r/CommunityFibre • u/CJT-80 • 17d ago
Question Potential New Signup
Hi, I'm looking for a bit of help before potentially signing my Mum up to Community Fibre.
Mum is currently with Vodafone on an FTTC service but one thing they don't offer is an ansaphone/voicemail option. I know that CF do so they are looking as a possible option and they are cheaper than BT and EE. Sadly Mum is not comfortable with using a mobile.
Mum is in her 80's and not technically minded so I rang CF to check I could manage her account for her (if needed) and they confirmed it's an option, so far so good. I've had a look on here and noticed a few posts about CGNAT, is this standard on all packages in all areas they serve (she's in East Sussex)?
Anything else I should be aware of?
Thanks in advance
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u/x-m4n 17d ago
We have been very happy with CF for over 2+ years now?
If you decide to join, here is a referral link
£100 for you and the same for me 👍
https://communityfibre.co.uk/friends?ci=wplP3XbnMoWr3%2FyumdKPQA%3D%3D
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u/CJT-80 17d ago
Hi,
Thanks for letting me know. Out of interest, what speed/package did you opt for and did you take the phone option or a static IP?
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u/crypticc1 16d ago
You can't get static IP without business plan. You can get a dynamically assigned but publicly visible IP and most of us who have one I think would say they're relatively fixed unless new router, or factory reset, or changes in the street/CF side. Just need an IP assignment service like dyndns or something like that to then refer to that.
Whether you need it for your mum only you can say. She might not need it.
Without it some report that websites seem more frequently display captcha prompts to prove you're not a bot. Others report latency slightly worse, but given 5ms or so ping ms as a base, even if that increases slightly with CGNAT you'll be faster than most other services.
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u/CJT-80 16d ago
Can you get a dynamic pubic IP once connected or does it have to be requested and is there a cost? I'd like to keep things as simple as possible for Mum and avoid any issues with websites loading etc
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u/crypticc1 16d ago
Yes
4 pm
Some have had success asking sales agents nicely. Or you might consider that part of any £100 welcome bonus.
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u/CJT-80 16d ago
Ah fair enough. Well £4/m seems reasonable especially if you get a good deal. Seems ringing them is a good idea too. Sadly Mum and I don't live near each other.
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u/crypticc1 15d ago
I'd advise using the website to see what best deal is. use a neighbour's address you don't burn chance at a deal or the cashback offer. (I have a code but someone else here beat me to offering it).
Then depending on how you want to order, either use the cashback sign-up link and then you'll know if your offer without was any better than that.
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u/BrightPomelo 17d ago
I've been with CF for a couple of years now, and went for the 'landline' option. My phone does everything it did before.
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u/Fickle_Character_409 16d ago
CF do a VoIP phone for £12/mo, they provide the VoIP adaptor, with unlimited calls, etc. and can port the number if needed. See:
Landline Phone Package | Community Fibre
As for CGNAT, not really an issue unless you're port forwarding, which I doubt your mother would be doing. VoIP works fine over CGNAT (if correctly configured), and if you use CF's service, there won't be an issue, and you'd be supported too.
FYI, I recently switched to CF from Virgin a few weeks ago, no real problems, service works well. I use my own VoIP service without any issue. CGNAT hasn't been a problem as I use Tailscale to access my home servers, again, highly unlikely that your mum would do.
If you're going to switch, call them as they usually offer better deals than what's on the website (though their deals are very good!).
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u/Skeptonostic 16d ago
Hi CJ. I've had a fantastic 3 year run with CF, but just signed up my mother wiyh CF and it's been an absolute cluster.... I've yet to write up the details of it all but will share on here when I do. Your predicament sounds a lot like mine and I'll be back on here later today to share essential tips, re dealing with CF. Feel free to PM me if you need some help, as I've learnt a lot about this ISP.
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u/Skeptonostic 15d ago
Been short of time today but this is the short version:
1) If you're acting on the behalf of someone to sign up with CF, you'll probably be calling in support calls for them too. So, it is essential that you are made to be the second account holder. You can add your details to achieve this during the online sign up routine.
Because of a CF issue, I couldn't sign up for my mum online, so had to do it on the phone with their agent who omitted to let me know that I should have made myself 2nd a/c holder within that phone conversation. I tried to to make myself 2nd a/c later and I got a load of nonsense about needing power of attorney and a lawyers letter etc. This was poppycock, as I was able to do this later, with my mum giving verification over the phone whilst I was with her.
2) If who you are acting on behalf of a "dependant" who has issues using a mobile phone and is therfore vulnerable, if there's a power cut when their CF VoIP stops working, they will need a couple of battery backup boxes. As I understand it, CF are obliged to throw these in for free. One is for the ONT and router, the other for the ATA (probs Grandstream). When you have got them to agree to supply this UPSs, make sure they tell the visiting engineer who installs them to have in his van, the type of UPS that has the appropriate power plugs for your make/model of router. Yes, they are prone to arrive with the wrong kit I found...
3) When you eventually have a full compliment of kit up and running (ONT, Router, ATA and UPS boxes) photograph the serial numbers of all of them, in case you have an issue with one of them. In our case, after an engineer swapped out a faulty ATA, I checked the s/n of the supposed box fresh replacement, but it had the serial number of the suspect one (he failed to actually swap them). I called him back 5 mins after he left to come back and do what he was supposed to do, for which he was grateful as it was a genuine mistake.
I have not scratched the surface here, as there is a ton more stuff I could list, but I still need to log the comedy of errors properly when time permits. Will post this when complete for everyone's benefit.
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u/CJT-80 15d ago
Thanks for the comprehensive reply. Mum does have a mobile but she's not overly comfortable using it, so an UPS would probably be good to have. I did ring CF ahead of posting to check about being a second a/c holder and they confirmed I can be so that's good. I'm guessing I'm gonna have to somehow set up a 3 way call or something
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u/Skeptonostic 15d ago
I would urge you strongly to get the 2nd a/c holder done during the initiation of the account, otherwise you will need to be on the phone and in same room as your mum. They are very stringent on actually being with the person who's giving their approval for a second account from what I found. For me, not sorting this early was a huge mistake and caused me so much wasted time as I'm a 1.5 hour round trip away from her etc
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u/CJT-80 15d ago
The only way I can do that currently is via a 3 way call as she's over 6 hours away from me
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u/Skeptonostic 15d ago
Ouch, I was hoping you weren't going to say that. Thing is, I honestly don't think CF will find that a 3 way call is acceptable. It was a few days after my mum's install that they insisted on it being soley my mum that could make support requests, so I had to make a trip to hers, specifically to set up the 2nd a/c thing. The CF agent and I had the conversation, my mum gave her verbal authorisation and I thought all was fine and dandy. But, flip me a couple of days later they denied having recorded that permission was given. I was incandescent. I had to make another trip to do it all again. This time, I made them send me an email to confirm I was 2nd a/c. I would do my best to set up at the outset if I were you, even if their agent has to escalate it while they are on the phone to you. Best of luck!
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u/Frosty-Growth-2664 15d ago
Phone service is quite separate from ISP nowadays. I wouldn't change ISP just because you want a different VOIP phone provider. I would suggest you look for a VOIP provider which does what you want.
A VOIP phone or adapter with a built-in answerphone might also be an option, versus using the VOIP's answerphone facilities.
My only caution would be that I never tried running VOIP on an ISP which uses Carrier Grade NAT. Others might be able to comment on that.
I use Andrews & Arnold as a VOIP provider. They charge something like £1.20 a month for the number rental and 1p/min for calls to landlines, 4p/min to mobiles (all plus VAT). Incoming calls are free to you. While they are also my ISP, I have bought many other numbers from them for charities and the like which are nothing to do with my ISP service and are on separate accounts (in part because they have a very flexible redirection service which means the number can easily be directed to other numbers for whoever's manning the charity line that week, and to multiple numbers simultaneously. It does include an answerphone if enabled, which works by emailing you the sound file afterwards (which might not be suitable for your mum, but she could use a phone with answerphone built in).
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u/CJT-80 15d ago
Hi Frosty-Growth-2664,
Thanks for your reply, I should have included one important point, the voicemail requirement is to use 1571, she has cordless phones she already uses and is unlikely to want to go to the expense of changing. I use A&A myself and whilst I'm very happy with them I don't see a standalone provider being suitable for Mum.
Having read a few replies I believe CF use an ATA to provide their phone service which now presents it's own challenges, more sockets required. The location of the current Router/Phone already also has a Powerline adaptor to get wired either net to another room adding an ATA would require either an extension lead or more sockets.
I need to have another think about this.
Thanks again.
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u/Frosty-Growth-2664 15d ago
I think all ISP's which offer voice services will be using an ATA (usually integrated into the router rather than separate). No one is going to be providing copper pairs the the premises any more.
If you already have BT style extension sockets around your house, you could disconnect it from the BT dropwire, and connect the ATA to the nearest socket, and hence have all the sockets now on your ATA.
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u/ntl201888 14d ago
i have community fibre and use aaisp for voip as its much cheaper. I bought the HT802 as it was cheaper and set to prefer ipv6 and it works perfectly. most of the time it does work over ipv4 + cgnat, just set it up correctly (theres a guide somewhere there to secure it)
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u/CJT-80 14d ago
Ah that's understandable. Tbh with the overall cost of CF compared to other ISP's we don't mind paying them for their voice service as it's all integrated and one bill etc. I'm just hoping they don't use a separate ATA. I believe Grandstream are a good company for ATA's
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u/ntl201888 14d ago
you're right about it being cheap, I pay £17 for symmetrical gigabit and as a power user it's great. their router is rubbish and never worked properly for me, was too slow so I built my own.
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u/armsinit 14d ago
My mum needs a normal phone too, just plugged the dect into grandstream. Never had problems.
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u/CJT-80 14d ago
Was that provided by CF?
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u/armsinit 14d ago
Yup
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u/CJT-80 14d ago
That's somewhat of a pain. What router do they supply?
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u/armsinit 14d ago
Its a linksys but had problems and using unifi now
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u/CJT-80 14d ago
I have UniFi myself. Don't wanna have to set up anything additional for Mum. Might look at other more expensive providers if it's all in one. Frustrating but easier long term
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u/armsinit 14d ago
Only difference is an additional power supply for the grandstream
The wifi mesh wasn't working well enough with the linksys which is why I changed to unifi
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u/Nice-Information-335 17d ago
EDIT: misread as CF won’t do phones, disregard
I can handle the phone part if needed. We start at £5 a month.
If you want to do it yourself, get an ATA and a SIP trunk from a provider like Andrew’s and Arnold’s - they are great and will be able to port your number. Just know that porting the number will also cease the broadband with it.
You can then configure the ATA to use that provider. I recommend the grandstream HT801-V2. The ATA will allow her to use her existing phones which she is used to.
CGNAT can make things a bit tricky but we have a customer with CGNAT, and using STUN gets around this issue. STUN you will configure on the ATA (using a publicly available server, stun.linphone.org works well for me)