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General: Broadband and VoIP

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  1.  
    Some other landline phone options to be aware of in case they help with layout:


    - you can connect your existing analogue handset to VoIP using an adapter. The adapter has an input from wi-fi or ethernet and the output is a traditional analogue phone socket.

    - you can get a new landline handset that has voip built in, it connects to wi-fi or ethernet instead of traditional phone socket

    - you can use your mobile phone handset to access your landline number, so calls will ring on your mobile handset, even if you are not at home



    These options might involve more setting up. But can go anywhere in the house that has internet, doesn't need to be near to the voip socket on the router, if that ends up being in the loft.

    Depending on your contract, you might get these direct from EE or source then yourself (I've no experience with EE)
    • CommentAuthorrevor
    • CommentTimeJul 9th 2026
     
    I found this video helpful when I set ours up.

    https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=how+do+I+connect+my+phone+to+the+digital+dervice&mid=556F6886A1380144CE65556F6886A1380144CE65&FORM=VIRE

    This is the adapter I got this free think seem to remember I had a a code to get it you can have 1 and buy more if you need but should only need the one. We used our original 4 station cordless phone no need to buy new phone but we had the choice If I recall of a digital phone or an adapter.

    https://ee.co.uk/products/bt-home-phone-adapter
    • CommentAuthorArtiglio
    • CommentTimeJul 10th 2026
     
    Fibre installers are the new Sky Satellite fitters, very variable in skills and attitude. As a landlord i have tenants who are badgered by providers to have fibre.
    Technically tenants can’t give permission for the fibre to be fitted, but they do and i end up with a real mish mash.

    Had one openreach chap who i met on site showed him the building and he bought a “x” cable to the building that has 4 fibres in it , one for each flat , to back of property. Then connects flat he came to do.
    After that

    1 just ignored the x cable and drilled a hole through front of building.

    Another used the x cable and took the fibre into the flat through the same entry the old copper did. But did’nt remove the copper or the old bt master socket, just took front off and routed fibre through it.

    Another company told the tenant they needed the go ahead from the “decision maker” about where holes were drilled. I contacted them and said i’d meet the installer on site. Apparently all they wanted was my permission to do what ever they wanted. When i declined they refused to install and cancelled the tenants contract.

    Just had my mums place done, i did the drilling and ran some conduit. Installer could’nt have been more helpful, even disconnected the copper from house and pole.

    Whilst it’s openreach you deal with, much of the work is subbed to “Quinn” whose staff are on price work, helpful if you make their life easy, properly awkward if anything is not easy.

    I’ve 22 cables flying over the garden of one property a mix of fibre and redundant copper, all come from one pole and go to one building of 12 flats (it has multiple more cables entering the front)they never remove anything just keep adding. The street scene looks terrible.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 11th 2026 edited
     
    It was a good plan but has ended in failure so will have to go the wi-fi route.

    Was intending to bring the CAT6 down the service void with the ensuite toilet sewer pipe. Drilled a couple of 25mm access holes in the floor next to the pipe in the ensuite and a 100mm in the boxing on the f/f. Could I find the rod? Of course not. Tried from both ends but cannot find it. Then I discovered my Homer Simpson moment. which only made the situation worse. The ensuite wall and the office wall (adjacent to the pipe) are not actually above each other with a 1m difference.

    Managed to get a piece of heavy duty earth cable to about 1.2m but trying to find it through a 25mm hole is like finding a needle in a haystack. To make matters worse, the floor is filled with Warmcell so I have no idea where the earth cable is in relation to the 25mm access holes.

    So it will be a wi-fi card for my old (W7) computer. There is power in the loft but with all the metal in the construction, i have no idea what the wi-fi reception from loft to g/f will be.

    Time will tell.

    On a different topic, I recently had a cystoscopy done with a cystoscope. The cystoscope can be maneuvered in all directions and do a 180 to look back on itself. Does such a tool exist for fishing cables through something like Warmcell to find the earth cable or see where one is going when 'fishing' in a cavity
  5.  
    Your current router presumably does your wifi from downstairs, have you checked the signal strength in the loft? If the wi-fi presently goes in upward direction through the floors then good chance it will work downwards direction. If not then think again about where you want the fibre to come in?

    Or those wi-fi mesh repeaters I linked - put one on each floor by the stairs and they can talk to each other up and down the stairwell?

    When we got fibre, some of our older computers (R Pi) already had wi-fi but couldn't utilise the high speed 5Ghz band. Run a lot faster with plugin wifi adapters.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 13th 2026 edited
     
    After tooooo long trying to fish the CAT6 horizontally alongside the sewerage pipe through the Posi-joists, (only around 1m) have given up. I can feed a 1.3m length of heavy duty earth cable from the bathroom but in the wardrobe where it drops to the floor, I cut a 100mm hole in the Fermacel boxing, but no amount of searching reveals the end. Tried with a boroscope but all I can see is Warmcell. Can't get my arm in far enough to wriggle around and the end.

    Really reluctant to give up when I know I am only a few cms from success, but ...

    Used my phone to check the wifi signal strength. Next to the current router, I get -49dBm; in the loft, I get around -80dBm. Don't know if this is good or bad? (anything minus looks bad!!) However, the phone does pick up the internet in the loft so am hoping it works in reverse.

    Next issue is that my desktop computer (Dell Dimension 9200 with W7) does not have a wi-fi card and apparently the new ones do not run with W7. Seems I need a wi-fi5, PCI card and they are thin on the ground. How about a USB dongle?
  7.  
    -80dBm is probably too weak tbh. Is a logarithmic scale so -80 is 1000x weaker than -50 dBm

    USB dongles are good if you need to upgrade wi-fi adapter. Look for "Wifi 6" "AX" "5GHz". Need to check your computer's operating system is compatible and the usb port handles fast connections (ideally USB-3)

    Should really point out that Windows 7 has been obsolete more than a decade; having that on your broadband is like leaving your house door open when you go out!
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2026 edited
     
    Yes, I know W7 is long gone but it works for me and to be honest, I'm not too concerned about the security issue. But if I upgrade the computer, I also have to upgrade too many programs. Yes, I know I can run a virtual machine or even dual boot, but that seems to me to be achieving what i already have, and at considerable expense.

    My W7 is stable, I understand it reasonable well,and it does everything that I need.

    I can find a wifi 5 (apparently) PCI card that should run with W7. The bigger issue is the signal strength.
    •  
      CommentAuthorfostertom
    • CommentTimeJul 14th 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: RexW7 is long gone but it works for me
    It was lovely
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2026 edited
     
    I'm hoping that continued failure will produce a different result regarding feeding a CAT6 cable from the loft to the office. I am sooo close, but as mentioned above, unable to find the end of the 6mm diameter earth cable that I am using as a fishing pole.

    The nature of the en-suite toilet installation is only allowing me a small area to access the entry hole. So I am considering removing the toilet which would give more floor space for a larger entry hole and hopefully, more leeway to guide the fishing pole to its destination.

    Removal is not an issue, but since it has been problem free for around 15 years, am I likely to encounter any leakage issues with reinstalling both the flush to the back of the bowl and the sewer pipe male/female into the junction. Are the seals likely to be reusable?
  11.  
    Would magnets help in this situation? draw the ends together when they get relatively close? OH has been using some very powerful but small Neodymium magnets at work, they are pretty impressive.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2026
     
    Unfortunately no. With metal web posi-joists, the rod would just adhere to the closest web. Have wondered about a screw or nail at the end of the earth cable and try a magnet from the destination end, but again, metal webbing.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJul 17th 2026
     
    Sounds a bit fanciful even to me but ...

    An electromagnet on the end of the rod? Turn it on only when it's in position, and maybe use a compass needle to find the right direction?
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 18th 2026
     
    DJH, that is blue sky thinking. Don't have small electromag nor a compass. I did try wrapping the end of the earth wire in regular galvanized wire and wave a magnet around at the destination end, but although the magnets are strong, they don't have a lot of 'pick-up' from wrapped wire. Plus, there is a lot of Warmcel in the way.

    As an aside, the attached photo is what I'm trying to do. The pipe is boxed in, so if I can fish the CAT6 from the f/f bathroom, through the posi-joist and find it in the cavity above the X in the photo, then dropping down and installing a RF45 in the office, which is the other side of the OSB wall, should be quite straight-forward.

    Unless of course, that a CAT6 and 240V next to each other causes other issues!!!
      Cat6 (Medium).jpg
  15.  
    What did openreach say about where they will bring the fibre into the house?
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2026 edited
     
    Wish I could answer that questions; it is becoming a saga with too many players. Myself (obviously); Plusnet (existing provider); EE (proposed provider because they offer VoIP) and Openreach.

    Long story, first agreement for an OR appointment did not happen due to a glitch in the system. Second agreement cancelled because the first had not correctly been cancelled and there were two open orders. The third was last week and did not happen (even though I had an appointment date) because I receive text messages saying that OR need to do some pre-work to get my property ready before they will make an appointment. Apparently, that involves checking where the fibre location and how to get it to my property, before they send an engineer to do the work. Then another text telling me that full fibre is in great demand in my area and they will keep me posted on prior to confirming an appointment.

    In the meantime, my Plusnet contrat of ÂŁ24 per month had ended and I'm on the non-contract price of ÂŁ53 pm. A conversation with them yesterday has given be a refund back to the previous monthly charge fro as long as it takes. And Plusnet can see that there is FTTP so don't understand why OR need to arrange a pre-check before installing to the house.

    So I am in holding mode and still trying to get the CAT6 cable through. Bit like Donnie Dump, bombing Iran has not resulted in regime change so what's next; bomb them again. That is why I am trying to find the way through. The fishing rod end is probably only 5 or 10 cms from my finding it, but access is really, really challenging and I'm reluctant to drill yet another random hole, particularity in the ceiling.
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2026
     
    Be aware that OFCOM run a compensation scheme for delays to activation of broadband. If you get a confirmed activation date for FTTP and they mis that date then daily compensation should be paid. Google it, have a read and claim it if they mis the activation. After a battle, we got a 4 figure sum due to multiple issues with OR and Vodafone.
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2026
     
    Thanks and I am familiar with that. We have has FTTP for a couple of years so I doubt I would be eligible. FTTH may be faster, but I really don't need the speed. Future-proofing may be the justification!
    Our main reason to get FTTH is to maintain a normal telephone, albeit VoIP.
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeJul 19th 2026
     
    FTTP is full fibre... Fibre To The Premises. If you've got copper coming into the house you've got FTTC or a very old copper broadband that's being phased out.

    https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/fttc-vs-fttp

    I think you can run a VOIP phone on any broadband connection so should be able to run a VOIP phone over the FTTC or copper broadband you have now without needing to change to FTTP(full fibre)
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2026
     
    The main reason to get FTTP is that everything else will stop working next year!
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2026
     
    I think the old copper from exchange to the home is scheduled to end soon but FTTC and FTTP will take over. There's no need for full fibre if you've got FTTC and are happy with it. It's just the old copper exchanges they want to decommission but copper into the house from a street cabinet will become the basic broadband offering.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: philedgeI think the old copper from exchange to the home is scheduled to end soon but FTTC and FTTP will take over. There's no need for full fibre if you've got FTTC and are happy with it. It's just the old copper exchanges they want to decommission but copper into the house from a street cabinet will become the basic broadband offering.
    Do you have a reference for that, please? It's not what I've heard.
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2026
     
    • CommentAuthorRex
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2026
     
    This is kinda confusing. I have fibre to the pole which is around 30m away. From the pole to the house, I guess is is copper. Plusnet can keep me on the same deal but they are no longer offering a telephone of any sort. so if we want a phone line, have to go with VoIP and that seems to mean, fibre to the house.

    Since I have fibre to the pole, is it possible to get some kind of box that also offers VoIP without the hassle of fibre to the house?
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJul 20th 2026 edited
     
    Posted By: philedgehttps://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/standard-broadband

    second FAQ down
    I'm confused. You mean the one that reads:

    "What happens to my broadband when copper is switched off?

    "Your provider will migrate you to an alternative service before the switch-off date. In most cases, that means upgrading to Full Fibre or FTTC where available. If fibre hasn't reached your area yet, your provider will discuss other options with you."

    I know Full Fibre is available and I currently have FTTC. My ISP says I need to upgrade to Full Fibre; are they wrong?
  26.  
    Lot of people are genuinely confused about

    Analogue (PSTN) vs digital (VoIP) - two kinds of software for audio calls. Analogue is being turned off.

    which are separate from

    Copper vs fibre - two kinds of hardware for delivering internet. Neither are being turned off yet, maybe in a few years. Most people will still have a hybrid (FTTC). VOIP works with copper, fibre or combinations.


    Sounds like providers are exploiting this confusion to upgrade people onto more modern packages.


    After analogue is turned off, VoIP will still work over copper, if that's how your internet is being delivered.


    Many people currently have analogue handsets - see post #31 for options.


    ETA - many people rent their analogue phone software service from the same provider as their internet service and hardware. After the move to VoIP, you or your provider may decide not to continue this, so then you'll get your VoIP software service from a different provider than your internet service. You can retain the same phone number.
    • CommentAuthorphiledge
    • CommentTimeJul 21st 2026
     
    @rex. You need an electronic converter unit to convert optical signals in a fibre optic cable to electrical signals in a copper cable. This unit lives in a cabinet somewhere which is the C in FTTC. If you have fibre to a pole near you and copper into the house then the " cabinet" will be mounted on the pole or the base of it. It's still called FTTC regardless of where the cabinet is mounted.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeJul 21st 2026
     
    I think I have a pretty good understanding of the technology and its various possibilities. What I don't understand is what is/will be actually available to me at my house come next year. And I don't understand what I can press my ISP to do rather than what they want to do, nor whether changing my ISP (who to?) will increase my choices.

    If anybody has an explanation, or a link to an explanatory guide then I'd be very grateful.
  29.  
    https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/landline-phones/future-of-landline-calls

    Seems to depend on how your present ISP sees their future business shaping up.

    Some of them seem to be focusing on providing internet (growth market) and are not interested in providing home telephone service anymore (declining market, low-cost alternatives).

    If that's yours, then either change to a different ISP, or take out a VoIP service with a different supplier from your ISP, or bin the landline and switch to mobiles.

    Some ISPs are interested in upgrading their customer base from FTTC to full fibre and apparently are using the VoIP switchover as leverage to persuade them to switch - "we will only support phone calls if you go to full fibre" - seems to be Rex's situation.
  30.  
    Also worth note: when you have rented an internet connection (costing ÂŁ15-20 pm) it costs the provider basically nothing to send phone calls over it, it's just another kind of internet traffic.

    But the ISPs are charging ÂŁ7-10pm for this service, with ratcheting increases every year


    This suggests they are treating their customers as "milk these mugs for whatever we can get" which doesn't bode well for happy long term relationship.


    You can ofc make free voice or video calls over your home internet connection, using your mobile handset with zoom, WhatsApp or many others

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