Voicemail with DV and how do extension sockets work with DV?

[Koala456]

Hello, I haven't been offered Digital Voice yet, but I was wondering what happens if the phone is unplugged from the electric? Can someone leave a Voicemail message on Digital Voice when it is switched off like with a mobile phone? Does Digital Voice come with Voicemail?

I get the idea that the DV phone needs to be connected to a hub which in turn needs to be connected to the mains electric, but what about extension telephones? Will the bedroom phone need a special hub too? Is it one hub for each BT socket? Does every extension socket in the house also need to be connected to it's own hub and thus connected to a nearby electric socket to work? What goes in the extension socket and how does it communicate with the main phone's hub?

Sorry if I sound a bit thick. Please reply in simple language I can understand!

😀

[imjolly]

Did you read the FAQ for digital voice

https://community.bt.com/t5/Home-phone-including-Digital/Digital-Voice-FAQs/td-p/2207485

[gg30340]

Have a read of the FAQ that have been compiled and will answer most of your questions.

Solved: Digital Voice FAQs - BT Community

EDIT: Post crossed with @imjolly 

[WSH]

Not sure what you mean by “phone unplugged from the electric”.

If it is a traditional phone, it just plugs into a phone socket on the back of the Smart Hub 2 (SH2) and that powers the phone.  If it is a traditional answer phone or cordless phone base station it will need plugging into the mains, as at present, but again, the phone line now plugs into the back of the SH2. 

A traditional answer phone will work but Digital Voice (DV) also provides an answer phone service on 1571 as standard.  To make sure your own answer phone picks up first, you need to go into MyBT and set BT’s answer service to the maximum number of rings before it answers and your own to less rings, of course.

The phone socket on the back of the Smart Hub 2 effectively becomes the new “master socket”, so the extensions currently connected to the old master socket need reconnecting to the phone socket on the back of a Smart Hub 2 to make them work.  There are several ways this can be done.

BT can also supply a plug-in adapter for DV, which acts like a plug-in phone socket and communicates with the SH2 using DECT, (the same wireless system used by cordless phones).

[truCido · Accepted solution]

Yes it comes with voicemail as default. If the phone is off or you dont answer it will go to voicemail and you can listen to messages by dialling 1571

[Koala456]

Not sure what you mean by “phone unplugged from the electric”.

If it is a traditional phone, it just plugs into a phone socket on the back of the Smart Hub 2 (SH2) and that powers the phone. 

@WSH  What powers the Smart Hub? If the Smart Hub is unplugged from the electric will the phone still work, especially if it is just an ordinary analogue one that isn't a special DV phone?

[licquorice]

No

[WSH]

Smart Hub plugs into the mains, same as any other router, so no mains power, no phone.

That’s one of the few draw-backs of DV but you’ll find the same situation is true for any provider once copper is withdrawn.  It’s not a problem if you have a mobile phone and a good signal as back-up.

I believe BT still provide a battery backup pack for vulnerable users but you’ll have to ask for it.  For the rest of us, you can buy a battery backup called a UPS.  (Have a look on Amazon).  It would have to power the SH2 and your phone base station, if cordless.  Also, if you are on Full Fibre (FTTP) it would have to power the ONT (Optical Network Terminal).  That is, the box on the wall that replaces the traditional master socket, (that too needs power).

[Koala456]

Thanks for your very knowledgeable advice. 😀