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Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service

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  Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service NY <me@privacy.net> - 2026-06-26 19:27 +0100
    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-06-26 19:33 +0100
    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-26 19:54 +0100
      Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service NY <me@privacy.net> - 2026-06-26 20:10 +0100
      Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-06-26 20:12 +0100
        Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-26 21:30 +0100
          Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-06-27 02:54 +0100
    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-06-26 20:54 +0100
      Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Roger Mills <mills37.fslife@gmail.com> - 2026-06-27 22:52 +0100
        Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-28 01:31 +0100
          Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 06:20 +0000
            Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-28 13:04 +0100
              Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-06-28 13:34 +0100
                Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-06-28 14:34 +0100
                  Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-06-28 16:43 +0100
                    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-06-28 16:56 +0100
                      Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> - 2026-06-28 17:33 +0000
                    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-06-28 16:57 +0100
                  Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> - 2026-06-28 17:36 +0000
                    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 17:39 +0000
                    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-06-28 22:53 +0100
                      Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> - 2026-06-28 22:50 +0000
                        Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-29 05:30 +0000
                          Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Spike <aero.spike@mail.com> - 2026-06-29 08:07 +0000
              Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 12:57 +0000
                Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-28 14:31 +0100
                  Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 13:52 +0000
                    Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-06-28 14:58 +0100
                      Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 14:03 +0000
                        Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-28 18:53 +0100
                          Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> - 2026-06-28 18:41 +0000
          Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-06-28 10:07 +0100
            Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service "J. P. Gilliver" <G6JPG@255soft.uk> - 2026-06-28 13:17 +0100
              Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> - 2026-06-28 18:46 +0100
              Re: Plusnet and Broadband - no email service, no phone service... and now no broadband service Mike Scott <usenet.16@scottsonline.org.uk.invalid> - 2026-06-28 20:00 +0100

Page 2 of 2 — ← Prev page 1 [2]

#57504

Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> writes:

> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:34:33 +0100, Richmond wrote:
>
>> Also if you don't use up your 1TB quota you get a bonus added next
>> month. I never use my 1TB quota.
>
> The Home::1 service has no usage cap these days.

It is documented here:

https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/fttp-prices/

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#57505

On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:53:47 +0100, Richmond wrote:

> Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> writes:
> 
>> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:34:33 +0100, Richmond wrote:
>>
>>> Also if you don't use up your 1TB quota you get a bonus added next
>>> month. I never use my 1TB quota.
>>
>> The Home::1 service has no usage cap these days.
> 
> It is documented here:
> 
> https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/fttp-prices/

Ah, I see. My apologies. I'm actually on the unlimited Soho::1 tariff. We 
use > 2TB a month and there are other reasons too.

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#57507

Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> wrote:
> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:53:47 +0100, Richmond wrote:
> 
>> Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> writes:
>> 
>>> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:34:33 +0100, Richmond wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Also if you don't use up your 1TB quota you get a bonus added next
>>>> month. I never use my 1TB quota.
>>> 
>>> The Home::1 service has no usage cap these days.
>> 
>> It is documented here:
>> 
>> https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/fttp-prices/
> 
> Ah, I see. My apologies. I'm actually on the unlimited Soho::1 tariff. We 
> use > 2TB a month and there are other reasons too.
> 

That link shows that Home::1 has both capped and uncapped options. 

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#57509

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
> Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> wrote:
>> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 22:53:47 +0100, Richmond wrote:
>> 
>>> Bob Eager <throwaway0008@eager.cx> writes:
>>> 
>>>> On Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:34:33 +0100, Richmond wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Also if you don't use up your 1TB quota you get a bonus added next
>>>>> month. I never use my 1TB quota.
>>>> 
>>>> The Home::1 service has no usage cap these days.
>>> 
>>> It is documented here:
>>> 
>>> https://www.aa.net.uk/broadband/home1/fttp-prices/
>> 
>> Ah, I see. My apologies. I'm actually on the unlimited Soho::1 tariff. We 
>> use > 2TB a month and there are other reasons too.

> That link shows that Home::1 has both capped and uncapped options. 

I’ve put my details into A&A’s FTTP home service.

For the same speeds and unlimited data as I have with PN, A&A at £75pm are
double my current costs.

The only call for help I’ve ever made to PN was to let them know the fibre
installation was complete, the ONT and router were powered up, and ask that
the line be enabled. A few minutes later the service went live and has run
flawlessly since then.

I can’t quite see what improvement in my going to A&A at double the cost
would actually bring.

JFTR, at the same time as the fibre installation, I’d ported my landline
number to A&A. That ran smoothly, and I run the system on their ‘send me an
mp3 of the call’ service at a minimal monthly cost. I use mobiles for
outgoing calls.

Everything related to the transition to FTTP went smoothly; but I can’t see
what advantages changing to A&A would bring…

-- 
Spike

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#57487

J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
> On 2026/6/28 7:20:5, Tweed wrote:
>> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
>>> On 2026/6/27 22:52:8, Roger Mills wrote:
>>>> On 26/06/2026 20:54, David Wade wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> So "PlusNet" is your "Pound shop" internet only provider.
>>>>> "EE" is for the vast majority of users.
>>>>> "BT" is your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer...
>>>>> 
>>> (BT must have improved a lot since I was with them.)
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Absolutely right. But there's nothing to stop Plusnet customers who want 
>>>> a "landline" (VoIP) from using a 3rd party provider for that. I already 
>>>> have an AAISP VoIP account and will port my landline number to that when 
>>>> my copper landline finally disappears. You do need extra hardware for 
>>> 
>>> Probably planning to do the same, though maybe with voipfone, having
>>> heard customer service from A&A has declined.
>>> 
>> I’m with A&A both for FTTP and VoIP. Absolutely no evidence that customer
>> service has declined. 
>> 
>> 
> There was some mention on here that A&A's reputation as the Rolls-Royce
> of ISPs (with corresponding cost!) had made their treatment of VoIP-only
> customers somewhat smug. At least one person agreed - and, they did have
> to up their (admittedly competitive) VoIP prices, to cover the extra
> cost of supporting VoIP-only customers who weren't perhaps as savvy as
> their ISP customers (who _were_/are mostly savvy, else they wouldn't be
> paying the ISP costs). Maybe, as a result of the extra staff, they're
> back to being nice (well, not condescending) to VoIP-only customers.
> 
> Anyway, I'd be interested to hear from people who've used both A&A and
> voip, and how they compare.

I use A&A for both broadband and voice. I’ve had them for broadband through
ADSL, FTTC and now FTTP. I ported my landline numbers to them without
issue. I’ve dealt with them both by email and phone and have never had any
issue. They proactively monitor their broadband. At one point they emailed
me to say they thought my ADSL router was starting to feel unwell and
replaced it. I never noticed the issue. If they detect the broadband has
gone down you get a text message, and another one when it goes back on.
That normally when I need to turn the router’s power off for whatever
reason. As to VOIP, if you want to be the entirely non technical user they
will sell you a DECT base station and handset pre configured. Just connect
the Ethernet to your router and plug in the power supply and off it goes.
The other thing they don’t do is price walk. They have never increased the
price of my broadband service in over a decade. It’s worth paying extra
just to not having to go through the pantomimes of renewing contracts every
so often. 

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#57488

On 2026/6/28 13:57:23, Tweed wrote:
> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
[]
>> Anyway, I'd be interested to hear from people who've used both A&A and
>> voip, and how they compare.

(I meant voipfone there, of course.)
> 
> I use A&A for both broadband and voice. I’ve had them for broadband through
> ADSL, FTTC and now FTTP. I ported my landline numbers to them without
> issue. I’ve dealt with them both by email and phone and have never had any
> issue. They proactively monitor their broadband. At one point they emailed
> me to say they thought my ADSL router was starting to feel unwell and
> replaced it. I never noticed the issue. If they detect the broadband has
> gone down you get a text message, and another one when it goes back on.
> That normally when I need to turn the router’s power off for whatever

Yes, I've heard - and nothing to the contrary - that their ISP -
including the S part - is second to none. Though at a cost (though more
below).

> reason. As to VOIP, if you want to be the entirely non technical user they
> will sell you a DECT base station and handset pre configured. Just connect

(How about just an ATA instead?)

> the Ethernet to your router and plug in the power supply and off it goes.
> The other thing they don’t do is price walk. They have never increased the
> price of my broadband service in over a decade. It’s worth paying extra
> just to not having to go through the pantomimes of renewing contracts every
> so often. 
> 
It would be interesting to know whether that - due to inflation - has
made your prices similar to any of their competitors. Though I suspect
_new_ customers might still find them expensive.
-- 
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

I don't see the requirement to upset people. ... There's enough to make
fun of without offending.
- Ronnie Corbett, in Radio Times 6-12 August 2011.

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#57490

J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
> On 2026/6/28 13:57:23, Tweed wrote:
>> J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
> []
>>> Anyway, I'd be interested to hear from people who've used both A&A and
>>> voip, and how they compare.
> 
> (I meant voipfone there, of course.)
>> 
>> I use A&A for both broadband and voice. I’ve had them for broadband through
>> ADSL, FTTC and now FTTP. I ported my landline numbers to them without
>> issue. I’ve dealt with them both by email and phone and have never had any
>> issue. They proactively monitor their broadband. At one point they emailed
>> me to say they thought my ADSL router was starting to feel unwell and
>> replaced it. I never noticed the issue. If they detect the broadband has
>> gone down you get a text message, and another one when it goes back on.
>> That normally when I need to turn the router’s power off for whatever
> 
> Yes, I've heard - and nothing to the contrary - that their ISP -
> including the S part - is second to none. Though at a cost (though more
> below).
> 
>> reason. As to VOIP, if you want to be the entirely non technical user they
>> will sell you a DECT base station and handset pre configured. Just connect
> 
> (How about just an ATA instead?)
> 
>> the Ethernet to your router and plug in the power supply and off it goes.
>> The other thing they don’t do is price walk. They have never increased the
>> price of my broadband service in over a decade. It’s worth paying extra
>> just to not having to go through the pantomimes of renewing contracts every
>> so often. 
>> 
> It would be interesting to know whether that - due to inflation - has
> made your prices similar to any of their competitors. Though I suspect
> _new_ customers might still find them expensive.

No, they don’t sell ATAs. I suspect that comes under the heading of being
potentially more trouble than it is worth in terms of support. They have no
control over what is plugged into the ATA and someone is bound to try an
oddball combination and then say it is A&A’s fault. Of course, there’s
nothing to stop you buying and configuring your own ATA, but that’s not
A&A’s support problem. 

IDNet, another high quality ISP who I also use, will sell you a
preconfigured ATA. IDNet also don’t price walk. In fact my service went
down in price last year. 

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#57491

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> writes:


> No, they don’t sell ATAs.

They provide a router with an ATA built into it, and two phone sockets.

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#57492

Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> wrote:
> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> writes:
> 
> 
>> No, they don’t sell ATAs.
> 
> They provide a router with an ATA built into it, and two phone sockets.
> 
> 
Ah, must have changed since I got mine. Thanks for the correction. 

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#57500

On 2026/6/28 15:3:50, Tweed wrote:
> Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> wrote:
>> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> writes:
>>
>>
>>> No, they don’t sell ATAs.
>>
>> They provide a router with an ATA built into it, and two phone sockets.
>>
>>
> Ah, must have changed since I got mine. Thanks for the correction. 
> 
Presumably that's for ISP-and-VoIP customers, rather than VoIP-only.
-- 
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

I used to dream of the day when linux was as stable as windows. Never
did I imagine that parity would be achieved by windows declining into
the chaos that engulfs and stifles linux.
- mike <ham789@netzero.net> in alt.windows7.general, 2018-4-1

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#57502

J. P. Gilliver <G6JPG@255soft.uk> wrote:
> On 2026/6/28 15:3:50, Tweed wrote:
>> Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> wrote:
>>> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> writes:
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> No, they don’t sell ATAs.
>>> 
>>> They provide a router with an ATA built into it, and two phone sockets.
>>> 
>>> 
>> Ah, must have changed since I got mine. Thanks for the correction. 
>> 
> Presumably that's for ISP-and-VoIP customers, rather than VoIP-only.

Yes. If you want the path of least resistance buy the preconfigured DECT
unit. 

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#57482

On 28/06/2026 01:31, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> On 2026/6/27 22:52:8, Roger Mills wrote:
>> On 26/06/2026 20:54, David Wade wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> So "PlusNet" is your "Pound shop" internet only provider.
>>> "EE" is for the vast majority of users.
>>> "BT" is your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer...
>>>
> (BT must have improved a lot since I was with them.)

Sorry "BT is marketed as for your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer"

>>>
>>
>> Absolutely right. But there's nothing to stop Plusnet customers who want
>> a "landline" (VoIP) from using a 3rd party provider for that. I already
>> have an AAISP VoIP account and will port my landline number to that when
>> my copper landline finally disappears. You do need extra hardware for
> 
> Probably planning to do the same, though maybe with voipfone, having
> heard customer service from A&A has declined.
> 

I am with Voipfone. Pretty good. Very cheap if you just have the number 
and use PAYG for outbound calls, unless you ring a mobile.


>> that (ATA or equivalent) because PN's Hub2 router, although it has a
>> phone port, doesn't have the firmware to support it - and it probably
>> wouldn't work with a 3rd party provider, even if it did.
> 
> Yes, infuriating that. (I've been hoping someone would do a hack for it.)

I can't believe that BT or EE use non-standard protocols. I assume they 
just use TR-069 to configure things, and don't provide a way to read or 
modify the configuration.

ZEN have a halfway house, so if you buy their phone service you have to 
use their router, and they use TR-069 to configure, but if you don't the 
config is unlocked so you can use third partys which is how mine is set up.

In fact if you can use a third party router the FritzBox that ZEN supply 
makes a great little multi-device ATA with support for multiple 
telephony devices, built-in voice mail/answerphone and is available on 
e-bay from those who have upgraded at reasonable prices. Just make sure 
you get a 7530ax in you want wifi6.



>>
>> As others have previously mentioned, if you don't want to make and
>> receive voice calls on your "landline", but only want to make provision
>> for people to leave voicemail messages for you, there are free VoIP
>> accounts which will email you when a message is received and provide
>> access to the audio - and you don't need any extra hardware for that.
> 
> Do any of those free ones let you keep your number? I expect not.

any examples? anyway no, but voipfone will....

Dave

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#57485

On 2026/6/28 10:7:12, David Wade wrote:
> On 28/06/2026 01:31, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> On 2026/6/27 22:52:8, Roger Mills wrote:
>>> On 26/06/2026 20:54, David Wade wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> So "PlusNet" is your "Pound shop" internet only provider.
>>>> "EE" is for the vast majority of users.
>>>> "BT" is your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer...
>>>>
>> (BT must have improved a lot since I was with them.)
> 
> Sorry "BT is marketed as for your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer"
> 
Come to think of it, I haven't seen ad.s for BT at all, apart from
rather strange ones that show a software toggle switch that seem to
carry the slogan "the time will be wonderful".
[]
> I am with Voipfone. Pretty good. Very cheap if you just have the number 
> and use PAYG for outbound calls, unless you ring a mobile.
> 
Oh, are their to-mobile charges on the expensive side? Since the vast
majority of destinations _will_ be mobile after cutoff, that's not good.
> 
>>> that (ATA or equivalent) because PN's Hub2 router, although it has a
>>> phone port, doesn't have the firmware to support it - and it probably
>>> wouldn't work with a 3rd party provider, even if it did.
>>
>> Yes, infuriating that. (I've been hoping someone would do a hack for it.)
> 
> I can't believe that BT or EE use non-standard protocols. I assume they 
> just use TR-069 to configure things, and don't provide a way to read or 
> modify the configuration.

I was considering the case of staying with PlusNet (and their router),
just using (as one would have to) a third-party VoIP provider - thinking
someone might do a hack for the PN router to actually use the hardware
it contains. But I doubt it.
> 
> ZEN have a halfway house, so if you buy their phone service you have to 
> use their router, and they use TR-069 to configure, but if you don't the 
> config is unlocked so you can use third partys which is how mine is set up.

You you can't have VoIP-only from Zen? And if you get both IC and VoIP
from them, there are restrictions (you can't use the VoIP with an ATA)?
> 
> In fact if you can use a third party router the FritzBox that ZEN supply 
> makes a great little multi-device ATA with support for multiple 
> telephony devices, built-in voice mail/answerphone and is available on 
> e-bay from those who have upgraded at reasonable prices. Just make sure 
> you get a 7530ax in you want wifi6.
> 
Useful info., thanks.
> 
> 
>>>
>>> As others have previously mentioned, if you don't want to make and
>>> receive voice calls on your "landline", but only want to make provision
>>> for people to leave voicemail messages for you, there are free VoIP
>>> accounts which will email you when a message is received and provide
>>> access to the audio - and you don't need any extra hardware for that.
>>
>> Do any of those free ones let you keep your number? I expect not.
> 
> any examples? anyway no, but voipfone will....

Not for free, though.

I'm currently well-disposed towards voipfone because when I first looked
into VoIP (probably a few years ago), they answered some
technical-but-VoIP-newbie questions I had in a friendly manner. But of
course (a) providers change [usually decline], though I've not heard any
such statements re voipfone, and (b) if their charges to mobiles - which
are likely to be the majority - are high ...
> 
> Dave

John
-- 
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes

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#57499

On 28/06/2026 13:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
> On 2026/6/28 10:7:12, David Wade wrote:
>> On 28/06/2026 01:31, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>>> On 2026/6/27 22:52:8, Roger Mills wrote:
>>>> On 26/06/2026 20:54, David Wade wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> So "PlusNet" is your "Pound shop" internet only provider.
>>>>> "EE" is for the vast majority of users.
>>>>> "BT" is your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer...
>>>>>
>>> (BT must have improved a lot since I was with them.)
>>
>> Sorry "BT is marketed as for your Marks and Spencer or Waitrose customer"
>>
> Come to think of it, I haven't seen ad.s for BT at all, apart from
> rather strange ones that show a software toggle switch that seem to
> carry the slogan "the time will be wonderful".
> []
>> I am with Voipfone. Pretty good. Very cheap if you just have the number
>> and use PAYG for outbound calls, unless you ring a mobile.
>>
> Oh, are their to-mobile charges on the expensive side? Since the vast
> majority of destinations _will_ be mobile after cutoff, that's not good.
>>
>>>> that (ATA or equivalent) because PN's Hub2 router, although it has a
>>>> phone port, doesn't have the firmware to support it - and it probably
>>>> wouldn't work with a 3rd party provider, even if it did.
>>>
>>> Yes, infuriating that. (I've been hoping someone would do a hack for it.)
>>
>> I can't believe that BT or EE use non-standard protocols. I assume they
>> just use TR-069 to configure things, and don't provide a way to read or
>> modify the configuration.
> 
> I was considering the case of staying with PlusNet (and their router),
> just using (as one would have to) a third-party VoIP provider - thinking
> someone might do a hack for the PN router to actually use the hardware
> it contains. But I doubt it.
>>
>> ZEN have a halfway house, so if you buy their phone service you have to
>> use their router, and they use TR-069 to configure, but if you don't the
>> config is unlocked so you can use third partys which is how mine is set up.
> 
> You you can't have VoIP-only from Zen? And if you get both IC and VoIP
> from them, there are restrictions (you can't use the VoIP with an ATA)?
>>
>> In fact if you can use a third party router the FritzBox that ZEN supply
>> makes a great little multi-device ATA with support for multiple
>> telephony devices, built-in voice mail/answerphone and is available on
>> e-bay from those who have upgraded at reasonable prices. Just make sure
>> you get a 7530ax in you want wifi6.
>>
> Useful info., thanks.
>>
>>
>>>>
>>>> As others have previously mentioned, if you don't want to make and
>>>> receive voice calls on your "landline", but only want to make provision
>>>> for people to leave voicemail messages for you, there are free VoIP
>>>> accounts which will email you when a message is received and provide
>>>> access to the audio - and you don't need any extra hardware for that.
>>>
>>> Do any of those free ones let you keep your number? I expect not.
>>
>> any examples? anyway no, but voipfone will....
> 
> Not for free, though.
> 
> I'm currently well-disposed towards voipfone because when I first looked
> into VoIP (probably a few years ago), they answered some
> technical-but-VoIP-newbie questions I had in a friendly manner. But of
> course (a) providers change [usually decline], though I've not heard any
> such statements re voipfone, and (b) if their charges to mobiles - which
> are likely to be the majority - are high ...#

I think so, for mobiles Voipfone are 7p a minute, A&A are 4p a minute.
For landlines voipfone are cheaper at 1p a minute, a&a 1.5p a minute.
There are packages but not sure how much they save...

I just use my mobile which is on a Lebara tariff via uSwitch and has 
unlimited minutes to landlines and mobiles plus 50gb of data for 
£8.00/month. If you don't need so much data you can get same for £4.95
Note you need to go via uSwitch to get these....
It has WiFi calling so no problems with signal and coverage..

Done tell me you find mobiles hard to hold. I never hold mine, put it on 
speaker and pop it on the chair arm or desk.


>>
>> Dave
> 
> John

Dave

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#57503

On 28/06/2026 13:17, J. P. Gilliver wrote:
>> In fact if you can use a third party router the FritzBox that ZEN supply
>> makes a great little multi-device ATA with support for multiple
>> telephony devices, built-in voice mail/answerphone and is available on
>> e-bay from those who have upgraded at reasonable prices. Just make sure
>> you get a 7530ax in you want wifi6.
>>
> Useful info., thanks.

But take care. I'm currently using a 7530 from Zen. I'm not at all sure 
the wifi works as well as the older box: a now-defunct hudl, and most 
definitely my Dell lappy, both seem(ed) significantly slower after the 
switch.

And I had to get Zen to /downgrade/ the box from the one they originally 
supplied for the phone switchover, as some inbound automated calls 
weren't connecting properly (in particular security calls from the 
bank); my suspicion was duff firmware in the fritzbox but I wasn't in a 
position to prove it.

-- 
Mike Scott
Harlow, England

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