VOIP Phones. - can I use them anywhere I have broadband?

Our broadband provider, Plusnet, doesn't offer a "Digital Voice" service, so in the not too distant future it seems we will lose our current phone.

So if we want to stay with Plusnet we need to purchase (a) some VOIP compatible equipment and (b) a VOIP service.

I see this hardware recommended in several places: https://ligo.co.uk/products/siemens-gigaset-c570a-pr...
Also the VOIP service from A&A appears to be recommended.
We need new DECT phones anyway. (Buttons are sticking on 16 year old Panasonic DECT phones). I am inclined to purchase the Gigaset equipment which can be run on old PSTN Lines until cutover - and then run some tests.

So here's my main question: We just plug the N300 base station into the router using a standard RJ45 connector, if I've understood correctly. Can this be done via any internet router? Could we pick up the equipment and move it to our business address (a holiday cottage in West Wales) when we are there, and thus get exactly the same phone service in either our main home or when in Wales? That would offer quite a saving as we currently pay for a full calls package in both places.

What if we go on holiday, renting a holiday cottage with good quality broadband. Could we get our UK phone service in this case by taking the equipment with us? What about an overseas location?

Basically YES.

You could install a VoIP app on smartphones, instead of buying hardware.

Its worth saying that you need to config the VOIP equipment but to do that on say the N300 is very straight forward. I've lifted and shifted my VOIP kit between 4G broadband, Sky Broadband and Plusnet and its worked without needing to make any changes to the VOIP kit configuration.

Yes to everything. I would check with your chosen provider whether they support multiple registrations as well, so you can leave the equipment in place if you wanted to rather than moving one base station around.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

You could install a VoIP app on smartphones, instead of buying hardware.

That's what we did when we got fibre installed. Works really well

In reply to a post by jchamier:

You could install a VoIP app on smartphones, instead of buying hardware.

As this, I have GS Wave on my phone, and anywhere I get internet I can get calls on my Sipgate number.

Like the OP, I am in the process of separating bundled BB/LL with PN too - for my mother-in-law.
Looking at VoIPfone, they mention a monthly fee 'per user/extension', and I'm not totally clear on what that means. For the MIL, she will just have one VoIP base and several DECT phones connected, so no big deal, but I would still like to understand the use from multiple devices, i.e. at home and on a mobile device/iPad or similar.

Yeah, it could be one of those which charge per registered device; if two devices try to register with the same credentials, the last one wins.

This is unlike Sipgate, where at least two devices can register simultaneously.

Yes, you can move to a different router and thus a different property but you should be aware that your account will have your home address registered for emergency calls. While I don't believe anyone is committing an offense by having the wrong address specified it's worth being aware that if you dial 999 and are unable to speak the responders will go to whatever address is configured on your account. I suppose there might also be a delay if the call centre handling the 999 call is outside your actual region.

You might therefore want to update the address when you move the phone and some providers might get funny with you if that address keeps changing.

Here's an example FAQ from my VOIP provider:

https://www.vonage.com/legal/unified-communications/...

Edited by Andrue (Thu 11-Jan-24 18:02:49)