exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

exxos wrote: 25 Apr 2023 13:18 Wireless would be a lot better for me. Though is it some special router or would my normal router still work ?

Not 100% certain, but it is the router BT supplied and the phones just need to be registered with it when we powered everything up, and you can do that at the router home page without even having to log on. I have full access to the router too for config purposes.

exxos wrote: 25 Apr 2023 13:18 Though I can't imagine normal routers will be made obsolete with this because imagine all the E-waste it would generate :shock:

Yes, it would be bad. There may well be other VOIP phone that would work with your router as long as you had a service. You only need to look on Amazon and there are lots avaiable.

Got a reply from IDnet

The VOIP phone plugs into the router rather than using the copper landline and the functionality of this is similar to a landline phone.

Details for the Centrex VOIP service we offer can be found at the link provided https://www.idnet.com/whc-single-phoneline.php

Centrex - Anytime UK
Includes Unlimited UK Landline and Mobile Calls
Setup fee: £24.00 Including VAT
Monthly rental: £15.00 including VAT
These services are subject to a 24 month contract and come with a DECT cordless handset.
All Centrex services come with voicemail to email facility and advanced call features.

Our Broadband and Phone Packages refer to Broadband services that are not full Fibre that require the copper landline to function (as not everyone has the option for full fibre yet) and these will be phased out over the next couple of years.

Though they did not answer my question if I needed some special router for this to work or not :roll:

@exxos

Requirements

You must have an existing high quality internet connection with spare ethernet port on the router in order to use our Centrex Single Line phone service.

Since it just says 'internet connection' and 'spare ethernet port' I would take that as meaning the actual VoIP hardware is built into the phone device, and as such not requiring a special modem/router.

Special modems are only needed when connecting legacy phones, old style phones (non-voip) Which is the kind of thing my Virgin modem has built in.

Steve wrote: 25 Apr 2023 16:35 Since it just says 'internet connection' and 'spare ethernet port' I would take that as meaning the actual VoIP hardware is built into the phone device, and as such not requiring a special modem/router.

Special modems are only needed when connecting legacy phones, old style phones (non-voip) Which is the kind of thing my Virgin modem has built in.

ah cool. I only had a quick look on the page they posted and did not scroll that far down to see that info.

So the worst cases I would have to route a cable but I would assume there would be WifI options.

When I found out I could use my mobile phone for my internet by plugging it into a usb port on the pc and using tethering, I got rid of my talk talk. Costing me a tenner a month :lol: which I can just cancel.

Cosmic Puppet wrote: 25 Apr 2023 22:33 When I found out I could use my mobile phone for my internet by plugging it into a usb port on the pc and using tethering, I got rid of my talk talk. Costing me a tenner a month :lol: which I can just cancel.

I have wondered about alternative stuff like that as well. I mean £40+ a month to sit on the forum all day.. But I do watch odd youtube videos as well :roll:

exxos wrote: 25 Apr 2023 22:36 I have wondered about alternative stuff like that as well. I mean £40+ a month to sit on the forum all day.. But I do watch odd youtube videos as well :roll:

I have a colleague at work who uses his 4G plan on his 'phone for the whole household access & it's still much cheaper than a broadband + line rental package (for him).

My Talk Talk 80 Meg fibre package (unlimited download, including land line) is ~£20 per month at the moment...and the household has two teenagers plus my wife (at home all day) & my late evening + working from home all going on... :roll:

So with IDnet my bill will almost double. Though looking at BT and sky, their prices are basically £39 a year. Sky quote there's no price changes going to voip, however IDnet be charging double for it :roll:

The new VoIP phones base plugs into the router and it's a wireless handset. I assume that it's goes into a LAN socket.

So basically IDnet have turned into a total rippoff it seems. Been with them for many years but looks like it's time to move on.

Also a little bit annoyed with IDnet , I asked about that "care package" which costs about £80 a year, I don't know how it even got on my bill as I didn't know anything about it. So basically lost £1,000 for something I didn't know I had. I asked when it went on my package and to cancel it, they just wanted me to move to their new "deals" of £700 a year. No thanks. I'm done.

So choice is BT or Sky, opinions anyone ?

Girlfriend is with sky, I'm still mad over the "BT Surftime" ordeal from 20 years ago when I vowed never to go with BT ever again :lol: :roll:

exxos wrote: 26 Apr 2023 11:47 ...
So choice is BT or Sky, opinions anyone ?

Girlfriend is with sky, I'm still mad over the "BT Surftime" ordeal from 20 years ago when I vowed never to go with BT ever again :lol: :roll:

I had issues with BT years ago too. What made me go back? The others I tried were worse! :lol:

It's a bit of a lottery really, take your pick.

However, one thing I like about BT is that if you are out and about, you can piggyback onto another BT customers broadband connection.

Was going to use that feature at Cyberlegends, but never got that far! :lol:

Looks like BT offer a fixed IP address but only with their business package. One page gives prices but doesn't state if it's a one off charge or pcm :roll: Whoever does all the pricing pages needs shooting :roll:

Dynamic IP isn't a deal breaker but not sure my NAS will work easily remotely:shrug: so more faffing about.

Also a PITA as I went through all that email drama on the forum where I used IDnets server in the end. So I'll have all that to contend with again now :cussing: