Can't you just keep the copper phone line?

In reply to a post by BatBoy:

Can't you just keep the copper phone line?

BT's ordering process doesn't give you that option.
If you apply online they just happen to mention that they have very kindly "upgraded" you to Fibre Home Phone. If you call them to place an order they don't even mention the fact unless you ask them.

I'm now thinking of going to Zen, who don't offer any FVA service.

That way you'll be able to choose who your phone rental is with, and also use VOIP if you want.

In reply to a post by Tradewind25:

Plug an old corded handset into any of the phone extensions. I won't have this option once the external copper is disconnected and I'm using the fibre.

Well you would while your backup battery powering up your ONT for about an hour.
But yeah, over copper the line would still be powered even during a power cut due to the backups in the exchange.

Paul

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Well you would while your backup battery powering up your ONT for about an hour.

The BBU contains a set of 4 x AA NiMH cells, so nothing to stop you swapping them out for a set of charged ones when they run out. Rinse, repeat, as often as you like.

When I had my FTTP installed, right at the end of the installation the Openreach engineer asked me if I wanted to keep using copper for the phone line, or if I wanted to move it to FVA. I chose FVA out of convenience, but the choice should be given to you on the day of installation.

In reply to a post by Rastus:

In reply to a post by PaulKirby:

Well you would while your backup battery powering up your ONT for about an hour.

The BBU contains a set of 4 x AA NiMH cells, so nothing to stop you swapping them out for a set of charged ones when they run out. Rinse, repeat, as often as you like.

That's good to know, so a 4.8V (5V) supply using NiMH batteries, hmm
Does it say how much current it uses?

In theory I could have a 6V SLA Battery with its own charger and have that connected up to a 4.8 to 5V DC to DC converter and have that connected to the DC Jack Socket on the ONT bypassing the need for the BBU and that would last a lot longer than the 4 pencil batteries.

Our sub station is located at the bottom of our road and is very very old and over the last several years it has gone down a few times and has been down for several hours, so I would like the BBU to last at least 10 hours just in case.

I could plug it all in one of our UPS's we have here, that's if they still work LOL

I will have to wait and see when it finally gets done, which hopefully will be soon, because 4 years is becoming a joke now.

Paul

2000 maAh apparently bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/36953

You may be able to get a mains adapter

In reply to a post by EddyTheDog:

When I had my FTTP installed, right at the end of the installation the Openreach engineer asked me if I wanted to keep using copper for the phone line, or if I wanted to move it to FVA. I chose FVA out of convenience, but the choice should be given to you on the day of installation.

Thanks for sharing your experience.
Do you mind my asking when your installation took place? ...and was Fibre Home Phone mentioned when you placed your order?

My final install was on October 23rd. FVA was mentioned, I don't recall being able to opt out during the order process, though, which I did entirely online.