Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
chris@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1

Plant amazing Acers.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 31/01/2025 12:59, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Chris

When they gave us a fibre there was a box to convert digital to speech
for us. After a few months we realised we were paying for a land line
service we rarely used, so we dropped it. Both our mobiles will use the
wifi for calling when (as is usual) the mobile signal is too bad, and we haven't really missed the landline.

Andy

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I've had the same landline number since we moved into this house in
1977 (as far as I can tell the number has been at this address since
not long after the end of the war).
Safe to say, I don't want to give it up!
It's the number that everyone that knows us has.
It has been future-proofed by porting it in to A&A VoIP

Conversely, outside my immediate family, no one knows my mobile
number.

I have an Asterisk / Freepbx server running on a Raspberry Pi
All incoming calls are routed to several extensions around the house
as well as my mobile phone in case I'm about. Of course if I answer
the call on the mobile I have to pay for that leg of the diverted call
but as my outgoing provider (discountvoip) charges me 1/3ppm with no connection fee or minimum charge nonsense, I am happy to pay it.

Another advantage of rolling my own VoIP is that I can have multiple simultaneous incoming calls to my number, something that is not
possible on an exchange copper pair (obviously), or even what the
traditional providers normally offer on Broadband Voice et al.

Not exactly what you asked, just some random observations.


--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 1/31/25 14:22, Vir Campestris wrote:

On 31/01/2025 12:59, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all  be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Chris

When they gave us a fibre there was a box to convert digital to speech
for us. After a few months we realised we were paying for a land line
service we rarely used, so we dropped it. Both our mobiles will use the
wifi for calling when (as is usual) the mobile signal is too bad, and we haven't really missed the landline.

Mobiles are now good for making calls, but you haven't really addressed
the issue of a mobile being a single handset and possibly in a remote
part of the house so you can't hear rings.

A nice extension to mobile would be to allow multiple WiFi calling
handsets, but they haven't really done that yet.

So for people who like the old multiple handset landline, you can port
your number to an A&A VoIP number. (£12.00 port then £1.20 a month to
receive calls). Plus you need some type of VoIP phone hardware.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Chris J Dixon <chris@cdixon.me.uk> wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

When we went over to FTTP last October, I ported the LL number to A&A,
using their ‘pay upfront and take the risk that the port can’t go ahead’ option at £11. Promptly on the morning following the last day of my (no
longer functioning) landline service, I had an email from A&A telling me
the number port was successful and was up and running.

I set the options to go straight to voicemail and email me the mp3 of the
call.

I’ve had 13 calls since then, one being a test call from my mobile. Another was from a friend, who rang off and called our mobile number. The rest was
from scam calls.

Scam callers hate voicemail and ring off straight away, although the email gives their number. The last such call I had was on December 5th, so almost
two months of no calls <vbg>. I guess the word has gone round that our LL number isn’t worth calling.

For a minimal cost of £1:20 a month it’s well worth it, if only as a backstop for any residual callers that might not have our mobile numbers.

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the mobiles.

An option that might be available is to keep the LL number by porting it to A&A, and receive the incoming LL calls on your DECT system, which will need
an ATA plugged into an Ethernet port on your router, with suitable settings
in your A&A account.

--
Spike

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On 1/31/2025 12:59 PM, Chris J Dixon wrote:
t work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Some years back, we had a Panasonic dect set with, IIRC, five handsets.
It had the ability to register two mobiles - the dect handsets would
ring when either mobile had a call. I discovered that the unit could
handle both lines on a dual-SIM phone, which would let you use up to
four different numbers. I don't recall now, if it displayed SMS
messages, or simply alerted you to them. I would imagine similar units
are still available.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 31/01/2025 12:59, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Chris

Everyone has different circumstances, but ...

This household was three land-lines with one number DECT'd and is now
five mobile phones. One is a 100GB/mo hotspot, two are Lebara unlimited
and two are Sim-less spares. I'm not so worried as you are about
damaging a mobile whilst working around the house/garden. They're pretty
cheap S/H items, nowadays.

£20 a month, total. Much, much cheaper than previous - and I don't get nuisance calls.

PA

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 31/01/2025 12:59, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

You could:

Port your landline number to VoIP

Get a "ATA" (Analogue Telephone Adaptor)

Connect the existing house phones to the ATA.

That takes care of the landline while retaining the number and proper
phone hardware.

You could then also port your mobile number to VoIP (could use the same
VoIP account in some cases) - get a new SIM for the phone (different
number).

Install a VoIP client on the mobile.

Configure the VoIP service to be attached to a virtual PBX and create
two extensions. Configure one to service the ATA, and the other to
service the Mobile.

You can then play with call groups and decide what combination of
devices you want to ring on an incoming call. You could have either
number ring either or both the mobile and the ATA.

You would also be able to call one PBX extension from the other (i.e.
home phones <==> mobile) - free when in the house, and nearly free (i.e.
the cost of the data) when out and about.

The mobile will then be able to receive and make calls on the original
number (or the landline number) via WiFi when at home, and mobile data
when out.

In addition it could also make conventional mobile calls on the new SIM (although with a new number).

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

I ditched the landline for my business line. I now use it via VoIP,
currently with two extensions on the same account - one for the ATA
(when then feeds my traditional analogue PABX), and the other connected
to a softphone on computer.

--
Cheers,

John.

/=================================================================\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \=================================================================/

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP
client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings.

That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or
call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling
from.

Theo

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 31/01/2025 12:59, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Chris

Like others I ported my Landline to A&A, reconfigured our router to act
as a DECT basestation and installed a Softphone App on our Mobiles.
I can now receive the few calls I get anywhere via my Mobile and in the
house on my old DECT cordless phones.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the
mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP
client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings.

That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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In message <a8ippj97nau7lffljoncofc7pvj5g1sv2k@4ax.com>, at 12:59:15 on
Fri, 31 Jan 2025, Chris J Dixon <chris@cdixon.me.uk> remarked:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

I used to like my landline because (a) it had a 1970's phone on it with
a very loud bell (b) we got several calls a week from the NHS which
needed to be responded to.

How that that my wife passed away, and the phone is attached to a VoIP
gadget, on newly installed FTTP, which only provides a feeble ring, I
just use my mobile [wifi calling essential] and if people want to speak
to me that badly they'll call again. (I agree that absolutely no-one
seems to want to leave a voicemail).
--
Roland Perry

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On 31/01/2025 18:27, Roland Perry wrote:

(I agree that absolutely no-one seems to want to leave a voicemail)

Many of our incoming LL calls seem to be 'recorded messages'.

Some are from genuine callers, but many (all? not sure.) of our spam
calls are also in the form of recorded messages - so their recorded
message talks to our answerphone.

The problem that arises is that their message starts playing as soon as
to answerphone picks up, but the answerphone doesn't start to record
until after the outgoing message has been played.
Hence we only get the tail end of most calls.
This isn't a problem with spam, obviously, but there have been some
important calls where it mattered.


--
Sam Plusnet

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 31/01/2025 12:59, Chris J Dixon wrote:

Our landline (now on Virgin via router) is really only used for
incoming calls. These, apart from my partner calling me, are
predominantly, but not entirely, scams or cold calls of one kind
or another.

My mobile is on Lebara which costs £3 90 per month for 300
minutes, unlimited texts, 1GB data, all of which are generous for
my needs.

For me, the convenience about having a fixed line is that we have
4 cordless phones around the house, they can all be heard, their
primary design function is to handle speech. They indicate if
there is a missed call or answerphone message, and I am happy to
pop an old DECT phone in my pocket when working in the house and
garden.

On the contrary, my mobile lives on the kitchen worktop, can only
be heard ringing if you are next to it, and will often only let
you know there has been some form of contact if you unlock it and
peer at the screen. I would not want to risk damaging it whilst
at work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

We live within easy line of sight of a mobile phone mast about 500
metres away on top of a hill. But mobile reception, especially for data
as opposed to voice, is dire. It got *dramatically* worse after Vodafone switched off 3G.

Outgoing voice calls usually connect, though I've noticed a lot of times
when I receive a voicemail message immediately after someone has tried
to phone, and there's no missed call showing on my mobile.

I discovered how bad it was when we had a long power cut the other day
just as I was about to start a Zoom call. I managed to configure my
phone as a mobile hotspot and connect my tablet (on which I was running
Zoom) to that, but the quality were very poor, with frequent
pauses/freezes in the picture and stuttering sound from the other
person, and with my own webcam turned off.

If I switched over to mobile phone/internet instead of landline, I'd
need to get a mobile phone modem to plug into my router (I need a router
for PC-to-PC LAN connections) and I'd need a decent and consistently
reliable signal. I'd also lose the ability for more than one handset to
take part in the call, which is dead easy with DECT phones.

Even after copper is replaced with fibre-to-the-premises and phone
become VOIP, I'd still want a landline for home use. Mobiles are fine as
a standby and for away-from-home usage, but they are no substitute for a
30/10 VDSL connection or an even faster FTTP connection.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the >> mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings.

That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

What platform(s) are you on? I use Linphone on Android, can't comment for others.

Theo

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the >>>> mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP
client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings. >>>
That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or >>> call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling >>> from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

What platform(s) are you on? I use Linphone on Android, can't comment for others.

Up-to-date iPhone would be the platform of choice.

--
Spike

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the >>>> mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP >>> client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings. >>>
That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or >>> call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling >>> from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

What platform(s) are you on? I use Linphone on Android, can't comment for others.

Up-to-date iPhone would be the platform of choice.

iPhones are a bit troublesome because Apple won't allow apps to stay
connected in the name of power saving. The apps have to register with
Apple's servers to get a push-message that wakes them up when there's an incoming call, which means softphone apps need to have a server backend to connect to your SIP provider and watch for incoming calls (which means the
app vendor has ongoing running costs).

The two paid apps I've heard recommended that will do that are Acrobits and Groundwire, but I haven't tried them.

For outgoing calls the free Linphone worked ok, but as above you don't get incoming calls if the app isn't in the foreground.

Theo

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the >>>>>> mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP >>>>> client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings. >>>>>
That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or >>>>> call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling >>>>> from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

What platform(s) are you on? I use Linphone on Android, can't comment for >>> others.

Up-to-date iPhone would be the platform of choice.

iPhones are a bit troublesome because Apple won't allow apps to stay connected in the name of power saving. The apps have to register with Apple's servers to get a push-message that wakes them up when there's an incoming call, which means softphone apps need to have a server backend to connect to your SIP provider and watch for incoming calls (which means the app vendor has ongoing running costs).

The two paid apps I've heard recommended that will do that are Acrobits and Groundwire, but I haven't tried them.

For outgoing calls the free Linphone worked ok, but as above you don't get incoming calls if the app isn't in the foreground.

Theo

Many thanks for your input. I have the impression from reading about VOIP
that there are a host of setup and configuration issues that can arise that need to be sorted for the system to work properly, and sometimes this
doesn’t always work out well. We don’t make that many calls here, and anyway have the mobiles on unlimited calls and texts (mainly because of the accompanying data packages). So it looks like the status quo is the way to
go for now, but I will keep an eye out for any developments in VOIP
systems.



--
Spike

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Spike wrote:

I have the impression from reading about VOIP
that there are a host of setup and configuration issues that can arise that need to be sorted for the system to work properly, and sometimes this doesn’t always work out well.

Sure there's things that can go wrong with everything, but as far as
VoIP phones are concerned, most people plug their phone base into the
ISP router and it works. I don't think you should be waiting for
something different/better coming along ... likely it won't.

For those that want to take in into their own hands, configure your own ATA/router/PBX/whatever, then it also works.

Most people who hear about "digital" phones not working during a power
cut are already fucked as their current DECT phones don't work during a
power cut. If they rely on a working phone line, do they already pay
for BT Enhanced Care? If not, why not?

Various battery solutions are available.

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In message <m04lj0Fapt9U1@mid.individual.net>, at 19:11:28 on Fri, 31
Jan 2025, Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> remarked:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL
number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the >>> mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP
client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings.

That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or
call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling
from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

Software clients will require constant upgrades, including to the
platform they are running on. So I bought a Grandstream HT812, and will
be disappointed if it doesn't function unattended for at least five
years.
--
Roland Perry

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In message <m06n2bFjh00U4@mid.individual.net>, at 13:48:54 on Sat, 1 Feb
2025, Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> remarked:

Spike wrote:

I have the impression from reading about VOIP
that there are a host of setup and configuration issues that can arise that >> need to be sorted for the system to work properly, and sometimes this
doesn’t always work out well.

Sure there's things that can go wrong with everything, but as far as
VoIP phones are concerned, most people plug their phone base into the
ISP router and it works.

Much of the time only if you get your (VoIP) phone number from your ISP.
I don't.

I don't think you should be waiting for something different/better
coming along ... likely it won't.

For those that want to take in into their own hands, configure your own >ATA/router/PBX/whatever, then it also works.

Most people who hear about "digital" phones not working during a power
cut are already fucked as their current DECT phones don't work during a
power cut.

Which is one reason why my POTS phone at home is a 1970's model with a
bell. The most recent ATA I'm using it with kind of claims to handle
rotary dials, but I haven't got it to work yet. But no big deal because
in the current configuration it's for incoming only.

(I also have a hand-held tone beeper, which might work when pressed to
the mic, although I've not tried it).

If they rely on a working phone line, do they already pay for BT
Enhanced Care? If not, why not?

Various battery solutions are available.

--
Roland Perry

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On 2/1/25 12:20, Theo wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:

Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> wrote:

Of course, using this system means I can’t call out from the LL number as I
don’t have any such phone any more, outgoing calls being made from the >>>>>> mobiles.

If you did want to make outgoing calls, you could always install a SIP >>>>> client on a PC or smartphone and configure it with the A&A SIP settings. >>>>>
That can be handy if you ever need to 'prove' ownership of the number, or >>>>> call organisations that insist on IDing you by the number you're calling >>>>> from.

Ah, thanks, I’ll look in to that, as you say it could be useful.

Is there a recommended SIP client (easy to configure, etc)?

What platform(s) are you on? I use Linphone on Android, can't comment for >>> others.

Up-to-date iPhone would be the platform of choice.

iPhones are a bit troublesome because Apple won't allow apps to stay connected in the name of power saving. The apps have to register with Apple's servers to get a push-message that wakes them up when there's an incoming call, which means softphone apps need to have a server backend to connect to your SIP provider and watch for incoming calls (which means the app vendor has ongoing running costs).

I understood this to be similar on Android. Around 5 years ago, the free
VoIP app I used (Zoiper) became unreliable at receiving calls. As you
say, my understanding was that this was due to deeper power saving sleep states, with the solution being an Android controlled push notification service. Push notification only being available in non-free versions of
VoIP apps.

Around that time, everyone stated to get free mobile minutes, and hence
I lost interest in mobile VoIP.

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On 31 Jan 2025 at 16:17:22 GMT, S Viemeister wrote:

On 1/31/2025 12:59 PM, Chris J Dixon wrote:
t work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Some years back, we had a Panasonic dect set with, IIRC, five handsets.
It had the ability to register two mobiles - the dect handsets would
ring when either mobile had a call. I discovered that the unit could
handle both lines on a dual-SIM phone, which would let you use up to
four different numbers. I don't recall now, if it displayed SMS
messages, or simply alerted you to them. I would imagine similar units
are still available.

That's clever. It doesn't seem to be an advertsied feature - you don't happen to remember the model number?
--
Cheers, Rob, Sheffield UK

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In message <m06n2bFjh00U4@mid.individual.net>, Andy Burns
<usenet@andyburns.uk> writes

Most people who hear about "digital" phones not working during a power
cut are already fucked as their current DECT phones don't work during a
power cut. If they rely on a working phone line, do they already pay
for BT Enhanced Care? If not, why not?

You may remember my message from December 2021, after we 'enjoyed' a
four day power cut.

Yes, we have DECT phones, but still have a 'proper' phone which is
always connected during a power cut. During the four day power cut, the
backup batteries for the local mobile mast lasted 12 hours, after which
mobiles ceased operation.

Accepted, power cuts of that length are unusual, but does explain why I
am keeping my traditional landline for as long as possible.

--
Graeme

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On 31/01/2025 14:49, Graham. wrote:

I've had the same landline number since we moved into this house in
1977 (as far as I can tell the number has been at this address since
not long after the end of the war).
Safe to say, I don't want to give it up!
It's the number that everyone that knows us has.
It has been future-proofed by porting it in to A&A VoIP

Our first home was in Bracknell. A new town, so growing rapidly.

We couldn't get a phone at first - "not enough numbers" they said. But
after a few months they handed out 0344 8xxxx numbers all along our
road, so I assume they had expanded the exchange a bit.

Then they renumbered to 0344 48xxxx.

Then 01344 48xxxx.

We didn't get to keep the same number, even though the xxxx didn't
change for all the time we lived in the town.

Andy

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On 06/02/2025 12:10, Vir Campestris wrote:

On 31/01/2025 14:49, Graham. wrote:

I've had the same landline number since we moved into this house in
1977 (as far as I can tell the number has been at this address since
not long after the end of the war).
Safe to say, I don't want to give it up!
It's the number that everyone that knows us has.
It has been future-proofed by porting it in to A&A VoIP

Our first home was in Bracknell. A new town, so growing rapidly.

We couldn't get a phone at first - "not enough numbers" they said. But
after a few months they handed out 0344 8xxxx numbers all along our
road, so I assume they had expanded the exchange a bit.

Then they renumbered to 0344 48xxxx.

Then 01344 48xxxx.

We didn't get to keep the same number, even though the xxxx didn't
change for all the time we lived in the town.

I remember sitting on the stairs with my mother, waiting for the phone
to ring, when it was being installed at my parents' house - so it must
be about 55 years ago. They still have the same number, except that the
061 area code has become 0161.

Manchester codes are (0161) xxx-yyyy, where xxx is the local exchange
number.

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On 2/2/2025 2:36 AM, RJH wrote:

On 31 Jan 2025 at 16:17:22 GMT, S Viemeister wrote:

On 1/31/2025 12:59 PM, Chris J Dixon wrote:
t work in the house or garden.

So, the question is, since I could reduce our outgoings by
ditching the fixed line, is there any way I could link a mobile
to a set of DECT phones, or achieve a similar facility?

Secondly, have others made this change? How did it go? Any
regrets?

Some years back, we had a Panasonic dect set with, IIRC, five handsets.
It had the ability to register two mobiles - the dect handsets would
ring when either mobile had a call. I discovered that the unit could
handle both lines on a dual-SIM phone, which would let you use up to
four different numbers. I don't recall now, if it displayed SMS
messages, or simply alerted you to them. I would imagine similar units
are still available.

That's clever. It doesn't seem to be an advertsied feature - you don't happen to remember the model number?

I don't remember the model number, but the feature was called 'Link2Cell'.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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