Landlines going VOIP coming
The phone system which is being pushed at the moment and may well be important is the change in telephones from “old” landlines POTS or PSTN to VOIP (Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) also referred to as PSTN, or public switched telephone network . This changed the mechanism of information transmission, i.e. voice as an analogue wave form over copper wires to new “VOIP” Voice over Internet Protocol which transmits as a digital signal not analogue.)
If your mainly using mobiles no problem, no change in these.
Basically the copper wire system for internet, broadband and phones is being replaced by fibre optics. Fibre optics carries much more information, is supposedly less susceptible to poor connections, and will eventually cost much less to maintain. Most of the world is making the change, not just us.
Telephone systems
Telephone systems: We have just been going through the change from landline to VOIP and lost our old long standing phone number for a few weeks before getting it ported over to new provider. All a very frustrating time.
My system
OK, When I bought and rescued this tall old 1880’s building building in 1980 I wired in for telephones where they might be needed when doing other rebuilding. I wired in some 22 phone sockets. OK no intention of having a phone in each socket, but kitchen, living room, bedroom, shop, workshop, office, etc. Never planned on using all at once. It’s not uncommon to have multiple extensions.
I wanted the flexibility to plug a phone in where it might be used.
Each socket was effectively just another potential extension. Done back in the 1980s then I added a cordless phone with a 3 mile call radius bought in the USA, I could answer my landline from the pub. This mobile coverage received very strange looks when I was out in the street or shop talking on the phone. Mobiles didn’t yet exist, cordless in the UK were extremely limited.
Phones
With the demise of landlines, the traditional copper wires system is being phased out leaving everyone a choice of mobile or VOIP broadband systems or having both systems.
So, With phones our long established telephone number of 0117 929 1740 had to be migrated, or ported to a new provider and new system to use the Voice Over Internet (VOIP).
For us a mobile just wasn’t the way forward for all of our use, our old number is known for maybe 30 years or more not just in the UK but even overseas. So we had little choice, we needed to go the VOIP route to keep the number.
Mobiles also tend to be personal use items, not ones that anyone picks up to answer from fixed locations also its generally 1 phone per number.
Keep your old phone number?
Yes it can be done
Do you want it?
OK, if your old landline wired phone system is disappearing you have three realistic options:
1. mobile only – lose a landline type number
2. VOIP system only – keep a landline type number
3. both – two or more phone numbers
4. OK, yes you could go really private and not have any phone system. If you still have broadband you can use email, WhatsApp or Telegram for all. Or go really traditional and just talk to people in person or even post letters.
Mobile numbers are essentially private, one person numbers not whole house ones for anyone. Reason for landline, they are whole buildings numbers often sharing phones, etc.
If you have a current landline number and you want to continue using it this is possible. Put in a request with your phone provider to keep your number, some will still be providing the landline connection for a for a few more months or longer others won’t. They can transfer your phone number to another provider, but be careful as this might cut off your broadband.
With a VOIP system
With most phone contracts, Internet Service Providers (ISP) porting the landline number which is normally with them will automatically kill the broadband contract on porting day. Likewise changing the broadband contract (not just a renew, but a change) also kills the phone on the day. They are deemed to be interconnected contract wise.
If the provider wont be providing a landline and you want your old number your only option seems to be to move to the internet and a VOIP account.
First you must have an internet connection for VOIP, that is exactly what it is Voice Over Internet. This can be the time to you can lose your number but your new VOIP provider can organize to move it to you with them if requested within a month.
A wired internet connection is ultimately going to be fibre optic, while some initially will be fibre to the cabinet and copper to the house. Other options could be Mobile cellular G4 or G5 or even satellite.
The options are numerous, its just down to money and what you want.
Your old landline provider may try and have you moved to a mobile (and lose your old number) or to a different provider for the internet. You will need to move to VOIP either with your current provider if they offer that or elsewhere. Mine wasn’t going to provide landline in the future so I decided to jump to the new type of system now instead of being pushed with short notice later.
Sounds complicated, it‘s not really, just that keeping your number is in the hands of others. This means paperwork and a bit of research.
Do some “simple” pre planning
This can be done with a current internet connection whatever it is, you don’t need to wait till you go to a fibre or other broadband connection so your number is not in jeopardy. What you are doing is adding a separate new temporary phone number with a new provider. This can be free temporarily.
VoIP services follow the Software as a Service model, you’re subscribing to a remotely hosted service, you’re not buying an in house solution. It’s the ongoing fees which can make or break a budget. Not really different from landlines, just a bit more complicated as more options.
Their are a reasonable number of VOIP provider (about 100). Prices and packages do vary, not all are suitable for everyone. Many mainly only want businesses, other handle a mix. For VOIP I ended up using Voipfone for the phone and staying with Plusnet for the broadband.
One of the things to consider besides cost is how many outgoing phone calls you make.
Second is what “extras” you might like such as multiple phones, soft phones. A Softphone is a software based phone allowing making and receiving calls on a computer, mobile, tablet from anywhere that can connect to a reasonable speed internet connection. They act rather like any hardware phone on a VOIP system, multiple phone numbers and provider service. Finely, think how robust a service do you want / need.
Cost for us is on the important side, if its less of a worry things can be slightly easier.
Plusnet has been my ISP for about 20+ years, they are owned by BT but operate separately, customer service has been poor, to good to very good and price is one of the more competitive; hence my recommendation as the poor service has been seldom. When it has happened they have been reasonable at putting it right.
Voipfone has been helpful in setting up my Analog Telephone Adapter ATA, they offer a number of packages, prices are competitive, supposedly one of the few with separate server centres in case of outage problems (electricity grid down, floods, earthquake, etc. a second location automaticity takes over, normally services are split equally between the them), and they have good reviews.
Taking advantage of the free VOIP trials
Taking advantage of the free VOIP trials with a number which can be temporary are a good concept. Do this some time before going to fibre and losing a landline.
This can allow you to get everything up and working, tested before doing the switchover. If you don’t worry about keeping the same old phone number you can just simply continue with the new VOIP provider supplied number, otherwise just tell them to move over your old number (must be done within 30 days).
To keep the old number you will need a copy of a recent telephone bill that shows you did have that old number, that it was yours. A .pdf or any electronic copy of it seems OK. With Voipfone moving from Plusnet took about 5 days for me and was free.
Be very positive with your current broadband provider that you want to keep the broadband as is, just stop the phone. Even with that PlusNet cut my broadband off saying I could only go to full fibre not the mixed copper plus fibre to the cabinet I had (wrong at the time, just not convenient for them). They did eventually put this right.
I will do the move to full fibre later.
How to connect
This is where its simple or more complex
The old wired POTS landline phones don’t directly connect to the new systems, all down to voltages (OK analogue vs digital transmission really), this gives you a variety of options:
The new VOIP phone alternatives seem to be:
*IP Phone connects directly with the system. Single phone or DECT cordless
*use PSTN Phone the older landline phone connecting through an intermediate converting adapter called an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter) can be a cordless, DECT phone(s) or wired phone(s)
*Soft Phone software driven, can be on computer, tablet or mobile phone
If connecting older landline device(s) to the new digital system an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) acts as a translator between the two. Yup, the old uses wave forms to transmit information and new is digital, think Vinyl vs CD.
So the easiest approach is simply use a cordless DECT phone either an IP enabled or one through an ATA. Yes a few downsides but also upsides to this. The IP version is likely to even be available from your VOIP provider though more choices may be available independently. Through your VOIP provider it will probably come all set up, but sometimes locked to them so couldn’t be used elsewhere if you ever move.
Having multiple DECT or other cordless handsets can work great, but each needs to connect to the mains to charge it, can move about so be left flat when needed, etc. more later. The base station counts as a user if it’s an IP one, if it’s part of an ATA system it’s the ATA that counts as a user.
Be aware that if your broadband and phone are together on one contract you may also stand to lose email, see Emails under computers.
User
A rather special term
Comparing VOIP offering one term in particular is a problem for many of us, the term “user”. If you aren’t totally familiar with business telephone systems it’s an important new concept.
The tern “user” initially caught me out. It’s really a business term and can become crucial if you want more than one phone. The term comes from extensions on the old physical hardware PBX business systems. It’s not phone numbers or necessarily even the number of actual phones, but the number of items your VOIP provider sees connecting with its own access name. Each device will have an access name. Generally charges will apply per “user”.
*One IP DECT cordless phone base station with 3 or more handsets is one device, one user
*So one Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) with multiple Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) phones is one user, one access name
*One ATA plus a soft phone on your mobile or computer is two users, its two devices, 2 users
*Four IP phones is 4 access numbers, 4 devices, 4 users
Charges are generally per user, so can add up quickly if not planned right.
If you only have and only want one “user” then the various included minutes residential plans may be the way to go. I wanted to add a second connection, i.e. “user”, so went with the Voipfone business plans and their flex plan where more user can be cost effective for us.
My ATA has 2 phone output connections. I initially used my 6 POTS phones thinking I would distribute them over both. Checking the REN numbers the ATA thought it was connecting with I realized it could have all on just one of those connection socket (thus one user) and it does work fine. So, the warnings to put “A” phone on each port may be over cautious. Experiment.
My second user was a software phone on computer (can use headphones and mic), then changed it to on my mobile while a third user is on second ATA at a home address a mile away with its own phone number. All this come under one account so less expensive and easier to manage then having multiple accounts.
On Voipfone (and many others) long term contracts aren’t the norm, its month by month and you can change what you book when needed to make a customised plan. For instance on my Flex plan adding an extra user costs £1.50 (£1.80 with VAT) and might use this for just a month to put a soft phone on your mobile when on holiday.
Have kids, give them their own phone number but set the times of day it can be used? The extra number is £3.60/month, extra user £1.80. This is just trying to illustrate the flexibility. Small business, multiple phones maybe with sales department having different number to ordering. Phone a GP surgery or other medium business and have a menu with multiple choices, this is all VOIP system in use.
My system
Wiring
The old internal BT landline had three wires, two coming to the the property. Internally the third to give a ringing tone (to use a mechanical ringer bell) changed two wire requirement due to so many people adding extension phones only needing the two wires with electronic ringers. Yes, electronics have moved forward not needing an electric coil to ring a bell.
Now still wanting a number of phone extensions, the question is how.
My mixed system of wiring has generally worked, but I decided to tidy it up a bit with the change. Some were wired back to an old junction box, others had wires going from one socket box to the next. Some had three wires, some two.
I’ve simplified by disconnecting any third wire, not needed on any of my current phones. The ones going to an old screw terminal BT junction box were updated with a new multi-way push fit box. I left the sockets wired in series (one to the next, to the next, etc) as the series started at the junction box.
Some other phone boxes ran in parallel, each going back to one junction box. So the system still has 22 sockets with the flexibility to move actual phones. I only use 6 actual phones plugged in at any one time. A FAX machine at one time, now gone, was number 7 and 8. All work and work as single user on the single ATA.
All down to using an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA). This plugs into the new internet modem and its phone line output into my wiring adapter box. More later on this.
Yes, can have FAX on VOIP systems, music on hold, call recording, call barring, special voice messages, times calls, timed forwarding to another number, etc. lots of potential options that don’t need to be used.
Wiring in series or parallel
So the actual wiring - both series and parallel work
Absolutely the first thing is make sure the old incoming old telephone wires are not connected to anything in the new phone system. Those old incoming can have a voltage which can damage the new as well as give poorer calls.
If your internet is arriving over the original phone wires (fibre to the cabinet) those wires are both phone and internet. NOT the wires to cut. The the internet is separated from the phone signal by a filter. This was at one time a separate plug in adapter, then Openreach started installing better filters with separate outputs for internet and phone. The phone wire for extensions are now on the inside or for a single phone on BT style plug socket outside.
Remember: Be absolutely firm with your broadband and phone supply that it is the phone that you want disconnected only and keeping the broadband if that is what you want.
The old PHONE wires just isolate them; cut off any exposed copper wire and insulate. This may be the feed to extension sockets or if you now have fibre to the premises (full fibre) it can be the old incoming line.
Using an ATA adapter box
If its just going to a single phone simply plug the phone plug (a standard RJ11 plug not the BT phone plug) into the phone socket on the ATA. The phone is likely to have the BT type plug on it so the easiest option is to simply plug it into an adapter to the RJ11 (often come with ATAs, but common for
Internet VOIP Analogue Phone Adapter (ATA) for connecting broadband internet to tradit
ional wired phones on sale cheaply online or in local phone shops.
If your going to have multiple phones then the two wires from the RJ11 phone plug go to your phone junction box. The phone outlets of an ATA adapter tend to use the 2 central pins (pins 3 and 4) on standard RJ11 phone plug (may well have come with the adapter). These 2 wires attach to the phone junction box which lead to your extensions.
The Ethernet plug and cable attach to an outlet in your internet modem. Even works plugged into other working Ethernet socket particularly for testing (might not be as fast as direct into the router).