Using Full Fibre 100 with third-party router and Digital Voice

[gg30340]

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@WiredAlex wrote:

 BT could have chosen to adopt an open standard here, which would have allowed customers more flexibility when choosing their equipment, including handsets, which will just end up in landfill now when people move to a new provider.

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Is that not what all ISPs have done? Just in the same way as 8 track and Cassette, Betamax or VHR or Video 2000, etc etc until one system becomes the dominant type and is adopted as the "standard".

[WiredAlex]

The point is that the standards already exist, such as SIP, an IETF standard.  There are lots of companies that sell SIP compatible handsets that will work with any VoIP provider using this standard.

What BT could also offer to do here is connect peoples existing Master Socket up to the BT Router (SH2), which would ensure that the existing internal phone sockets in the house would continue to work.  That would make the transistion much easier for many people, and avoid a lot of old handsets going into landfill.  I appreciate you can buy digital voice adapters, but these require power, and are yet another unncessary piece of equipment, which again, isn't compatible with non-BT equipment.

The move to digital voice is going to generate huge amounts of electronic waste over the next few years.

[gg30340]

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@WiredAlex wrote:

The point is that the standards already exist, such as SIP, an IETF standard.  There are lots of companies that sell SIP compatible handsets that will work with any VoIP provider using this standard.

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So you agree that there is no "Standard" as you have said "standards already exist" which implies more than one.

By virtue of the fact that ISPs offer different types of VOIP there is no "Standard" just in the same way as there was no phone charger standard until it was forced upon them to make ONE standard. 

In any event, if you don't want to use BT's "standard" you can use one of the many other VOIP services available.

[WiredAlex]

Unfortunately, yes, there's more than one standard, but SIP seems to be dominant, and all the VoIP handsets I've looked at support it.

I think that the more tech-savy customers will go down the route of migrating their landline numbers to a specialist VoIP provider, de-coupling their phone number from the ISP/broadband connection.  This will enable them to move between broadband and VoIP providers and keep the same equipment (routers and telephone handsets etc) in future.

This process is not easy though - migrating your phone number to a VoIP provider also results in BT terminating your broadband contact at the same time, it's not possible to move the phone service on it's own.  So ultimately people wanting to do this will first have to arrange for a second broadband provider so they have a working connection before requesting the number port.

For the vast majority of customers this won't be a realistic option, and they will end up using proprietary BT handsets, and junking their old handsets in the process.  And in time, when customers move ISP, the BT digital voice handsets will also end up as more electronic waste.

I don't think for a minute that BT are going to change their approach here, but they could certainly prevent masses of electronic waste by simple connecting up master sockets to the SH2, enabling them to continue to use their existing phone equipment.

[licquorice]

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@WiredAlex wrote:

I don't think for a minute that BT are going to change their approach here, but they could certainly prevent masses of electronic waste by simple connecting up master sockets to the SH2, enabling them to continue to use their existing phone equipment.

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Customers can simply do that now using a double ended cord.  Home wiring is not the responsibility of BT (it can be used by any provider), it is the responsibility of the customer.

SIP is intrinsically insecure whereas BT Digital Voice cannot be spoofed as it associated with a specific line.

[gg30340]

I think the more tech-savy customers will do away with a landline and use a mobile phone which is what a vast number of people are already doing.

[WiredAlex]

If it's as simple as connecting the master socked via a double ended cord, then why not publish that and allow customers to re-use their exiting kit?  Posts elsewhere imply that you have to also disconnect the incoming copper line from the master socket, which would be beyond most customers.

BT may not be responsible for customers home wiring, but they do have a Corporate Social Responsibility to behave in an ethical and environmental responsible way.  Helping cusomters re-use their existing equipment should be given greater priority.

[gg30340]

This thread is now going round in circles!

[Col8]

I use an ASUS router and then a VoIP service from a 3rd party. Works really well.

The ASUS router was pretty easy to set up.

https://youtu.be/DueAvG-dCHU

I assume it would be similar with other brands.

[Mr_Incredible]

But you will still need the BT Smart Hub 2 to handle the Digital Voice side of things.  That Asus router does not have that.