Telephone line switch off ?

[iniltous]

The SH2 is a fully featured modem/router , the vast majority of its features would be a total waste on a telephony only service ( no need for WiFi, ‘ Ethernet ‘ firewall, parental controls , etc ) in my opinion, there will be a device , possibly based on a seriously pared back SH2 , that it would have DECT etc, but the rest of the SH2 facilities would be an unnecessary expense and be removed , that’s why I asked if there was any official BT statement , and a link to it, as to the device that would be offered to telephony only BT customers…and as there are non currently ( DV not delivered via a paid for broadband service ) it’s a little presumptuous to assume a SH2 will be the device offered, the actual device probably , if even in existence, only at a testing stage.

[-Richie-]

@iniltousat the time of this post, the info is correct and a Smart Hub 2 is sent for line only customers on Digital Voice.

This might well change in the future, we'll not known until BT make an announcement about it, I guess it comes down to the cost of using existing equipment or if there's a need to develop a new system, then factor in that some line only Digital Voice customers might take broadband in the future, if they do then they would then need provided with a Smart Hub 2 or the equivalent used at the time of order.

[gg30340]

Keep in mind that BT are not the only telephone provider.

Other providers are going to have to supply/develop a means of delivering telephony only to customers who do not have or want broadband .

As has already been said in this thread, at present BT have chosen to use the Smarthub2 however it is not unreasonable to expect that they may use some other device in the future when they have to start the migration on mass to telephony only users so until BT make any such announcement it is all just speculation at the moment.

[jac_95]

To also add it's an extra cost, overhead and let alone the technical development needed, whereas the smart hub 2 can do the job too just with some different configuration profile. You'll still need need a modem too which is built into the smart hub 2 for A/VDSLx

BT Consumer are also developing BT Digital Voice hybrid (what I'm going to call them) handsets for those that can't get broadband. These can connect to the mobile network along with to Smart Hub 2s.

[Bob1001]

@jac_95   I hope they don't rely on EE, I used them until the local mast was removed. EE customer service told me that they were reading from the script which said it was "to enhance customer satisfaction" she could not understand that either. However the real point is that none of the mobile networks have 100% coverage and even when coverage is claimed there are still lots of holes in the coverage.

[iniltous]

There haven’t been any BT instigated migrations to DV from PSTN for phone only customers , so the only phone only customers on DV would be those moving into a new build with FTTP who don’t want broadband just a phone service , or those moving into a property that happens to be in a copper stop sale area because FTTP is also available at the address, I would imagine that total number of these customers  will be extremely small.

The overwhelming majority of current BT telephony only customers  will currently be working in exactly the same way as they always have  done , connected to a System X or Y exchange and not likely to be in any immediate ‘danger’ of migration to DV for a year or two.

In the absence of any reliable information, it may well be that  in the short term someone ( for example ) moving into a new build that has FTTP , but only wanting telephony and wanting to use BT for that , may be sent a SH2 , but I’ve never seen a post from anyone in that position, or from someone who knows for a fact that that was the case.

[Anonymous]

I can't see this project happening, and I'm surprised it has been given the go ahead.

I don't think my telephone line will be adaquate enough to make telephone calls on via the internet.

A few years ago we had our telephone line checked by an independant IT company for broadband, and they said it was 'as dead as a dodo!' and is not compatible with the internet.

Some telephone lines have to be changed for broadband, and we are not changing our telephone line. If BT are changing phone lines nationally then they better start doing it soon.

There was talk before about 'switching off' phone lines before but nothing came off it.

It should be an optional project, like smart meters.

[licquorice]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I can't see this project happening, and I'm surprised it has been given the go ahead.

Its going to happen

I don't think my telephone line will be adaquate enough to make telephone calls on via the internet.

I would be extremely surprised if there are any lines in this country that would be unable to carry the few kbp/s bandwidth required for a VOIP service

It should be an optional project, like smart meters.

How can it be optional, the PSTN is closing.

[licquorice]

There's a lot of it about!! 😄😄

[Carlusha]

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@Anonymouswrote:

It sounds complicated.

Also this change could affect my electricity bills if the smarthub is plugged in all the time, and never switched off.

Some people do switch off routers, so does that mean that by doing so, telephone calls will be missed?

Whereas now telephones are powered by their own power that comes through the telephone line and makes that little red light work! 

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I found this "interesting" bit of up-to-date information on the net. Looks convincing but fell asleep before finishing reading the article.

https://bt-digital-voice.blogspot.com/p/bt-smart-hub-2.html