Is this a sign that VOIP is coming to my area?

RichardCoulter · 26-06-2021, 11:55

Received a letter from VM today that warns that their landline service will not be working from something like 10pm until 6am on a couple of dates next month due to upgrade work.

Surely they won't be bothering to upgrade the old system; does this mean that VOIP is on it's way?

It does advise people to make alternative arrangements (i'm OK as I have a mobile). I thought that they had to provide alternative arrangements (at least for vulnerable customers like myself), but there is no mention of this.

This omission makes me think it might not be installation of VOIP after all. Perhaps the installation of VOIP doesn't count as a loss of the VOIP service, but of the old system for which they aren't required to provide help in case of an emergency, so they don't bother??

Martin_D · 26-06-2021, 14:07

Good Afternoon

Very unlikely to do with VoIP more then likely it’s just a old pice of equipment that is coming to its end of life and it’s needing upgraded as most areas are VoIP ready as this was done when Virgin upgraded its CMTS in it’s headends

ARRIS E6000
Cisco cBR-8

spiderplant · 26-06-2021, 15:11

It's a software update on the switch in the headend.

RichardCoulter · 26-06-2021, 15:21

Ahhh, OK, thanks for the information

**Paul** · 26-06-2021, 16:23

8 hours for a software update ? Wow ....

spiderplant · 26-06-2021, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

8 hours for a software update ? Wow ....

It's mostly backing up and testing, apparently.

RichardCoulter · 26-06-2021, 21:24

They might be expecting it to be a lot quicker, but if something goes wrong they're covered without anyone being able to complain ie under promise & over deliver.

I'm glad they aren't, but you'd think that as old equipment comes to the end of it's life they'd just switch people over to VOIP.

I hope my phone doesn't start doing weird things on the middle of the night whilst they're testing it out- in the late 80's before we went digital, I was with BT and my phone suddenly started making one long tone whilst the handset was down. It sounded like it was being generated from whatever creates the electronic ringing sound.

I called the operator & explained that my phone was making a weird noise, but she obviously thought it was a wind up as she disconnected the line

It never happened since so all was well, but i'm curious as to how that could happen.

offmore1 · 27-06-2021, 01:28

i have had same letter mines off from 7 am till 3 pm on the 29/6\21 in area 04

RichardCoulter · 27-06-2021, 03:19

Oh ours is overnight, I assumed that they'd do that everywhere to minimise disruption.

cheekyangus · 27-06-2021, 09:46

They can take forever with VOIP as I certainly don't want it. The landline system is much more robust and reliable than anything fully digital.

I was so glad we had it when we had a power cut the other day as it still works during it. Also glad we kept the corded phone in a cupboard, as cordless doesn't work in this scenario.

I know some will go "but mobile phones..." but most of the handsets needed charging that morning.

RichardCoulter · 27-06-2021, 11:02

That's why I'm glad this isn't because VoIP is being installed & not everyone has a mobile either.

It won't be long before we rely on the internet for everything- a cyber terrorists dream come true.

cheekyangus · 27-06-2021, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

That's why I'm glad this isn't because VoIP is being installed & not everyone has a mobile either.

It won't be long before we rely on the internet for everything- a cyber terrorists dream come true.

Yup. That why I don't understand the desire for every device having a connection. The internet is great, but it doesn't need to be in everything. You read headlines and think "why did they have a critical device on a network?".

They've got to a stage where certain core things don't work without electronics, whereas their predecessors didn't need any of it to do the job. Asking for trouble.

spiderplant · 27-06-2021, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by offmore1

i have had same letter mines off from 7 am till 3 pm on the 29/6\21 in area 04

If you're in Bromsgrove, they are replacing power supplies in some street cabinets, so different from the work that's happening in Richard's area.

offmore · 29-06-2021, 01:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

If you're in Bromsgrove, they are replacing power supplies in some street cabinets, so different from the work that's happening in Richard's area.

i am in kidderminster . the letter i had said they where upgrading the phone system and my phone would be off did not say about broadband or tv being off

spiderplant · 29-06-2021, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by offmore

i am in kidderminster . the letter i had said they where upgrading the phone system and my phone would be off did not say about broadband or tv being off

Yes, that's definitely it. Kidderminster is fed from the Bromsgrove hubsite.

Only the phone system has backup power. If the mains power goes off, you lose TV & BB.