Some help required for setting up VOIP

Hi after some help if possible

I am currently on Plusnet fibre with a landline that I use as business line, there is no handset connected and all calls are automatically diverted to my mobile


I am getting BT full fibre installed on February 16th and want to change my phone number to an external VOIP provider (I will need to port my existing landline number)

I am a one man electrical company, I will never make any outgoing calls on the landline it will be just for incoming calls

What is the cheapest way to do this I noticed looking on sipgate they mention there is a cost for diverting calls, I have an android phone so I can install an app if needed

Also what handset would you suggest for the landline bearing in mind it is just a placeholder

Oh and I need to do it quick as my Plusnet connection is being terminated on the 16th Feb and hopefully make it seamless so my business has minimal downtime :/

Personally I would sign up for a free Sipgate Basic account.
They send a letter to your address to validate it and assign you a landline number (that you may not wish to use).

It costs £30 to migrate your existing landline to their service, and you won't need a handset if you're happy to use your mobile phone (accessing Sipgate via an app on that).

The migration would likely result in the termination of your broadband connection, so just be aware that you pay attention to the timings.

Why is the connection being terminated on the 16th Feb?
Could you cancel that termination and instead get the new FTTP install done and then migrate the landline to Sipgate?

Note:You need to give Sipgate 2 weeks notice for the migration

You probably need to provide further information.

My immediate concern would be if your BT Full Fibre is at all connected to your current Plusnet landline number. If it is when you try to port your landline number you will be cancelling your BT full fibre.

The ideal way of doing this is have both the Plusnet and BT full fibre running at the same time. Once your BT full fibre is running you can then port your number from Plusnet to Sipgate (and this would/should automatically cancel your Plusnet).

This is what I am hoping to do when I am lucky enough to have full fibre available. I am hoping it will be with a altnet and not BT though but beggars can't be choosers.

Handset wise I think an app running on your mobile is probably the way to go?

I am still learning hopefully someone who has gone through this will post.

Hi BT have contacted Plusnet to let them know I am getting the new service so Plusnet have emailed me 'sorry you are leaving us'

So my new BT service will start on the 16th and the existing Plusnet will end on the 16th

I have currently got BT bringing my existing landline number over and I am getting the voice package with the Alexa advanced home phone

Thing is I dont want to use the BT smart hub 2 as I have my own setup using 3 routers with Openwrt (ignore that for now thats another headache I will need to figure out)

So I could leave for now as is and just get it up and running then port my number over afterwards

But what I want to know is what is the cheapest way to do it, so I would have my business landline but would never make any outgoing calls on it, all calls would be diverted to my mobile

Sipgate charge their standard rate for call forwarding, is there any other way to do it ie using an app on my android phone

EDIT: I have spoken to BT this morning and they are saying I will have to cancel and rebook it because stupidly I asked them to transfer my number over

Edited by gap300 (Wed 19-Jan-22 13:03:07)

In reply to a post by gap300:

I have currently got BT bringing my existing landline number over and I am getting the voice package with the Alexa advanced home phone

Unless I am misunderstanding something you will be stuck with BT as porting your landline number will then cease your BT full fibre. Not sure how you can sort this it will need someone to reply who is more familiar with the processes?

Sipgate charge their standard rate for call forwarding, is there any other way to do it ie using an app on my android phone

If you use an app on the Android phone, then it's not "forwarding"...you're just answering the call via the app. There is no charge for that.

In terms of what you're trying to do, if you want to keep hold of the landline number you currently have, then I would suggest cancelling the BT order.
Then re-ordering so that you have the FTTP service set up in addition to your FTTC connection.
Then start the process of migrating the landline to a VOIP provider (e.g. Sipgate).

Doing this means that you will be able to use your own router(s).
If you get the 'landline' via BT (or another ISP), then you will be tied to their hardware (router).

EDIT - I would also suggest there may be better / cheaper FTTP providers (who use OpenReach's infrastructure) that you could consider if you just want to have broadband.

Edited by MilesR (Wed 19-Jan-22 13:07:45)

OK so if I am understanding this correctly here are my options

Speaking to BT this morning they said let it all go through then port your number away

Or cancel the install

So my next question is can I port my number to Zoiper for example?

I have not researched this thoroughly so using Zoiper will I need a 'handset' or is it all done via the app, also is this the cheapest way

Bear with me here....

Edited by gap300 (Wed 19-Jan-22 13:15:09)

If you let it go through to BT, then I don't think you will be able to port that number away - and you will be forced to use their router + handsets at home (call forwarding costs would apply).

The mechanisms to allow porting to happen on the FTTC connections are complicated enough that only a handful of companies offer it (e.g. Andrews & Arnold - "re-number and export").
I don't believe that there's yet a process to enable it when on FTTP through BT.

Their (BT's) systems are all set up to link a landline number with the whole package, so if you port the number out it would terminate the whole thing.

Zoiper is the app for your phone.
You would install that, and (assuming you have a Sipgate account) would put the credentials for Sipgate into that app. When someone calls the number associated with your Sipgate account it would "ring" the Zoiper app on your phone.

As I say, if you want to preserve that landline number you currently have, I would personally cancel your order and re-think the plan of action.

Bear with me here....

Don't worry, we're all new'ish to this stuff!
I learned about the number porting stuff too late and lost a number before, thankfully I'm now on the other side and managed to port my latest one after I had FTTP installed in addition to my FTTC connection.

Edited by MilesR (Wed 19-Jan-22 13:24:11)

Ok will call BT and cancel

Thing is I am currently on 70/13 up on Plusnet

Was promised 500/73 from BT

I need to figure out a way to make this work

Also may be a good idea to sign up to Sipgate Basic. You get a free new landline number provider. You can then test that it works with your chosen android and/or Windows app. This is well worth checking/testing as incoming SIP calls may need opened firewall ports and/or a proper IP address (your mobile provider or even ISP may be using CGNAT).

If information posted here in the past is accurate if you do then port your existing landline to Sipgate this will get added to your account and then either your "free new landline" or your "existing landline" number would ring the "phone". Worth checking you can set the caller id - I assume you must be able to.

With Zoiper I have also heard Acrobits (Android) and MicroSip (Windows) mentioned as respected softphones that may be worth looking at.

[clarified CGNAT / add softphones]

Edited by think26872 (Wed 19-Jan-22 13:40:03)