Vodafone VoIP Options - Home User

[steveclecy]

I am currently a Vodafone Home Broadband user, and now have the option of having Full Fibre To the Premises.  I am interested if any user has the Vodafone VoIP service, using the handsets supplied.

Some questions I'd like answering please

(1) Can I keep my existing landline number?  Rather anxious about this as, believe it or not, we have had the same landline number since 1975!

(2) Are VoIP calls effectively free?

(3) Are features such as Caller Display and Voicemail included?

(4) Can addition Vodafone VoIP handsets be purchased and at what cost?

I have read that it is planned by 2025 that all UK calls will be via VoIP and it would be nice to be ahead of the game.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Jayach]

@round2it wrote:

No, not Pro, just basic @ £24 monthly

Supplied on installation.

Mind you, I don't use it. My VF router is using an RJ11 cable plugged into the back and this is wired into my home phone system, not that we use that very often. Personal phones (Mobiles) having taken over.

@round2it wrote:Just in case of misunderstanding.  I'm FTTP. RJ11 connects to my home internal voice lines direct without adapter. 

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That makes no sense, FTTP systems will be connected to the Fibre connection box (ONT or (G)PON) with an RJ45 (Ethernet) cable. 

@round2it wrote:

Phone adapter was included on my installation last week.

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So what are you using the phone connector for?

[Jayach]

Just in case of misunderstanding. This thread is about using your standard phone system terminated with a standard BT style connector https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:British_Telephone_connector.jpg.

If you have a phone system with an RJ11 connection you will not need the adapter.

All the adapter does is convert RJ11 to BT connector.

[round2it]

To avoid further misunderstanding, my VF router has two Green RJ11, Tel1 and Tel 2. My home phone system RJ11   is connected directly to the Tel1 socket, RJ11. So no need for the adapter.

[Jayach]

The OP was asking how the VoIP service will work once he moves to FTTP. To use his existing telephone (connected to the standard BT socket on FTTC) once they have moved to FTTP,  the adapter will be needed.

[Jayach]

I think we went off on somewhat of tangent

[steveclecy]

To finish this off.  FTTP installed on Wednesday morning, this week. The package was 100 Mbps Gigafast., Not Pro. Quinns, contractor to Openreach, did the install, very quick, very neat, very polite.  All copper removed.  Once powered up, took a matter of minutes to connect internet to existing Vodafone router.  Engineer suggested I leave it an hour or so before connecting the phone.  I did, using the RJ11 to RJ11 lead I had, connected phone to the Tel1 socket on the rear of the router.  This did not work.  First of several calls to Vodafone Customer Service, I was told that the contract was to have everything up and running by midnight.  It wasn't.  Several frustrating calls on Thursday, to be fair one to Jennifer who seemed to be taking ownership of the issue.  I now had a reference number.  I was promised action would be taken today (Friday) to sort this.  I had decided I would call at 1pm, fearful the weekend was approaching and it would be put on hold until after then.  But just after midday, call received from Level 2 Support and we went through the story together.  Bottom line was it was identified that the router (which is the most up to date one supplied by Vodafone), was still configured for copper (despite only now having fibre connecting) and with a full reset (actually, took two goes) using the reset pin hole, it updated to the latest configuration and then the phone connected (the phone light on the front of the router illuminated for the first time).  Now had excellent phone connection as well as in excess of100 Mbps internet speed. Level 2 support was very friendly and patient with me.  I rather got the impression we were both on a learning curve.  So if you get to this position, try a router reset.  I'm not sure if action was taken at Support end but it would be worth trying.  I've been given a 50% credit for the first month.  Yes, we have mobiles, but we are of an age where our peers may not be making calls to the mobiles and my wife, in particular, felt anxious without a landline.  Thanks to everyone for their input, I will post a couple of pictures of the install.Ignore the redundant satellite connection

[Jayach]

Thanks for the update. Your pictures haven't been moderated yet, but I think we are all on a learning curve and your input is most welcome.

Thanks again.

[harryp18]

Hi, I tried the Vodafone router for a few weeks and 2 Vodafone extenders.  The router was not man enough for my network..  LAN IP addresses would be allocated but no internet available.  Decided to remove the Vodafone router and use my own..  

Means I have lost my VoIP and 4G dongle but I need stable internet and using the provided router didn’t allow that.

I understand a new router is due soon, perhaps this will solve the number of devices issue (help desk suggest 10 devices max which is crazy) I have loads more when you add them up including Hue bulbs and lighting etc. etc.

My tp-link router allows 256 devices so job done..  Since changing, job done..  No connection issues..  

[CrimsonLiar]

Maybe you could link to information on the upcoming router.  Even then I'd wait until we have more information as its unlikely to be the equivalent of a high-end third party router

As for the number of devices, it tends to depend on how many of those devices are high use and how many of them spend much of their time effectively asleep.  Included in those high use devices are extenders and mesh units, such that using multiple extenders will eat up your bandwidth.

[harryp18]

Hi I was told by the Vodafone technical team that a new router was being tested, so no detail to link to.

The THG3000 routers are OK if you run a basic network which I suspect is the majority of households in the UK.

As you state adding extenders is only adding to the congestion on the main router and there taking up 2 or 3 of the 10 items the router can manage.

I have actually got the 2 extenders running nicely on LAN Backhaul back to my top-link router and providing hi level WiFI coverage with any issues, something the technical team at Vodafone said wasn’t possible/ hadn’t been tested..  I can tell you now it does work and works well.