Setting up VOIP

I currently have a Panasonic DECT phone at home, it is actually a set of 3 wireless phones.

Broadband and phone with Plusnet

If I migrate my existing Plusnet landline to a voip provider is it 'simply' a matter of using an ATA connected via ethernet to my router, plugging the phone base into the ATA, configuring it and hey presto?

I have only just discovered ATA's so have no idea as to what is involved in configuration but it surely can't be that difficult?

In reply to a post by tallseabird:

If I migrate my existing Plusnet landline to a voip provider is it 'simply' a matter of using an ATA connected via ethernet to my router, plugging the phone base into the ATA, configuring it and hey presto?

Yes. Exactly that. Or you can buy a new set of phones that provide a combined ATA/DECT base station, but if you're happy with your current set of phones I'd argue that a dedicated ATA gives you more flexibility.

I'm questioning why I'm even doing it, never really use the landline but don't feel that I can give it up.

I might just set it up to divert to my mobile for a while


Thanks

Just in case you do not know remember that if you port your landline number to a VOIP provider it will cease all products provided on that number including your broadband.

If you do not use the number often you may find just an app on your mobile phone is enough and no ATA is required if you are willing to give up your DECT phones. This obviously has the advantage you can "pick up" your landline wherever your mobile phone has internet.

Actually cease the broadband or close it down while the migration takes place?

It will *cease* your landline and broadband they are "connected" products.

Simplifying but if you port your number to a VOIP provider you are no longer renting the physical line to provide a landline broadband connection any longer.

You are using the word migration do you actually mean port?

They are different things?

Migrating is used when you take all your services to another ISP this is an established method of ensuring you do not loose your landline or internet connection.

Not sure I understand the distinction

I want to use my existing telephone number with a VOIP company - and I want my broadband to stay as it is for the time being.

My broadband comes via a copper wire and as far as I know that will have a telephone number associated with it, maybe I am wrong, maybe it can be broadband only

It’s a contractual matter.

When your (broadband + voice) service provider receives the (voice) number porting request from your VoIP provider they treat it as an overall notice of contract termination.

With rare exception they have no automatic contractual process in place to keep the other element (broadband) running.

Possibly a far more common situation / problem than you imagine - at least when it comes to splitting out the voice number from a bundled service offering.

Edited by Pheasant (Mon 20-Jun-22 16:40:34)

Thank you - Is it just me or has the world gone crazy!

There's only one provider I know who can move a voice number to VOIP without ceasing the broadband, and that's AAISP. But you have to move both your phone and broadband to them first. There was a post from Ancient_Mariner who has done this successfully (he was already on AAISP for broadband, then moved the phone line rental to them).

Otherwise, it's best done as follows:

1. Take a *new* broadband service, in addition to your current one. When FTTP arrives in your area, either from Openreach or an Altnet, this is a great opportunity to do this. But this process should also work if you order and pay for a second copper phone line + FTTC.

2. Port the number to your VOIP provider.

Step 2 will automatically cause both the phone service and FTTC service on the first line to be ceased, as discussed earlier.

In reply to a post by tallseabird:

Thank you - Is it just me or has the world gone crazy!

It has been crazy for sometime because Ofcom don't ensure that customers can always port their current landline number to a VOIP provider without disrupting their broadband service. If you have an altnet FTTP service then you can port your landline number to a VOIP provider and the altnet FTTP service will stay working.

Yes as others have said an ATA, or if you only want a cordless only setup then the gigaset N510 DECT voip only base station is about £50.

Then get a 4G or 5G hub for home/mobile broadband, set up an account with a Voip provider, prove the setup works with a temporary number, then port the landline number over, the broadband over copper service then ceases.

You could, like me, be waiting until the end of time for FTTP and the day you leave Plusnet for just about anywhere else is a very good day.

Yep that was the ‘rare exception’ I was thinking of; AAISP using Renumber & Export process:

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/number-portin...

However unless you’re already with A&A for broadband or indeed are happy to sign up with them for a new contract, then it’s not really a process for the masses.

I don’t believe that any other ‘residential’ ISP offer Renumber & Export, but happy to be corrected.

The other exception is Virgin Media. I ported my landline from VM to Sipgate during the twilight days of my contract and my VM internet and TV service was unaffected.

Its probably because the broadband isn't provided over the line with that number on it

In reply to a post by phoenixw:

The other exception is Virgin Media. I ported my landline from VM to Sipgate during the twilight days of my contract and my VM internet and TV service was unaffected.

Yes when it did a number port away from them in 2018 - the voice service was provided over a discrete copper pair (Area 15 in central London) - and at the time the rest of the service (broadband + TV) over HFC was unaffected.

New voice connections are now provisioned over the HFC (or RFoG) and via analog port on their hub. That being said I don’t *think* a number porting will “break” the other services (presumably once your out of contract / minimum term).