VOIP WiFi and ideally Cordless additional Home Phone Options post NBN?

[gavinwibrow]

Others who have been forced to move to NBN must have had this issue.

Despite being told on a number of occasions that our 3 additional phones would work once we transitioned, obviously they don't because the copper lines for the extension plugs are now defunct.

So, given we live in a multi split level home and need more than one landline phone to save the old legs on the stairs, it appears we need VOIP WiFi phones.
I've been on line, got thoroughly confused by wifi vs DECT etc, so can anyone recommend a couple of not exorbitant cost stand alone preferably handheld/cordless phones that would work in a home situation?

If reception becomes a problem between floors, I could always add a wifi enhancer, but we have had no problem with my laptop to date.
Cheers for any helpful suggestions.
Gavin

[goingbush]

We are on NBN and Ive decided not to plug a phone into the VOIP outlet of the Modem, Never use it , only time it rings is telemarketers so never answer it anyway.

People have learned if they want me , text or email.

However you could easily rewire the existing sockets and use the 2nd pair to redistribute VOIP dial tone inside your premises. (Being an ex phone tech. )

[gavinwibrow]

We are on NBN and Ive decided not to plug a phone into the VOIP outlet of the Modem, Never use it , only time it rings is telemarketers so never answer it anyway.

People have learned if they want me , text or email.

However you could easily rewire the existing sockets and use the 2nd pair to redistribute VOIP dial tone inside your premises. (Being an ex phone tech. )


Many thanks. Tell us more about rewiring, even if by pm, although I suspect there could be reasonably wide general interest. I do of course have standard home phones and any number of cables which were about to be given away!

[AK83]

I'm no NBN or phone guru, but my understanding of the switch to NBN is that your old phone connects to the modem and the modem then does the translation service from the phone to the now VOIP based phone system.

That is, your old phones connect to the modem.

You said your phones don't work connected to the old extension outlets you have, and that's to be expected, as they were wired to the old copper phone lines.
But, what happens if you connect the phones to the modem?(ie. do they work?)

As for cordless phone systems, I can highly recommend the Panasonic KX PRW120 system, as it's 'mobile phone based'
That is, it uses a base unit, and comes with a single handheld phone. Your auxiliary units are then any mobile phone or Android based device(eg. like a tablet with microphone and speaker)
As long as the aux units are Android based and have mic and speaker, it connects via wifi to the base unit and you have as many or few aux units as you want need.
Reception on my Wifi can't be flawed .. I get reception at a house across the street and two doors across(maybe 200m all up in distance to their backyard)

Reason I tried this specific Panasonic unit was I was tired of auxiluary units dying, or in the case of my last cordless system the base unit dying. Left me with three working cordless phones, but no way to use them!

I got my Panasonic for about $99 from a store(actual store, not a virtual store!) .. but the retail price is something like $129 or so.

the system works perfectly, in that ... no dropouts, no stuttering, no static , etc.
In my study(through 4 walls to the base unit) I use my Samsung Galaxy Tab II, which is my OziExplorer GPS unit, sometimes image viewing device .. etc.
That is, I didn't buy a special device that was strictly for using as a phone, it's a device I have, that sits idle most of it's life, and used as a cordless phone when needed.
Being a 7" tablet obviously handholding is awkward, but I use it mainly in hands free mode.
If you have family living in the home that use mobile phones(Android only tho!) they install the panasonic app, and can also be 'connected' to the landline system too.

Brother liked it too, and got one for his NBN connection.

I have to change to NBN(from cable) before next Feb(we just got the cables laid a couple of months ago)not sure yet if I keep my landline but if I do will connect the Panasonic.
If this Panasonic system sounds a bit weird, its not.
Once setup, the system makes so much more sense than having multiple dedicated phones(for nothing).

Panasonic also have an actual similar system, but the hand unit that comes with the base unit is an actual mobile phone(old Android version) and I found not worth the additional $s.
The selling point of that higher priced unit was that you have the one mobile/landline unit where it connects to which ever system required at the time of a call made.
Only advantage I can see in that unit is that your landline is immune to a power blackout in a seamless manner, but as the mobile phone is so ubiquitous nowadays, it's not as advantageous as they make it out to be.

ps. if you do a search for this PRW unit, make sure you don't get it confused with the cheaper PRS model .. which doesn't have the smart phone connect system.
pps. the hand unit that comes with the system is also a good design for handsfree use, where you place it on a flat surface(eg. table) and the reflection of the speaker helps with sound quality. It's design is not so good for use as an actual handheld tho.

What brand/model modem did you get, or were you supplied with by your NBN provider?

EDIT: just found that this phone model is no longer Android only .. they now have an iOS app too.

[gavinwibrow]

I'm no NBN or phone guru, but my understanding of the switch to NBN is that your old phone connects to the modem and the modem then does the translation service from the phone to the now VOIP based phone system.

That is, your old phones connect to the modem.

You said your phones don't work connected to the old extension outlets you have, and that's to be expected, as they were wired to the old copper phone lines.
But, what happens if you connect the phones to the modem?(ie. do they work?)

As for cordless phone systems, I can highly recommend the Panasonic KX PRW120 system, as it's 'mobile phone based'
That is, it uses a base unit, and comes with a single handheld phone. Your auxiliary units are then any mobile phone or Android based device(eg. like a tablet with microphone and speaker)
As long as the aux units are Android based and have mic and speaker, it connects via wifi to the base unit and you have as many or few aux units as you want need.
Reception on my Wifi can't be flawed .. I get reception at a house across the street and two doors across(maybe 200m all up in distance to their backyard)

Reason I tried this specific Panasonic unit was I was tired of auxiluary units dying, or in the case of my last cordless system the base unit dying. Left me with three working cordless phones, but no way to use them!

I got my Panasonic for about $99 from a store(actual store, not a virtual store!) .. but the retail price is something like $129 or so.

the system works perfectly, in that ... no dropouts, no stuttering, no static , etc.
In my study(through 4 walls to the base unit) I use my Samsung Galaxy Tab II, which is my OziExplorer GPS unit, sometimes image viewing device .. etc.
That is, I didn't buy a special device that was strictly for using as a phone, it's a device I have, that sits idle most of it's life, and used as a cordless phone when needed.
Being a 7" tablet obviously handholding is awkward, but I use it mainly in hands free mode.
If you have family living in the home that use mobile phones(Android only tho!) they install the panasonic app, and can also be 'connected' to the landline system too.

Brother liked it too, and got one for his NBN connection.

I have to change to NBN(from cable) before next Feb(we just got the cables laid a couple of months ago)not sure yet if I keep my landline but if I do will connect the Panasonic.
If this Panasonic system sounds a bit weird, its not.
Once setup, the system makes so much more sense than having multiple dedicated phones(for nothing).

Panasonic also have an actual similar system, but the hand unit that comes with the base unit is an actual mobile phone(old Android version) and I found not worth the additional $s.
The selling point of that higher priced unit was that you have the one mobile/landline unit where it connects to which ever system required at the time of a call made.
Only advantage I can see in that unit is that your landline is immune to a power blackout in a seamless manner, but as the mobile phone is so ubiquitous nowadays, it's not as advantageous as they make it out to be.

ps. if you do a search for this PRW unit, make sure you don't get it confused with the cheaper PRS model .. which doesn't have the smart phone connect system.
pps. the hand unit that comes with the system is also a good design for handsfree use, where you place it on a flat surface(eg. table) and the reflection of the speaker helps with sound quality. It's design is not so good for use as an actual handheld tho.

What brand/model modem did you get, or were you supplied with by your NBN provider?

EDIT: just found that this phone model is no longer Android only .. they now have an iOS app too.



Sorry, should have clarified - The main phone has been connected to the new NBN modem as VOIP and works fine, including its answering service - the phone is a cordless Panasonic 5.8 GHz we have had for several years - now on its 2nd battery.

It's the other extension phones we have that I am trying to connect to VOIP, and have now been told can't do, but if I understand goingbush properly, all is possibly not lost.

As it turns out, we could have continued to use our pre-existing bob-lite modem, but that's another story.

We are long term Westnet customers, although now taken over by iinet, and in turn I hear now by TMP/TPM?

[oka374]

As Goingbush said it is possible to reconnect the existing house wiring to the modem. Where there is a socket on the modem labelled "phone" needs to be connected back to the house wiring BUT the house wiring will need to be reconfigured for this to work and there is also a limit to how many normal phones can be run off the modem.
The easiest solution and one which I have done is to use good quality cordless phones that have multiple units and that daisy chain the signal between themselves. The main or base unit is connected to the modem and the additional units are plugged into the mains wherever you want them. The Uniden set that we have has a range of a 100 metres or more. It is an EXDECT extended range with three handsets, one on the main unit and two "extensions" one of which is way down the yard in the shed and works perfectly.

[AK83]

Sorry, should have clarified - The main phone has been connected to the new NBN modem as VOIP and works fine, including its answering service - the phone is a cordless Panasonic 5.8 GHz we have had for several years - now on its 2nd battery.

It's the other extension phones we have that I am trying to connect to VOIP, and have now been told can't do, but if I understand goingbush properly, all is possibly not lost.

....

Yeah, I understood that, I assumed from your request for a recommendation that you were looking to purchase a new cordless phone system or something with additional aux phones(ie. for upstairs).

Makes sense that you'd want to keep the old std phones for some use, if possible.
My reply was to alert you to the Panasonic smart connect device.
ie. for a fairly reasonable price(I reckon $100 is fair, anyhow), I like the flexibility of their system.

Most likely other brands have similar cordless systems too, it's just that at the time I needed one, the Panasonic one was the only one I knew of, so got it.

If you have any old iOS, or Android phones/tablets ..or whatever, or even if you want to use your current mobile .. connecting it as a aux device to the smart connect system is just so handy.

so as an example:
you and your missus both have your mobiles, assuming that 1/ you have a missus, and that 2/ you generally have them with you, say, if you go upstairs.
On those two mobiles, you install the smart connect app, and they both become auxiliary units to the base unit(which has it's phone).
So wherever you go(with your mobile) be that upstairs, outside, etc .. you have access to the cordless phone system(ie. your landline).
No need for separate auxiliary phone units here or there, or anywhere.

So the old wiring and or need for voip phones to run on a cable back to the NBN modem is not needed. Either pull it all out, or just leave it.

[gavinwibrow]

As Goingbush said it is possible to reconnect the existing house wiring to the modem. Where there is a socket on the modem labelled "phone" needs to be connected back to the house wiring BUT the house wiring will need to be reconfigured for this to work and there is also a limit to how many normal phones can be run off the modem.
The easiest solution and one which I have done is to use good quality cordless phones that have multiple units and that daisy chain the signal between themselves. The main or base unit is connected to the modem and the additional units are plugged into the mains wherever you want them. The Uniden set that we have has a range of a 100 metres or more. It is an EXDECT extended range with three handsets, one on the main unit and two "extensions" one of which is way down the yard in the shed and works perfectly.


So, if I've understood, for example the Uniden XDECT 8355 + 2 as an indicator comes with what I will call a base cordless, plus 2 other cordless with their own charging stations, all of which can be operated through a VOIP landline using the base cordless connected directly by wire to the modem (works for us) and the others as defacto stand alone - in effect the stand alones are wifi type and not directly connected to the modem, but relay via the base cordless.
XDECT 8355 + 2 - Uniden (https://www.uniden.com.au/product/xdect-8355-2/) SWAMBO is also technically challenged and would be happy with that option for when she is home alone as she would have landline coverage from the bedroom after she locks herself in there for the night, plus her mobile, so those bases are covered?

OR if you have no landline (we currently do), you could attach one of the family mobiles to the base while at home and use that.

[p38arover]

We have a VoIP phone line out of our broadband cable modem and have a Uniden 1735 DECT base station with 5 handsets attached (I had some leftover handsets from another install).

I might dump them all when we get the NBN next month as we only ever get spam callers these days.

[Rok_Dr]

I went NBN 12 months ago. I kept my old home phone number and transferred it to to the NBN (iinet)VOIP system. On the home side I just plugged the old Panasonic cordless phone, base station and 2 extension Hand sets, straight into the new Router phone port.

As HFC was the only option for me, I had to get a new line laid into the house which necessitated moving the router from upstairs to the kitchen, which was on an old extension. As a result I set up a network extender for the old Ethernet PCs there.

cheers

steve

[PhilipA]

I have a Uniden DECT 3015 and two subsidiary phones and it works perfectly on VOIP.
Just plug in the big base to the Modem and away you go.
Modem is Optus Sagemcom normal NBN modem.
It wasn't quite that simple as the first modem they supplied was faulty but the replacement has no problems.
I have had NBN for 11 months now.

Regard sphilip A

[gavinwibrow]

I went NBN 12 months ago. I kept my old home phone number and transferred it to to the NBN (iinet)VOIP system. On the home side I just plugged the old Panasonic cordless phone, base station and 2 extension Hand sets, straight into the new Router phone port.

As HFC was the only option for me, I had to get a new line laid into the house which necessitated moving the router from upstairs to the kitchen, which was on an old extension. As a result I set up a network extender for the old Ethernet PCs there.

cheers

steve

Hi Steve. I assume the 2 extension handsets were part of the old Panasonic, in which case you did what I might have to do if the wiring option mentioned by goingbush et al doesn't come to fruition - see later post I'm yet/about to input. So what is HFC apart from an old Holden[bigwhistle]
Cheers Gavin

[AK83]

.... So what is HFC apart from an old Holden[bigwhistle]
Cheers Gavin

HFC = Hybrid Fibre Coaxial cable .. ie. the Telstra/Foxtel and-or Optus cable type cable.

[gavinwibrow]

Well, after a sleep, I remembered that phone lines have 4 wires, so assuming 3 and 4 are connected to the phone, 1 and 2 or whatever could be re-wired and used as a virtual extension cord - I assume that is what goingbush etc were talking about.

Then I saw Philip A's post and for $99 I got a new Uniden DECT 1735 + 3 all cordless which in my book is less trouble than changing the wires - its due for delivery 10 Dec and includes an answering service. I don't need the more modern 83XX series to which you can plug in your mobile and get everything without a landline.
We are on the NBN Seniors Plan at $39.99/month which includes landline and free local and national calls to landlines, plus our mobile plans never get even 1/2 used, so all in all pretty happy.

Thanks to all for the info - very enlightening. You gotta luv this klub

[Rok_Dr]

Good choice, a cordless phone with extension handsets is far and away the path of least pain.



Then I saw Philip A's post and for $99 I got a new Uniden DECT 1735 + 3 all cordless which in my book is less trouble than changing the wires - its due for delivery 10 Dec and includes an answering service.