Q. BT Digital Voice

Petstalk

Appreciate sharing experience.

Digital Voice, BT Home phone service. Not by own choice. I was switched over from the home phone service (PSTN network) migrated to Digital Voice automatically.

Digital Voice works through broadband connection. 

Concern Power Cut.
Possibility of we are going to experience recursing power cuts.

Phone service wouldn't work (broadband connection off)
Concern with vulnerabilities couldn't phone hospital, if become severly unwell.

BT provide anything to customers to give support, Keeping a Service during a power cut blackout?

Neil49

Any backup support options will involve the 4g network.

Given that this is basically the same as using a mobile phone then a mobile phone is your easiest option. Just ensure that you can get a good signal. 

Petstalk

Not seen any backup support options with 4g network. 

Concern if 4g network down/poor signal area.

Also concern for custmers have 
Alarms. Do not have or want mobile.

Given that this is basically the same as using a mobile phone then a mobile phone is your easiest option. Just ensure that you can get a good signal. 

Neil_Jones

If there is a need to use 999/112 from a mobile it doesn't really matter what networks(s) you can or can't get, the agreement is phones making emergency calls will jump onto any network they can see.

With regards to alarms - https://www.bt.com/broadband/digital-voice says "We're working closely with telecare and alarm providers to make sure that we know who is using their equipment". 

iniltous

If your previous copper pair landline developed a fault that made making a call impossible, what would you have done , move out for duration of the fault ?, or stayed in your property, on the assumption that nothing requiring emergency services was likely or that you had a mobile anyway .

If your electrical power supply is so unreliable that being unable to use a phone service requiring the router to be powered is a genuine concern, then it’s really something for your DNO ,( distribution network operator )  if you genuinely live in an area that has poor mobile connectivity, and are classed as vulnerable, you may qualify for ‘free’ UPS /BBU , that could possibly run the ONT /Router for a very short time, if you don’t qualify as vulnerable but think you need a uninterruptible power supply /battery back up ,then you could buy one yourself  

poppasmurf_bewdley

I've recently bought a solar generator, mainly for my touring caravan use in the summer, but in the winter it's currently at home.  I live in a semi rural area and we do suffer from frequent power cuts (2 already this month).  I can plug my wifi router into the Power Oak and I'm back with wifi as soon as the router resets itself.

Solar generators can be had for about £200+ so anybody looking for a Christmas Present from the relatives should perhaps look at one of these if they're at all worried about being without their lifeline.  

TadleyBaggie

Do the Openreach green boxes have any type of battery backup? No point powering your own router if the local infrastructure is down anyway.

poppasmurf_bewdley

TadleyBaggie said:

Do the Openreach green boxes have any type of battery backup? No point powering your own router if the local infrastructure is down anyway.

I believe the BT system has it's own power supply, separate from the local mains. That's why landline phones work during power cuts, which is really the subject of this thread.

TadleyBaggie

True, but the original boxes were entirely passive, just a place to do cable connections.

matelodave

At present most green cabinets are passive and just filled with cross coonection panels, but those which supply broadband FTTC and some telephony do have a battery back-up, approx four to six hours. POTS (plain old telphone service) over copper wires  will supply power from either the exchange or equipment within the cabinet to power the phone.

FTTP is a passive network insofar as only the terminal equipment in the exchange and in your house require power. There isn't any intermediate equipment between you and the exchange that needs power, the distribution nodes are passive and there is no way of sending power over an optical fibre. Your phone will derive its power from the router or a VoIP adapter in your home.

To maintain service you'll have to provide power to both the router and the optical terminal equipment.

Major exchanges usually (or certainly used to) have standby batteries and in many cases automatic standby generators as well and could therefore keep going for extended periods. Smaller exchanges and remote subscriber units would just have standby batteries.

Petstalk

iniltous said:

If your previous copper pair landline developed a fault that made making a call impossible, what would you have done , move out for duration of the fault ?, or stayed in your property, on the assumption that nothing requiring emergency services was likely or that you had a mobile anyway .

If your electrical power supply is so unreliable that being unable to use a phone service requiring the router to be powered is a genuine concern, then it’s really something for your DNO ,( distribution network operator )  if you genuinely live in an area that has poor mobile connectivity, and are classed as vulnerable, you may qualify for ‘free’ UPS /BBU , that could possibly run the ONT /Router for a very short time, if you don’t qualify as vulnerable but think you need a uninterruptible power supply /battery back up ,then you could buy one yourself  

Power supply/battery back up would you recommended?

Area mobile connectivity not reliable. are

Classed as vulnerable.
Looked at the BT UPS /BBU.

Only run the ONT /Router for 1hr which is a very short time.

BT and other companies not considered customers only have landline that do not want to use Wi-Fi.