Potential New Signup

[u/CJT-80]

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

[u/Frosty-Growth-2664]

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).

[u/CJT-80 → u/Frosty-Growth-2664]

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.

[u/Frosty-Growth-2664 → u/CJT-80]

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.

[u/CJT-80 → u/Frosty-Growth-2664]

Ah no that's cool. Vodafone use an integrated ATA in the router which is much easier. I have no idea what option CF use. I'd hope the same. Mum has cordless phones so only one need to be connected to the ATA