Zen Router Limitations on adding wireless house handsets

I'm about to switch to Zen for broadband and voice. I'm currently using a bog-standard BT router + 4 Panasonic handsets with their master-unit plugged-in to the BT router. It seems from Zen's introductory e-mails that this will not work with their own router. This seems strange because the current set-up works perfectly well, I'm assuming that Zen has got this right. If that is so, how can I achieve the same functionality using their router? Do I have to ditch my four handsets plus the base - or is there an affordable alternative. I'm hoping so! Robi4711

Post deleted by DFScale

In reply to a post by DFScale:

BT's voice products are to a non standard proprietary protocol.

So in terms of helping the OP (who may not be as technologically advanced as some around this forum) what does that mean?

Can they find out the relevant connection details then plug their existing phones into a socket on the Zen router and connect by applying that information? Can they find out the relevant details then plug their existing phones into a bit of extra kit like an ATA through one of the ethernet sockets on the Zen router? Do they have to bin all of their kit and find something that works with the Zen router?

Hopefully someone helpful will be able t come along and help the OP to work through the opaque technical information.

In reply to a post by DFScale:

BT's voice products are to a non standard proprietary protocol.

That isn't relevant as the OP has Panasonic phones

In reply to a post by robi4711:

It seems from Zen's introductory e-mails that this will not work with their own router. This seems strange because the current set-up works perfectly well, I'm assuming that Zen has got this right.

That seems odd, replicating that setup with the Panasonic DECT base plugged into the FON port on the Fritz!Box should work - it is just an analogue phone connection.

The only potential issue with the phone port on the Fritz!Box is that is does not generate a disconnect signal so call screening devices and answering machines cannot detect when a caller hangs up. If you are not using any answering machine facility in the Panasonic base this isn't an issue.

Alternatively you could deregister the Panasonic handsets from the existing base and register them with the DECT base built in to the Fritz!Box https://uk.fritz.com/service/knowledge-base/dok/FRIT... You may have to replace the main Panasonic base with a charging only one (like the other handsets use) as some manufacturers phones will automatically register when placed on the main base to charge.

In reply to a post by robi4711:

I'm about to switch to Zen for broadband and voice. I'm currently using a bog-standard BT router + 4 Panasonic handsets with their master-unit plugged-in to the BT router. It seems from Zen's introductory e-mails that this will not work with their own router. This seems strange because the current set-up works perfectly well, I'm assuming that Zen has got this right. If that is so, how can I achieve the same functionality using their router? Do I have to ditch my four handsets plus the base - or is there an affordable alternative. I'm hoping so! Robi4711

This will work. It’s just a standard DECT base connected into the back of the analogue phone port on their router. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t.

What does the email actually say?

If it's still the case that Zen provide a Fritz!Box router with phone capability then either of two things are possible and either should work. I have a Fritz!Box and used it initially with two very old Gigaset DECT handsets. It currently has two Fritz! and one Gigaset linked to it; they all work.

The two things are:

1 (Neatest): The Fritz!Box has an onboard DECT base station. You can pair any DECT handset(s) directly to this and they will work. You can discard the existing base unit, unless you need to use it as a charging base (only) for a handset.

2 You can connect the existing phone base unit to the phone socket on the Fritz!Box (instead of to the phone wall socket).

It’s worth highlighting the major problem with suggestion (1) is the Panasonic handsets will default to a Generic Access Profile (GAP) when connected to a non-Panasonic DECT base.

So you would only have basic/core telephony functionality. All other Panansonic features the OP may require or be used to having won’t be present.

The Fritzbox has an analogue phone socket on the back and you can connect the Panasonic base to this. What is the actual text from the email that says otherwise?

I recently did successfully more or less what you want. I moved to Zen/City Fibre to replace OR FFTC and analogue phone, and specified to Zen that I must have third party IP phone. I have no idea if this changed any Zen customisation of the Fritzbox.

I now obviously have Zen FTTP, and I bought a new Panasonic base and phone set in order to continue to have the answering system adjacent to the kitchen for easy interception. I know this wastes the plethora of Fritzbox IP phone functions, but it works faultlessly for our limited needs. I use Voipfone, and so needed to put their supplied settings into the Fritzbox. This was a slight guddle, the Fritzbox always has some extra parameter that you fail to set, but you can find line by line instructions via the Fritz website that need to be followed exactly for first time success. But basically very easy and works perfectly.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

It’s worth highlighting the major problem with suggestion (1) is the Panasonic handsets will default to a Generic Access Profile (GAP) when connected to a non-Panasonic DECT base.

So you would only have basic/core telephony functionality. All other Panasonic features the OP may require or be used to having won’t be present.

I suspect that much of what you describe is also available from the Fritz!Box itself and usable by any DECT handset; call transfer, intercom, callerID, shared contacts, etc all work, I believe.

In reply to a post by RetsimLegin:

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

It’s worth highlighting the major problem with suggestion (1) is the Panasonic handsets will default to a Generic Access Profile (GAP) when connected to a non-Panasonic DECT base.

So you would only have basic/core telephony functionality. All other Panasonic features the OP may require or be used to having won’t be present.

I suspect that much of what you describe is also available from the Fritz!Box itself and usable by any DECT handset; call transfer, intercom, callerID, shared contacts, etc all work, I believe.

I believe AVM do (or did) some level of compatibility check against Gigaset handsets. However if the OP was to choose this route, it's worth checking against what Panasonic will do natively as apposed to third party DECT base / what features would no longer work:

https://uk.fritz.com/service/knowledge-base/dok/FRIT...

https://p-cube.panasonic.com/au/s/article/PAU39716?l...

The Zen statement that gives rise to my concern, over using my Panadonic set-up from their router port, is contained within their overview to the voicmail service - ///(zenQ hypothetical) "I have extensions in multiple rooms- will these still work?" (zenA) "Unfortunately, with the switch to IP internal phone extension wiring will no longer work. Our suggestion is that you buy a dect base station and cordless phones. Alternatively, you could use the Fritz!FON application on your smart phone to take your Digital Voice calls in any room from your mobile phone."/// - My own OBSERVATION on reading this after reading the fruitful replies here makes me think I've misinterpreted Zen's text. Are they just saying their router (obviously) won't work as a hub for house extensions? I wasn't disappointed with the result to this naive enquiry here - what a response ! Can I please try out some conundrums in particle work here?

In reply to a post by robi4711:

The Zen statement that gives rise to my concern, over using my Panadonic set-up from their router port, is contained within their overview to the voicmail service - ///(zenQ hypothetical) "I have extensions in multiple rooms- will these still work?" (zenA) "Unfortunately, with the switch to IP internal phone extension wiring will no longer work. Our suggestion is that you buy a dect base station and cordless phones. Alternatively, you could use the Fritz!FON application on your smart phone to take your Digital Voice calls in any room from your mobile phone."/// - My own OBSERVATION on reading this after reading the fruitful replies here makes me think I've misinterpreted Zen's text. Are they just saying their router (obviously) won't work as a hub for house extensions? I wasn't disappointed with the result to this naive enquiry here - what a response ! Can I please try out some conundrums in particle work here?

I've boldened the key statement there - as that is exactly what you will have. So will work just fine.

Yes indeed. I suspect the "problem" is that the REN of the Fritzbox telephone socket is two or less.

They're probably covering themselves as most modern wired handsets made in the last 25 years or so , have a very small REN requirement.

Shouldn't matter to the OP anyway, as they're just connecting a DECT base into the phone port on the router. Not wired extensions.

In reply to a post by tripslaw:

Yes indeed. I suspect the "problem" is that the REN of the Fritzbox telephone socket is two or less.

REN as a concept is completely obsolete. It made sense when you had a mechanical bell in the phone case, but the regulations won't let you declare a phone as less than a REN of 1, but it is quite possible that modern electronics have equivalent of REN of 0.01.

Unless you're plugging in a 1970s handset (sort of thing I grew up with), then its nothing to worry about. In the early 1990s I was selling electronic ringer phones in shops as a teenager. Its a long time ago.

I am well aware of all that. It is Zen who need to guard against someone connecting a string of vintage phones.

I guess really the Frizbox, rather than Zen. Since there will be no ringer on the Openreach line after WLR goes.

In reply to a post by tripslaw:

I am well aware of all that. It is Zen who need to guard against someone connecting a string of vintage phones.

Hopefully that is very much an outlier / edge case, and would quickly be discovered once the phone(s) failed to ring or at least ring properly.

Whomever was connecting a string of very ancient phones would quite likely need to do some master / extension socket re-wiring to "inject" FXO service from the routers analogue phone port - so its unlikely to be a plug an play type mistake.

In any event this doesn't really concern the OP (who's head is probably spinning with all these acronyms) 😅