Digital Voice - Using the BT Router as a Modem with o/Router

So since forever I've used my own router.
Openreach HG612 modem receives the FTTC connection, and then PPPOE on my own router.
Happy days.

BT are now forcing me onto Digital Voice.

Obviously I'm annoyed by it, but whatever.

They've sent their own "Smart Hub 2" as a new router. Which I have no intention of using.

But from a google it appears that the "Smart Hub 2" must be used as the first device, else the landline telephone won't work.

So I think the chain needs to be:
1. BT "Smart Hub 2" is connected to the microfilter, REPLACING the Openreach HG612 modem.
2. Landline telephone is connected to the phone line port on the BT "Smart Hub 2".
At this point, a 'normal' customer would just use the WiFi/Ethernet on the BT "Smart Hub 2". But I'm not normal, and want to continue using my existing router.

From my Google it appears that the BT consumer "Smart Hub 2" doesn't have a Bridge or Modem-Only Mode. And the business version of BT Hub doesn't support the Digital Voice, which they're forcing people onto.

So it appears to be that without a Bridge or Modem-Only Mode on the BT consumer "Smart Hub 2" (which must be used!), you need to do a whole load of settings on both the "Smart Hub 2" and onwards own-router for it to transparently pass the connection on (without double NAT etc).

Given that I'm getting different results from Google, I'm intrigued which is the TBB forum recommended way of doing it?
:

Smart Hub 2 router settings:
DHCP off.
Router itself set to static IP of 192.168.1.254 (the default)
Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 or /24
DMZ host set to 192.168.1.2 (Stops double NAT problems but only really needed if you run a server etc.)
Turn off both WI-FI bands in favor of own router. (This may also be a good security move if you do enable the DMZ host. I would still expect Wi-Fi traffic to go through the SH2 firewall but I can’t be sure how they’ve set it up internally).
Connect DSL port to phone socket, (or WAN port to ONT if FTTP).
DV phones can then plug into Smart Hub 2.

Own router settings:
DHCP on, range 192.168.0.2-192.168.0.200
Router itself on static IP of 192.168.0.1
Subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 or /24
EWAN port on and set to fixed IP of 192.168.1.2
Gateway set to 192.168.1.254
DNS set to 192.168.1.254 (or whatever you usually use).
EWAN socket on own router (probably 4) connected to LAN port on SH2 router. (NB. This will not work using DSL port on your own router).


Another post mentioned keeping PPPoE on the own-router (with [email protected] as the username like before), but just changing the VLAN on the "Smart Hub 2" to VLAN 101.


Another post says to put the own-router's IP address in the DMZ for the BT Hub.
(Hub Manager > Home > Advanced settings > Firewall)


And another post says:
Connect to the GUI in the Homehub
Backup your settings
Advanced settings
Backup / Restore
Advanced settings
My Networks
IPv4 configuration
Assign the Homehub an IP address (I used 192.168.2.1) that does not clash with my own router's default (192.168.1.1) with all of its reserved IP addresses
Reboot Homehub
Set own router in router mode with IP address 192.168.1.1. (That is the default.)
Connect own router WAN port to LAN port on Homehub
Reboot whole network
Get into GUI for Homehub with GUI and 192.168.2.1
Look for DMZ setting
Advanced settings
Firewall
Configuration
Show device
Enter IP address that Homehub has allocated to own router
Reboot again if necessary (it wasn't here)
Backup your settings
Advanced settings
Backup / Restore

Ugh. Another mess resulting from BT's idiosyncratic DV.

If I were faced by the same, I would look at porting the phone line to a VoIP provider. But being on FTTC, this would cancel your FTTC, unless you could synchronize a port from FTTC to SOGEA.

My other choice would use your hardware more or less as you propose, but with one connection different. Your proposal is to double route - ie connect the 2 routers at layer 3, where it works according to IP addresses. I would connect t layer 2 where it works according to MAC addresses. So what you do is, instead of connecting the LAN side of the BT hub to the WAN side of your router, you connect it to the LAN side. Your router is then not in play as a router, but the wireless is in play and the 2 LAN sides effectively are on the same LAN.

Obviously, you need to ensure that there is only 1 DHCP service active between the 2 routers. You also need to ensure that the 2 routers are on the same IP subnet and that their LAN side IP addresses are different.

Whether or not this would be the TBB recommended way, I am not sure. Potentially, it might be problematic for guest wifi, but you can always put that on the BT hub.

Can't the line be renumbered and then acquire the old number over to a VoIP provider? Then use a Gigaset Base station to handle the calls as undoubtedly you will want a phone service in other rooms. If the existing number is not cherished get a new number for the VoIP provider.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Can't the line be renumbered and then acquire the old number over to a VoIP provider?

You are then left with paying for the new number which you don't want, unless you cancel the phone service. But thinking on this some more, as OP is now on DV, he is probably on SOGEA, so it might not be a problem to cancel the DV without cancelling the internet.

In reply to a post by DFScale:

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Can't the line be renumbered and then acquire the old number over to a VoIP provider?

You are then left with paying for the new number which you don't want, unless you cancel the phone service. But thinking on this some more, as OP is now on DV, he is probably on SOGEA, so it might not be a problem to cancel the DV without cancelling the internet.

Either you are me has misunderstood the situation. It seemed to me that the OP was on FTTC with his ISP, BT, wanting him to move over to BT's DV with his existing (cherished) number. Right?

To get the cherished number over to a separate VoIP provider, the steps would be to renumber the line and once done a gaining VoIP provider could then port the old number into their system.

The OP is then in a position to say to BT that he is not interested in their DV service.

are you in contract or out of contract with BT?