Alternative to BT Home Highway - OT

Just received a circular from BT saying that they will discontinue Home
Highway on 28 Feb 2007.

I use this because it gives me two analogue phone numbers, and allows ISDN
connections to other ISDN users. Quite separately, I have another line
which provides ADSL.

What alternatives are there that will provide the equivalent IDSN service,
with two analogue numbers and a digital number, and allow two simultaneous
calls on the same pair?

If none, what is the chance of keeping the analog 1 number and transferring
it seamlessly to the line I use for broadband, and keeping the analog 2
number on the pair that originally supported IDSN?

--
Graham

Graham wrote:
> Just received a circular from BT saying that they will discontinue Home
> Highway on 28 Feb 2007.
>
> I use this because it gives me two analogue phone numbers, and allows ISDN
> connections to other ISDN users. Quite separately, I have another line
> which provides ADSL.
>
> What alternatives are there that will provide the equivalent IDSN service,
> with two analogue numbers and a digital number, and allow two simultaneous
> calls on the same pair?
>
You can go for bog-standard ISDN but you'll need some sort of terminal
adapter if you want to use analogue equipment on the lines. No doubt it
will be more expensive though.

> If none, what is the chance of keeping the analog 1 number and transferring
> it seamlessly to the line I use for broadband, and keeping the analog 2
> number on the pair that originally supported IDSN?
>
You can probably do it but I wouldn't rely on the word "seamlessly"
being part of the process :-)

--
Dave
mail da (E-Mail Removed) (without the space)
http://www.llondel.org
So many gadgets, so little time

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 11:06:53 -0000, "Graham"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>If none, what is the chance of keeping the analog 1 number and transferring
>it seamlessly to the line I use for broadband, and keeping the analog 2
>number on the pair that originally supported IDSN?

Analog 1 to broadband should be easy enough .... Analog 2 / ISDN - you
might have problems there. ISDN numbers are on seperate clusters, and
cannot be migrated to a PSTN cluster.

HTH

Jim

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 11:06:53 UTC, "Graham" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

> Just received a circular from BT saying that they will discontinue Home
> Highway on 28 Feb 2007.
>
> I use this because it gives me two analogue phone numbers, and allows ISDN
> connections to other ISDN users. Quite separately, I have another line
> which provides ADSL.
>
> What alternatives are there that will provide the equivalent IDSN service,
> with two analogue numbers and a digital number, and allow two simultaneous
> calls on the same pair?

You could change to ISDN2e, but be prepared for admin (non technical)
hassles getting it. It's on a business tariff, which is slightly more
expensive rental wise (I assume you never actually make calls through BT
except for 0845, perhaps).

The hassle I had was getting the local 'business centre' to get their
finger out. It took about a month to get the changeover done, and then
the BT guy turned up without warning (not his fault); luckily someone
was in. It took three months to get caller ID; the Medway BT Business
centre seems totally incompetent.

As for ISDN adaptor, get a little PBX. I have a six line one; plug ISDN
in one side, and up to six phone plugs in the other. Add power, and an
ethernet cable to configure (from a Windows machine). It also does least
cost routing and a load of other stuff.

There's one like mine on eBay right now; no bids, 49 quid. Item number
250044034563.

--
[ 7'ism - a condition by which the sufferer experiences an inability
to give concise answers, express reasoned argument or opinion.
Usually accompanied by silly noises and gestures - incurable, early
euthanasia recommended. ]

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Graham <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Just received a circular from BT saying that they will discontinue
> Home Highway on 28 Feb 2007.
>
> I use this because it gives me two analogue phone numbers, and allows
> ISDN connections to other ISDN users. Quite separately, I have
> another line which provides ADSL.
>
> What alternatives are there that will provide the equivalent IDSN
> service, with two analogue numbers and a digital number, and allow
> two simultaneous calls on the same pair?
>
> If none, what is the chance of keeping the analog 1 number and
> transferring it seamlessly to the line I use for broadband, and
> keeping the analog 2 number on the pair that originally supported
> IDSN?

I think you will have trouble transferring Analog 1 to the ADSL line -
because the broadband service is keyed to the existing phone number. AIUI,
if the number of the line changes, you'll have to start all over again with
broadband.

Have you considered getting rid of the ISDN line altogether and using a VoIP
solution on the broadband line. That should enable you to make several
simultaneous phone calls albeit using different phone numbers from those
currently associated with the HH line.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

"Roger Mills" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
<snip>

> I think you will have trouble transferring Analog 1 to the
> ADSL line - because the broadband service is keyed to the
> existing phone number. AIUI, if the number of the line
> changes, you'll have to start all over again with broadband.

Sigh, why do people keep peddling this misinformation. You can
change the
number on a line without affecting ADSL at all.

On 4 Nov 2006, "Alastair" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>You can change the number on a line without affecting ADSL at all.

It certainly used to be the case, and was noted on at least two of
the more respectable ISP web sites some time back (Metronet, A+A).

It's something which relatively few people do 'often' and since many
posts are based on what people have read, and they read of problems
on sites of 'reasonable' ISPs, there was no good reason to doubt
that information is still correct.

You know different. I trust you do acknowledge it *used to be* the
case in the past, so perhaps you could enlighten us as to the date
when this situation changed, since you state it is no longer so.

"NoNeedToKnow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On 4 Nov 2006, "Alastair" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>You can change the number on a line without affecting ADSL at
>>all.
>
> It certainly used to be the case, and was noted on at least
> two of
> the more respectable ISP web sites some time back (Metronet,
> A+A).

I've don't remember seeing it on A&A's site and I've been with
them for ages.

> It's something which relatively few people do 'often' and
> since many
> posts are based on what people have read, and they read of
> problems
> on sites of 'reasonable' ISPs, there was no good reason to
> doubt
> that information is still correct.
>
> You know different. I trust you do acknowledge it *used to
> be* the
> case in the past, so perhaps you could enlighten us as to the
> date
> when this situation changed, since you state it is no longer
> so.

Never been the case AFAIAA.

Certainly we've arranged renumbers for clients for a variety of
reasons
and the ADSL on the circuits has been unaffected.

Alastair laid this down on his screen :
> "NoNeedToKnow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On 4 Nov 2006, "Alastair" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>You can change the number on a line without affecting ADSL at all.
>>
>> It certainly used to be the case, and was noted on at least two of
>> the more respectable ISP web sites some time back (Metronet, A+A).
>
> I've don't remember seeing it on A&A's site and I've been with them for ages.
>
>> It's something which relatively few people do 'often' and since many
>> posts are based on what people have read, and they read of problems
>> on sites of 'reasonable' ISPs, there was no good reason to doubt
>> that information is still correct.
>>
>> You know different. I trust you do acknowledge it *used to be* the
>> case in the past, so perhaps you could enlighten us as to the date
>> when this situation changed, since you state it is no longer so.
>
> Never been the case AFAIAA.
>
> Certainly we've arranged renumbers for clients for a variety of reasons
> and the ADSL on the circuits has been unaffected.

I think the confusion stems from the fact that often/usually, a
renumber coincides with a cease & reprovide when someone moves house,
which clearly can break broadband.

"Jono" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
> Alastair laid this down on his screen :
>> "NoNeedToKnow" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> On 4 Nov 2006, "Alastair" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>>You can change the number on a line without affecting ADSL
>>>>at all.
>>>
>>> It certainly used to be the case, and was noted on at least
>>> two of
>>> the more respectable ISP web sites some time back (Metronet,
>>> A+A).
>>
>> I've don't remember seeing it on A&A's site and I've been
>> with them for ages.
>>
>>> It's something which relatively few people do 'often' and
>>> since many
>>> posts are based on what people have read, and they read of
>>> problems
>>> on sites of 'reasonable' ISPs, there was no good reason to
>>> doubt
>>> that information is still correct.
>>>
>>> You know different. I trust you do acknowledge it *used to
>>> be* the
>>> case in the past, so perhaps you could enlighten us as to
>>> the date
>>> when this situation changed, since you state it is no longer
>>> so.
>>
>> Never been the case AFAIAA.
>>
>> Certainly we've arranged renumbers for clients for a variety
>> of reasons
>> and the ADSL on the circuits has been unaffected.
>
> I think the confusion stems from the fact that often/usually,
> a renumber coincides with a cease & reprovide when someone
> moves house, which clearly can break broadband.
>
Certainly if you move house you change circuit and ADSL is
affected.
Stay where you are and renumber and I've never known it cause a
problem.