Digital voice (BT) additional handsets

It's time [once again] to change my cordless handsets... since the batteries have started to fail.

This time; I thought of going for more "Essential Digital" handsets (like the one BT gave out for free), instead of replacing the entire cordless setup, with the same type of thing that needs to have the "base unit" physically plugged into a phone line.

... At that point; I came up against a brick wall and the pointless Google search coming back with every type of regular/standard cordless phone... because they're all "digital"... just not the right type of digital!!!

Since the information on the BT website is non-existent and BT only supply a single "essential digital" handset (even if you ask for the advanced one; they still send you the cheaper option); does anyone know if it's possible to pair additional digital-only handsets to the SmartHub2 ?

The "essential digital" handsets generally only seem to be available on fleabay.

BT (and various other stores) sell cordless "essential" handsets, but these appear to be different to the ones BT send out [for free] with their full digital packages.

The fact BT don't appear to sell the additional handsets, suggests either they're not available (apart from people who've got them for free, don't want them, so are flogging them on fleabay)...
... or that it's only possible to pair one handset, to the SmartHub2...
... or not enough people want additional handsets; for BT to bother selling them, separately.

BTW; well done to BT for having two different handsets (both called "essential", but are physically different and one plugs into a standard phone socket)... a stroke of genius, there

Edited by adebov (Tue 11-Jan-22 13:27:27)

In reply to a post by adebov:

It's time [once again] to change my cordless handsets... since the batteries have started to fail.

Have you looked into changing the batteries? Possible on many handsets.

You can buy handsets from www.bt.com/dvequipment

Assuming it’s the handset in this guide https://www.bt.com/content/dam/bt/help/digital-voice... it’s just 2 AAA batteries. The IKEA ones are supposedly quite good (they are same cells as eneloop it seems) and £5 for 4, probably better than the no name cells that are included

This one?
https://www.bt.com/help/user-guides/phones/digital-v...

There's a phone number where you can buy additional handsets here:
https://www.bt.com/help/landline/digital-voice--will...

They're a bit pricy at £40 each though.

In reply to a post by mwarby:

The IKEA ones are supposedly quite good (they are same cells as eneloop it seems) and £5 for 4

I'm using IKEA AA rechargeables in a few things and can confirm they are as good as everyone says.

In reply to a post by adebov:

even if you ask for the advanced one; they still send you the cheaper option

Not my experience.

Both Digital Voice orders I've placed came with the handsets that were ordered.
2 x Essential handsets on 1 order and 1 x advanced (alexa enabled) handset on the other order.

The advanced handset took about 8 weeks to arrive but the essentials handsets arrived prior to activation.

Both orders were placed roughly 6 months ago.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the new smart hub can act like a normal dect base station, so most dect phones should work with it

Edited by threelegs (Tue 11-Jan-22 16:25:57)

THe Alexa ones according to https://www.bt.com/content/dam/bt/help/digital-voice... still just use AAA NiMH batteries. Would seem a pity to replace the whole phone just to replace the batteries

No; I'm not saying the batteries have already failed in the digital voice phone (it would be going straight back, if they'd failed after a few months).
It's on the old DECT cordless phones I've had for years; so the option is to replace their rechargeable batteries (which are also AAA NI-MH) or take the option to get rid of the wired base-station and change to all digital phones.

I expect I'll go for the cheaper option (better than paying £40 per handset) and swap out the batteries!

In reply to a post by adebov:

I expect I'll go for the cheaper option (better than paying £40 per handset) and swap out the batteries!

I think that's what I'd do too.

But to be clear: these are registered to a separate DECT base station, with an analogue line that connects into the ATA port on the router?

If so, I wonder if it's possible to get these handsets to register directly to the SmartHub2, and cut out the analogue connection. (You might still need the base station just for charging of course)

Edited by candlerb (Wed 12-Jan-22 13:24:17)

In reply to a post by jpm:

You can buy handsets from www.bt.com/dvequipment

It seems that link is only good for the first "free" phone...
... comes up with a box (to enter your phone number) then a message saying the offer is not available.
You can see the additional handsets are available (on "offer" for £34.99) but because you can't get rid of the annoying "sod off; the free device offer is not available" window; you can't get to the page [behind] to add paid-for devices to the basket...
... bit of cr4ppy coding at work, by the looks of things... no option to close the "clear off" pop-up and buy the products, instead!

In reply to a post by candlerb:

But to be clear: these are registered to a separate DECT base station, with an analogue line that connects into the ATA port on the router?

If so, I wonder if it's possible to get these handsets to register directly to the SmartHub2, and cut out the analogue connection. (You might still need the base station just for charging of course)

Yes; it is.
Not straight forward; you go through the register handset process on the "Smart"Hub2, but there's no option for "register DECT" phone; what you have to do is go into the setting on the handset and 'register'... at the point where the handset tells you to press the button on the base-station; click 'enable registration' on the SmartHub2 webpage.

So that's the answer (getting rid of the cable was the primary objective)... swap out the cheap "Kaifeng" (never heard of them) Chinese AAA batteries supplied with the BT DECT handsets, and register them directly to the SmartHub (bypassing the base-station wiring).