can landline be restored

[#1]

When we took out a contract for Full Fibre nearly 2 years ago we chose to have our landline disconnected. Living out in the sticks we now wish we hadn't lost our landline (mobile signal can be very dodgy).  Coming up to renewal of contract and wondering if landline can be restored -- or digital phone connected via router/HUB (?) as in Digital Voice like BT ?   

Has anyone had landline restored or tried Digital Voice or similar ?

At the moment our only way  to get round things is to use WiFi calling on our mobiles

TIA

[#2]

@dustynookps No, you cannot 'restore a PSTN connection, they are no longer available 'to order'. You need to obtain a VoIP service from another provider.

PN do not offer a VoIP service.

[#3]

@dustynookps 

As stated you can't get your landline back.

If you wish to stay with PN you'll need to find an independant VOIP provider for voice. To do so, consider what you need the line for and then look at providers. There are many out there but if you don't make many outging calls or your mobile provider allows WiFi calling then A&A are a reasonable choice. They also have a good FAQ section on VOIP.

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/

Note that VOIP doesn't work during power cuts unless you have back up in place (ONT, router and any DECT phone). Also you'll get a new number, not your old one.

Brian

[#4]

Thank you both. That's what I suspected 😕. We're nearly at the end of our contract and even with the offers for upgrades, I can get exactly the same upgraded package for £3 less pm from BT as a new customer (though we've been with PN for years without incident) so I shall investigate options for Digital Voice and associated costs with BT before making a decision

[#5]

@dustynookps 

Do you use PN email at all? You lose access to it the day you leave.

Moving to an ISP who does both is the easiest way though perhaps not the cheapest. Have a look at Zen Internet - unlike BT they have a good reputation and a highly regarded router. Both companies have routers with a phone port.

Brian

[#6]

And, unlike with BT, you do not have to use use Zen as your VOIP provider, although their £6.00/month for 1000 'free' minutes is attractive - if you take it.

[#7]

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@jab1 wrote:

And, unlike with BT, you do not have to use use Zen as your VOIP provider, 

---

I don't think BT make you use Zen as your VoIP provider.

Just joking  @jab1 , I think I know what you meant. 

But if, as I suspect, you meant BT make you use their proprietary Digital Voice, then that's not the case at all, unless of course you want to use the built-in ATA in their router.  There's nothing to stop you using as many third party VoIP providers as you like with BT using your own ATA or alternative device.

[#8]

@RobPN Correct, I meant that if you use the built in ATA in the BT kit, you are locked to BT 'Digital Voice', but obviously you can bypass that using the methods you suggest. However, how many 'home users' are technically aware? Looking at these forums, there are very, very many who most certainly aren't, and I suspect many of them are thinking 'what's he on about?' 😀

[#9]

@dustynookps 

Arguably the BT digital voice solution (or other ISP provided alternatives) would be the simplest solution as the "phone line" comes out of the ISP's router and the ISP is responsible for making everything work.

For the BT version at least, it is inflexible in that you must use their router for the digital voice to work.

I'm surprised that WiFi calling isn't an adequate substitute for you with a full fibre internet connection.

Is it that the hint of a mobile signal is sufficient to stop the WiFi calling working for some reason?

If you would be buying a new phone or phones then possibly getting a VoIP DECT base station (such as the Gigaset) and a seperate VoIP service would be a good way forward.

Alternatively a VoIP app on your phone and a VoIP service might meet your requirements.

[#10]

Im in the unfortunate position of having to retain a voice landline number and when i move to full fibre/fttp my plan is to do it via an adaptor.

 At the moment I'm looking at either andrews and arnold for voip, and configuring my own adaptor ( ie grandstream HT801)

or going with voiphone and either getting the same adaptor from them pre-configured or bought separately

There are a few advantages to splitting the voice service from the internet, and in theory the grandstream adaptors can be powered from a routers USB port.

So the adaptor is either pre-configured or bought separate, and is connected to the router via USB for power, and Ethernet for its (service) connection and then the phone is plugged into the adaptors phone port and/or the phone port on the adaptor is connected to the internal phone wires/extensions and the old "landline" phone works as before

[#11]

I’ve used Voipfone for years and they are very reasonably priced and reliable.

[#12]

@pint 

If you have an existing number you wish to keep and you are "upgrading" with Plusnet I suggest finding a supplier you are confident can retrieve your number shortly after the Plusnet fibre upgrade.

I chose a UK based supplier and checked (by phone) that they could do this.

MyPlusnet fibre was installed on a Friday and the migration of the phone number to the VoIP service (which I had up and running on a temporary number) happened on Monday.

I have to admit I was nervous about it happening OK but it all went very smoothly.

I have a Gigaset DECT setup bought for the job as the Panasonic DECT phones I had were getting fairly "tired".

[#13]

I have a Gigaset DECT setup bought for the job as the Panasonic DECT phones I had were getting fairly "tired".

I replace the batteries every couple of years. I just use Amazon standard rechargeable ones as I found more highly specified ones didn’t have a longer life. These phones don’t have intelligent charging which would give the batteries a longer life.

[#14]

Thaks @spile With the Panasonics it was more that the numbers were worn and the physical condition was poor although they had been given a battery refresh.

I'm expecting to need battery replacements on the Gigaset phones in time as well.