New digital phone and utter confusion

[#1]

@ronecc 

Do a WiFi test if no ethernet cable can be found. There should be one in the PN router box if you still have it.

If found, plug it into one of the yellow ports.

Brian

[#2]

Thanks. Tomorrows jobs, I need my bed. 👍

[#3]

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@ronecc wrote:

This is the renewal they sent.

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Rather misleading on several counts.

It says no phone line required - what it actually means is that the phone line IS required, but no phone service is provided.

It says save £10.59 a month - but is more expensive than your current contract, so there is no saving even though you are losing the phone service. So, pay more for less! There may be scope for negotiating the price.

I'd suggest shopping around - there are ISPs that offer VoIP and you can simply plug your existing land line into their router. (that isn't to say that there is no merit in using a separate VoIP provider to give you flexibility in the future, just that it is easier).

I'm a little confused about your mobile using internet calling and the suggestion of using a cable - there is no way to plug a cable in to a mobile phone. Do you mean a DECT cordless phone or something?

[#4]

Thanks. This is why I find it all confusing. I think the internet calling and wire to my phone was my mistaking me being asked to check my download speeds using a cable, rather than wifi. It is obviously the speed to the router, not my phone. It was late and taxing my brain somewhat.

I am okay with mechanical things but electronics and all the jargon and Letters that represent words is beyond my old brain.

My mobile has internet calling through the router I presume. I did try EE but their PAYG sim did not support internet calling, but 3 does. I am a very minimal user of any phone, so a monthly contract is just a waste of money. My Smarty sim is just £5 a month and I can stop and start it when I want.

[#5]

You can keep your landline number and use it on an app on your mobile instead of getting an adaptor, that's what I do. It also means I am "always home" and can answer it anywhere.

If your mobile has wifi calling, once activated it should use your router wifi instead of a mobile signal to make calls. I find it very handy in my house as the 3 signal is terrible indoors.

[#6]

@ronecc the smarty sim supports WIFI calling but your phone may not be configured to use it.
Check here to make sure you have it turned on

https://smarty.co.uk/blog/wifi-calling/?srsltid=AfmBOop8VPVR0s96doh78PwodTi5b4yt0_FyHOaZXw-b0o1Msf0E...

[#7]

Thanks. What is the app' name and is it available on Google app store?

[#8]

The app I use is Softphone and it came from the Google store. Not sure if it is provider specific, but my voip provider is Voipfone.

Mark

[#9]

Unfortunately we in the village are not yet on full fibre. I have registered with Gigaclear for when f/f might be available. Meanwhile I will have to keep being ripped off. Thanks for the info anyway.

[#10]

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@ronecc wrote:

Unfortunately we in the village are not yet on full fibre. I have registered with Gigaclear for when f/f might be available. 

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I've been on Gigaclear for 2 1/2 years now - the difference is amazing. When it is available to you, try to find someone on Gigaclear to give you a referral code - you both get ££. You will get a great starting price  (currently £19pm for 18 months for a 300Mbps symmetrical service), and although the list price after that is more they will negotiate a big discount when you renew, so you'll probably still pay less than for Plusnet.

[#11]

Try Grandstream Wave
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grandstream.ucm

[#12]

@mystreet1   That Grandstream app doesn't look much use. .... a softphone that can connect, call, and video conference from anywhere by connecting to a Grandstream UCM63XX series IP PBX. Don't think that's suitable for the OP

@ronecc  From other forums I have found many users recommend Acrobits Softphone and Groundwire depending on the features you require. They have a one off cost, not very much and allow you to send and receive voip calls on your mobile.

[#13]

@RealAleMadrid, your right. Thought it was the Lite version. There are a few comments about it asking what has happened to it.
I do used the Grounwire app myself, does not drain the battery

[#14]

@ronecc 

Re your Plusnet renewal/re-contact options...

Looking at your screenshot - on the right side - I believe you still have the option to renew your existing service(s) - FTTC broadband with phone service (?) - for either a 12, 18 or 24 contract term (pricing varies) - if you click the 'Package and speed details' near the top right, you should see more clearly whether phone service is still included.

That said - BT Openreach are planning to end most analogue phone service provision by/before 15 months time - so in due course Plusnet may be contacting their phone service users before their respective contracts end, with options - e.g. I'd guess, to either continue with Plusnet broadband only (without phone service), or to leave Plusnet without penalty for another service provider for broadband with 'digital phone service' (typically with, home phone plugged into provider's router)  - I'd expect them to 'offer/assist' transfer to EE, as EE are a part of BT group, as is Plusnet.

So - I suspect - if you choose to simply renew your existing contract (broadband with phone) you will probably be free to switch to a provider with digital/VOIP whenever Plusnet give notice that they (BT Openreach) are ending existing 'analogue' (PSTN) phone service.

Going back to your screenshot/options - the so called 'Upgrade' on the left side, really is not an upgrade at all - it's simply a renewal of broadband service with no phone service. It really is ridiculous that they try to tout this as some kind of 'upgrade' - it's not (except just conceivably if you were on an 'up to' 40/10 Mb speed broadband scheme which might then become 'up to' 80/20 - but they do still refer to it as an 'Upgrade' even for those with existing 'up to' 80/20 broadband)