Telephony
So what about my telephone?
B4RN are, from October 2023, offering a telephone service called "B4RN Voice" to new and existing customers which utilises their fibre infrastructure. It is a "one stop shop" solution for those customers who want to continue making and receiving telephone calls using their existing landline telephone number without paying for an expensive landline. For a modest monthly fee, added to your B4RN bill, of £9 per month (October 2023), you can make unlimited calls to UK landline and mobile numbers, and even some calls to international numbers.
The B4RN User Group recommends B4RN Voice for those who want a simple, no hassle solution to meet their telephony needs.
More information, frequently asked questions and application forms can be found on the B4RN website at www.b4rn.org.uk/get-b4rn/b4rn-voice
There are circumstances, however, when this service may not be ideal; for example, those who make few if any calls on their landline, preferring instead to use inclusive mobile phone packages, but wish to retain their landline number for incoming calls. In this case it can seem expensive to pay a monthly inclusive package fee.
B4RN Voice makes use of a technology called "VoIP", and the same technology is utilised by many other telephone service providers, so you have a choice. The downside of using alternative providers is that you will need a basic understanding of the technology, and most likely the ability to make configuration changes to your router or other equipment. That is what the rest of this article is about, so read on if you want to know more.
Introduction to VoIP
Now you’ve got your B4RN fibre internet, you may start to wonder why you’re paying for two connections to your house (one for phone calls and one for Internet), and if you can use your B4RN connection for both?
Many customers just dispense with the landline and use their mobiles.
But, it is possible to use your B4RN connection to make and receive telephone calls in a very similar way to your existing “land-line” connection and potentially save money at the same time.
The technology used to make phone calls over your B4RN connection is called “VoIP” (pronounced as one word, like “voyp”); it stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol”.
Setting up VoIP may initially appear to be intimidating, and this document attempts to describe what is involved, and refers to other documents which will walk you through the technical details.
I’ll try to explain any technical terms as I go along, and there’s a very good glossary here;
https://www.voipmechanic.com/glossary.htm
An important question answered
Yes, you can keep your old “land-line” phone number.
This is called “porting” your number.
Do not cancel your existing BT (or other) telephone or broadband service yourself if you wish to keep your telephone number.
Your new VoIP provider controls the porting process - follow their instructions carefully. If you cancel your existing service prematurely you will lose your number.
After porting, callers will not be aware they are calling a VoIP service, rather than a traditional “land-line”. The only difference is that you and your callers will generally have to dial the local code as well as the number, just as you do with a mobile call.
Once you have set up VoIP and ported your number, you will get or can request a final bill from your telephone provider (generally BT in the case of most B4RN customers) and stop using (and paying!) for it.
Main features of VoIP
There are many providers of VoIP services which you can use, but, in general, these are the main features:
in most circumstances you can keep your old “land-line” phone number. This is known as “porting” your number to the new VoIP provider (there is usually a one-off charge).
you can usually use your existing telephone instruments to make and receive calls. An adapter ("Analogue Telephone Adapter" or ATA") may be required. There are also VoIP-aware "IP phones" which don't need an adapter (but tend to be expensive).
call costs are generally lower. Call packages (where some or all calls are included for a monthly charge) may be offered.
there are apps available which enable your VoIP calls to be answered and made on a mobile phone, computer or other device. Some are dedicated to a particular VoIP service, others are general purpose. Thus you can make and receive VoIP calls even when not at home.
But beware...
Although VoIP can be used just like your existing telephone service, the underlying technology is very different, and special care needs to be taken in some circumstances:
a VoIP service requires a connection to the internet, and this will be lost if your internet equipment suffers a power outage. This equipment includes your B4RN router, ATA (if used) and any other networking equipment you may have. See the "Other Considerations/Power Cuts" section for more details and possible solutions.
Personal care alarms that connect to your telephone service may not work properly. It is very important that you discuss this with your alarm service provider - they will usually offer an alternative or at least confirm that your existing alarm will continue to work.
BT Redcare is a burglar and assistance alarm system that also alerts BT if the phone line is cut. These will not work with VoIP. Redcare is obsolete but there may be some legacy systems in place. If you are in any doubt contact your alarm provider.
if you are supplied with (or buy) an ATA as part of your VoIP service it will need to be close to and plugged into an ethernet socket on your B4RN router, as well as a power socket.
VoIP Service Providers
Important note: if you intend to port your existing telephone number to a VoIP provider, make sure you follow the provider's instructions and do NOT cancel you existing service prematurely, otherwise you will lose your telephone number.
There are many VoIP providers. They each have different pricing models and features. Here is a short list of providers with which we are familiar and we know work, to illustrate the wide range available:
"B4RN Voice" is B4RN's VoIP offering, and is recommended for the simplest possible way of getting VoIP for B4RN customers. For £9 per month, you can make an unlimited number of calls to UK "landlines" and mobiles plus some calls to international destinations. B4RN take care of the configuration (using your router's built-in ATA). All you have to do is plug your telephone into the "Phone1" socket on your router when the service goes live. The monthly fee is added to your B4RN direct debit. You can port your existing telephone number for a one-off fee (£30). More information at www.b4rn.org.uk/get-b4rn/b4rn-voice
Andrews & Arnold (A&A) is a UK internet service provider including VoIP services. They offer a "Pay as you Go" service (you pay for each chargeable call). Call rates are very reasonable. You are allocated a telephone number or you port your existing number for a one-off fee of £20. There is a charge of £1.44 per month to maintain each number you have (you can have more than one). Payment can be made by direct debit. This is a very low cost solution if you just want incoming calls and don't make many (or any) outgoing calls. A&A sell optionally pre-configured VoIP equipment including IP phones and ATAs - just plug it into an ethernet port on your router. Alternatively, you can configure your B4RN Zyxel router's internal ATA yourself (they provide configuration values for Zyxel routers and other ATAs on their website) - not for the faint-hearted but see configuring your router for some instructions. More information at https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/voip-information/
Vonage provides a "plug and play" service. For a monthly fee of £6.99 (minimum 12 months) you get 1000 minutes of landline calls and includes a pre-configured ATA to plug into your router. They also provide a range of other fixed price packages that provide calls to mobile and international telephone numbers, ranging in price from £9.99 to £20.50 . Porting your existing number is free. Payment is by credit card. A dedicated mobile app is available. More information at https://www.vonageforhome.co.uk/
Other considerations
Power cuts
If you have a traditional land-line, the power to operate it is provided by the exchange, and if there is a power cut, your phone will continue to work, allowing you to make calls including emergency calls (note that this is only true for phones that do not require a separate power supply - if you have wireless phones, for example, these will not work anyway).
VoIP does not work this way. If there is a power cut, the router and any other hardware (ATA, network adaptors and so forth) in your house will stop working and you will be unable to make or receive calls.
There are two solutions to this problem;
- A “UPS” (Uninterruptible Power Supply); this is a small box that you plug into the mains, and then plug your router (and anything else you need) into the UPS. It contains a battery and will continue to provide power until the battery goes flat. More info here
- Use a mobile phone instead. This allows you to make calls, and if you have configured VoIP on your mobile phone, to receive them on your “land-line” number, also.
If you are vulnerable or otherwise want to ensure you can make emergency or other calls during a power cut, please ensure you implement a solution. Contact your VoIP service provider if you have any concerns.
Connecting your house phones to VoIP
All of the above assumes that you have one phone that you’re going to plug into the ATA or router. However, this is often far from convenient, depending on where the router is, and most people have multiple phones in their houses. It is possible to connect these to your VoIP service, depending on what kind of phones they are;
Cordless
If you have a cordless (“DECT”) telephone system, you’re in luck. Just plug the “base station” (the one that plugs into the phone socket) into the ATA/router phone socket instead. Now all your cordless phones are using the VoIP service and everything should work as before. B4RN Voice and Vonage provide an adaptor if necessary. With other providers you provide your own.Wired
If you have wired phones scattered around your house, the situation is more complex than for cordless phones. You will need to disconnect your house phone wiring from the old supplier’s (usually BT) line and then connect your VoIP device (router or ATA) to it instead. The instructions are:Unplug the faceplate on the main box where your line enters the house (This is called an “NTE” in ‘BT-speak’.) This disconnects your house phone wiring from the BT line.
Connect the house phone wiring to the front part of the NTE. You can buy appropriate cables online, e.g.; https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LD4GBJV
You may find this document helpful for general background on BT wiring; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_telephone_socket
Many electricians can do this for you if you do not feel confident to do it.
UPDATE: The latest (2023) master socket is the NTE5c. This has a removable faceplate like its predecessor, NTE5a, but removing it does not expose a BT plug. You must use other means to connect to your extension wiring and disconnect the BT line. Each installation will be different, so why not join a B4RN User Group meeting where we can discuss your situation? (See "B4RN User Group" below)
VoIP vs. “WiFi Calling”
Some Mobile Network Operators (MNO), e.g., Vodafone, offer a service called “WiFi Calling”, where your mobile phone makes calls over a WiFi connection instead of using the cellular network.
Although technically this is also VoIP, it is not what we are talking about in this document. It is only provided by certain suppliers on certain phones and usually has to be enabled in the phone settings. It is designed to provide coverage in mobile phone “black-spots” and calls are billed using the same tariff you have already signed up for with your MNO.
VoIP over WiFi versus VoIP over “mobile data”
Your mobile phone has two different means of connecting to the Internet;
via a WiFi connection.
via the cellular network, using what most people call “mobile data”,
If you install a VoIP app on your phone, the app can make calls using either of these connections. If you are not connected to WiFi and you make a VoIP call, the data that call uses will be taken from any mobile data allowance you may have, and you may be charged for that data by your MNO, depending on what tariff you have.
It may be worth making sure you have a WiFi connection before making VoIP calls, especially if you are abroad.
Help with VoIP
You should note that VoIP is not formally supported by the B4RN Helpdesk (except for "B4RN Voice" which, of course, is fully supported).
B4RN User Group
Or you could come along to the B4RN User Group either on a Friday afternoon between 2pm – 4pm. Most meetings are online, but they now have a meeting on the first Friday of every month at the Melling depot.
Not only can you get some great advice and information, it can be good fun. Just email itclub@b4rn.org.uk to receive a link to join the Zoom meeting.
The User Group also has a Facebook page, which can be accessed here;
https://www.facebook.com/groups/b4rnusergroup
Acknowledgements
Produced by B4RN User Group with input from Hugh Davies, David Johnson, Phil Stone and Chris Conder.
This is not an official document of Broadband for the Rural North Limited
Document History
V1
27 Sep 2021 – First draft - hjed
29th Sep 2021 - cc
30 Sep 2021 - ps
1 Oct 2021 - hjed
1 Oct 2021 - dj
3rd oct 2021- cc
11th oct 2021 cc
15th oct 2021 cc
V2
17 Oct 2021 - sort out summary table - hjed
V3
22 Feb 2023 - rewrite after demise of free Sipgate service
V4
4 Oct 2023 - new introduction and minor amendments for B4RN Voice.
V5
4 Jan 2024 - simplifications and change of document structure to assist navigation.