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BT (UK) landlines migration to Digital Voice supporedt by Netgear?
I'm just hearing our UK landline will transition to Digital Voice sometime (this year). Support for current phone handset is a direct connection on back of BT router (smarthub2). But they offer a Digital Voice adaptor. This 'pairs' to the BT router and can be positioned anywhere in the house ie where the handset (or base station) is positioned.
Any information on trying to use it with Netgear router?
24 Replies
Unless someone with an Orbi connected to a BT smarthub2 happens to notice this post, his situation sort of screams out "Talk to BT" or search for a BT user forum.
On the one hand, Voice over IP from countless suppliers has been supported on consumer routers for years. Connect the VOIP box to the router, enter the setup information, and "talk". IF BT is giving up on their traditional voice support and switching to a VOIP solution that they have purchased and relabeled from somebody, it should simply connect to the Orbi router.
On the other hand, ISP support for voice is tied directly to their underlying technology. For example, as a Spectrum cable customer, everything Spectrum provides (television, voice, internet) uses specific frequencies on their cable system. At the cable modem (or router), the frequencies used for voice are split off and used to feed the telephone jack on the modem, just as frequencies used for internet are combined into an Internet connection. (See Data over Cable Interface Service Specification: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS#:~:text=Data%20Over%20Cable%20Service%20Interface,cable%20television%20(CATV)%20system.
BTs smarthub2 appears to support several technologies:
Fiber to the Curb. Fiber to the Premises. g.fast https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.fast - WOW.
Love it! Have spoken to BT (Tech support) & the BT community buffs/experts (last 48hrs). The BT (latest) router apparently has DECT support (+ phone socket) so I can plug in our phone base station. Cool! But I bought NETGEAR for a reason & will not go back to a frigging BT hub. BT Tech support say yes I can use (along with their DECT adapter) non BT routers. However, the 'community' buffs say BT hub and that's it; And don't believe BT Tech support, they know diddly squat! As you can see brilliant feedback!
Whether I've to upgrade/replace our Netgear router is OK so long as I don't (daisy chain) rely on a BT hub/router.
google1901 wrote:
But I bought NETGEAR for a reason & will not go back to a frigging BT hub.
I'm with you there.
BT's kit is the biggest pile of **** going. (Modem/routers with no "modem only" option.) I have several "hubs" still in their shrink wrap.
The "digital phone" issue is already making waves in various communities. BT will have to supply kit to phone users with no Internet service.
BT's tech support is dire, and my faith in the previously excellent user community is waning as I see signs that it is turning into a bunch of BT fans. None of the objectivity that you will see here. As to any views on this issue, I doubt if there are many people who have live experience of the technology. So I would take their views with a pinch of salt at this stage.
Sadly, I don't think there is much that Netgear can do about this. It has all but abandoned the DSL modem only market. (An OpenReach engineer once told me that it had told ISPs not to supply those.) Ands it isn't in the optical network termination (ONT) business.
I suspect that it will be down to an innovative third party to come up with something that works.
If your ISP Modem already has a built in router and wifi. This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. This would be a double NAT condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT
Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the NG router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the NG router gets from the modem. https://kb.netgear.com/25891/DMZ-on-NETGEAR-routers
https://kb.netgear.com/24086/How-do-I-set-up-a-default-DMZ-server-on-my-Nighthawk-router
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the NG router to the modem, LAN to LAN configure AP mode on the NG router.
https://kb.netgear.com/20927/How-do-I-change-my-NETGEAR-router-to-AP-mode
https://kb.netgear.com/000061927/What-is-the-difference-between-router-mode-and-AP-mode
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Disabled-Features-on-the-Router-when-set-to-AP-Mode
google1901 wrote:
I'm just hearing our UK landline will transition to Digital Voice sometime (this year). Support for current phone handset is a direct connection on back of BT router (smarthub2). But they offer a Digital Voice adaptor. This 'pairs' to the BT router and can be positioned anywhere in the house ie where the handset (or base station) is positioned.
Any information on trying to use it with Netgear router?
FURRYe38 wrote:
If your ISP Modem already has a built in router and wifi. This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended.
Methinks that google1901 will be utterly baffled by this bit of boilerplate. That they have already worked out how to get rid of BT's nasty hardware shows that they are well beyond this stage.
I step in only to warn them that it almost certainly has little, or nothing to do with their request for advice on how to get BT's new Digital Voice phone system to work with a Netgear router.
CrimpOn has gone over some of the issues. But anyone interested in investigating the true nature of BT's crimes against humanity might like to read this:
Digital Voice | Digital Home Phone | BT
The question is about using this technology without being forced to connect via BT's famously horrible hardware. (Way back when it was, literally, a part of the ministry of communications, its predecessor loved inventing unique technology that no one else in the world adopted, a habit that seems to persist.)
We will need to know how the promised DECT adapter will work with third party hardware.
There's a lot of chatter out there about this technology. One post confidently asserts:
The website Broadband News is a well informed source of information. This post talks about the kit that BT supplies, which offer a few clues. But I suspect that google1901 has already been down that road.
What kit BT offers as part of its Digital Voice Migration | thinkbroadband
Somehow, I can't see Netgear experimenting with BT's new system. Happy to join in of they do want guinea pigs.
My thanks to @FURRYe38 I'll check out the website you mentioned. This is just the start where I'm heading. Regardless of eventual outcome, once digital voice is upon us, I'll not have anything to do with BT smarthub2 router. Thanks for the input.
Hi, All you need to do is Set your netgear to AP mode in the settings. And then switch off the Wifi on the BT SH2 in the settings. Once done connect Lan to Lan or SH2 Lan to internet on your Netgear router. Mine works great.
pcbuilder wrote:
Hi, All you need to do is Set your netgear to AP mode in the settings.
And lose a pile of features that might be the reason for buying a Netgear router in the first place.
Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support
Hi, Yes but it's the only way to get your digital landline to work that I have found.
