used , and you still have to have the BT hub as the initial terminal point to maintain telephony , as pointed out don’t expect much of a noticeable difference with your own router to the BT one , because it won’t perform in that respect any differently to the BT router …you can easily see this yourself , check the router connection stats with only the TP link connected  and then compare to when the BT hub is the only connected router …any  difference will be fractional and totally unnoticeable in the real world .

[chrisjp]

"If I link them as above, does that mean I loose all the benefits of the TP Link and are constrained back to the poor SH BB performance?"

The "poor performance" of the BT SH2 only really relates to its WiFi 5 performance which is considered outdated because WiFi 6 and 7 now exist.
But the broadband performance of the SH2 (eg its speed) is pretty much equal to any other hub. So connecting the SH2 first and then using your TP Link router will not "loose its benefits" because the TP link router can supply your WiFi - and you can turn off the SH2 WiFi.
If you want a telephone service via BT's digital voice you must have the SH2 first in line - there is no alternative to this.
Of course, some other broadband providers can provide a telephone service via their own voice over internet protocols, but switching does carry this risk of losing your old telephone number, despite the assurances you'll get from the new provider that they can port your old number.

[Gary2024]

Hi All,

Thanks for your explainations and advice, but I don't like work arounds.  It just show poor planning with regards to customer service.  In the case of BT, they just want you tied in to them rather than providing a good service.  With regard to my original complaint re tied in DNS to BT dns servers, this is just a way to gather our browsing and purchasing data.  A valuable product for on selling.  Worth noting that this 'British' Telecom is not british.  Check out the top three stake holders/share holders to see what I mean.

Regards

Gary

[licquorice]

It's not poor planning at all, it is deliberate to provide a more secure VoIP solution than third party providers offer.

You are not forced to use BT DNS resolvers, you can either set the DNS on individual devices or do as I do and use a headless Raspberry Pi as a DNS proxy to access whatever resolver I choose to use.

[iniltous]

@Gary2024  Your argument is flawed, no one has to take telephony from BT , it isn’t compulsory, those that do buy BT’s proprietary telephone service need to use supplied equipment, no different to Sky or Vodafone , if doing that never suited your requirements, then that was your error in not researching in advance of purchasing , as stated it’s the exact opposite of poor planning , it’s by design that BT DV is ‘locked down’ not an oversight.

You are over 40 years too late to complain about privatisation, BT is marketed as ‘BT’ not British Telecom , although that name is still associated  ‘BT’ hasn’t been advertised as ‘British Telecom’ for decades.

[gg30340]

@Gary2024 

Out of interest which DNS servers were you going to use on your TP-Link?

[Gary2024]

Google or cloudflair.  I have set them on my devices already

[Gary2024]

Arguement still holds

[gg30340]

And you don't think Google or Cloudflair retain and use your online data history in any way what so ever?