PSTN or FVN

I currently have broadband from an FTTC connection, yesterday I (also) had FTTP installed and I explained to the engineer that I was going to move the phone line associated with my FTTC to VOIP so if he could leave my extensions in such a way that they could be plugged into an ATA that would be ideal - which he was happy to do.

He has left me with a box which has a normal phone socket on it and on the side is a switch which has 2 positions, PSTN and FVN. What is that switch about?

The FTTP fibre is separate from this and that is where I assume my VOIP will be coming from.

BT is your ISP correct? If so your BT Digital Voice (BTs in-house / walled-garden VoIP) service will come from the phone port on the BT SmartHub (not the ONT).

“FVA” (Fibre Voice Access) is now a defunct VoIP service from Openreach that used the analog port on earlier 1+1 and 4+1 Openreach ONTs thus equipped. These ONTs are no longer issued since around mid-2019 and the FVA service from Openreach has been withdrawn at similar time. Any existing FVA services are being gradually migrated to Digital Voice.

I expect this ‘box’ was from Openreach installs at the time, where customers wanted to be able to switch between a copper/PSTN service and an FVA service.

You really don’t need it - as your voice service will either come from copper or the SmartHub and not both simultaneously - so it’s really redundant.

Are you able to post a link to a photo of said box?

I think the switch is to allow reinjection of the VoIP service into the customers existing extension wiring (it they have some). Switching to FVA disconnects the incoming copper line to avoid the VoIP signal leaving the house and travelling back along the telephone cable to the exchange.

Is it attached / replaces the master socket somehow - otherwise how would it disconnect the incoming line from the extension wiring?

FVA

Hopefully you can see the link!

I had looked at the box and I was sure it said FVN but you are correct it is FVA.

My FTTC ISP is Plusnet, my FTTP ISP is Aquiss. I am following this convoluted route to ensure I get to keep my phone line and number.

I currently have 2 telephone extensions in my house, what I was wanting was a single cable that would connect my ATA back to my 2 extensions, this is what the engineer gave me. Possibly if the switch is set to FVA it will disconnect my FTTC line and that is what I am after.

I, maybe mistakenly, didn't want to be tied to BT Digital Voice and to a Smart Hub 2.

It did replace the old master socket

Possibly an 'SOGEA 2b' faceplate, marked 'VoIP-S'. These are mentioned in SIN517 issue 2 dated Nov 2020, but have disappeared in the current SIN517 issue 3 dated Nov 2021.

The image shows the 'up' position labelled with a telephone handset icon and the 'down' position labelled 'VoIP' so you may have one of the earlier versions which were used during trials.

In the PSTN position the extension wiring is fed from the incoming copper connection via the DSL filter, in the other position the extention wiring is fed from the voice socket allowing injection from an ATA / voice socket on router.

tallseabird

You are correct moving the switch to FVA will isolate your internal wiring from the external line. once you have ceased the FTTC with your move to VOIP you can change it across.

I've never seen that faceplate before, I wonder if it's new or just something that had been on the van for years.

Thank you all