SoGEA

[peasblossom]

As FFTP is, according to Openreach, not coming round here till between now and Dec 2026 (I'm assuming later than sooner since we've been waiting that long thus far) I'm considering SoGEA.

If anyone made the switch, what's your experience? I'd want to go for the mobile redirection service, if possible.

[peasblossom]

I ask in part because I tried ringing a landline number on my mobile and got cut off. Fine with my landline. (So landline to landline, not mobile to landline.) I'm a bit uneasy about switching now, though it'll have to be done at some point this year.

[Arctophile]

I switched to SoGEA and telephone redirection earlier this year.  The broadband transfer to SoGEA was seamless.

My telephone was still working on the morning after it was supposed to be redirected.
A quick phone call to IDNet (on my telephone line that was not supposed to be working) and the transfer to redirection happened about an hour later. 

The first bills included time based charges for redirected calls.  I pointed out to IDNet that 25 hours per month of transferred calls were supposed to be included in the service, I received an apology and the charges were removed. 

The redirection to my VOIP line now works fine.

I shall shortly be porting my telephone number across to my VOIP provider and cancelling the redirection.

[Simon]

I shall shortly be porting my telephone number across to my VOIP provider and cancelling the redirection.

Sorry to hijack PB's thread, but can I ask which VoIP provider you're going to?  I'm trying to decide for myself at the moment. 

[robinc]

Switched to SoGEA last year. It took a couple of weeks for speeds to step back up- didn't drop much but the connection profile does get re-set. No VOIP so cannot comment. Cannot see the point as mobile does Wifi calling just fine.

[peasblossom]

Switched to SoGEA last year. It took a couple of weeks for speeds to step back up- didn't drop much but the connection profile does get re-set. No VOIP so cannot comment. Cannot see the point as mobile does Wifi calling just fine.

Yeah, but I'd quite like to keep my landline phone number. ymmv, obviously.

[Postal]

Yeah, but I'd quite like to keep my landline phone number. ymmv, obviously.

You could always transfer your landline number to a VoIP provider, put their app on your mobile then receive calls to the landline number on your mobile.

Caveat:  If your landline number is part of a package for phone and internet with your ISP, transferring the landline to a VoIP provider will cause the cancellation of your whole internet/phone package which may also involve early cancellation charges.  You may be able to strike a deal with you ISP to change your package to internet only but you need to do the groundwork before any changes.

[peasblossom]

I discussed that idea with IDNet a while back and it's not an option, since my broadband and phone are tied with one another. Note this is me thinking long term.

[Postal]

I discussed that idea with IDNet a while back and it's not an option, since my broadband and phone are tied with one another. Note this is me thinking long term.

Depends where you are in terms of contract length (which should not be a significant item if you are looking at long term plans).  If IDNet would want to insist that you roll on with the same contract terms at the end of your current deal rather than allowing you to continue on an internet only deal then that would be a pointer that it would be time to find another provider.

[peasblossom]

I've decided to go with SoGEA now but haven't got a clear answer as to when the 10 days starts. Is it 10 days before the date they give you or 10 days after? I'm hoping to switch my phone line to A+A so the timing is not unimportant.

[nowster]

iDNet are suggesting that they'll be getting rid of PSTN service come December. Time to dust off one of my old Cisco/Sipura ATAs, I suppose.

[Simon]

I've not heard anything official for my area yet.

[zappaDPJ]

I've not heard anything official for my area yet.

I believe that's the date OpenReach terminates its service contracts with providers. It's also the date given on iDNet's WLR Switch Off page (under 'When?')

The final switch off will be in December 2025 with no orders for new WLR based services (PSTN, ISDN, FTTC, GFast) being accepted at any exchange after September 2023.

https://www.idnet.com/wlr-switchoff.php

[Simon]

I suppose I'll have to migrate to UBOSS.

[peasblossom]

iirc, when I rang IDNet this week, they said that from December BT could announce that your old copper reliant line was closing, giving you 30 days to move it over. They (IDNet - edit: although now I'm uncertain. It may have been A+A.) advised that it was better to do this sooner than later. That was certainly the gist of the conversation, whoever the advice was from.

[nowster]

I suppose I'll have to migrate to UBOSS.

I'll probably be moving us to A&A's VoIP offering, but first testing out the equipment with an existing SIPGate number I have in the same area code.

Incidentally, I found out that when an OpenReach engineer had replaced the master socket a little over a year ago, they'd only connected the blue/white and white/blue wires of the extension wiring. This meant that only the phone connected to the master socket (and the DECT handsets) would ring, and no other hard wired extension. (There's a separate wire, orange/white, for "bell" signalling on extension wiring.) Not good during power cuts.

It was only because of the potential for having to make the change to VoIP that I investigated what was behind the faceplate, and fixed it.

[nowster]

And it looks like the WLR switchoff has been put back to the end of Jan 2027. IDNet haven't updated their info.

https://business.bt.com/insights/uk-pstn-switch-off/
https://www.wavenet.co.uk/blog/wlr-switch-off-delay-2027

[Simon]

I'll probably be moving us to A&A's VoIP offering, but first testing out the equipment with an existing SIPGate number I have in the same area code.

This is something I've been a little uncertain about.  Can you have a different VoIP provider to your Broadband ISP?  I seem to recall reading somewhere that if you take your number to another provider, the broadband has to go with it?

And how easy is it to switch VoIP providers?  I'm thinking UBOSS is a one month contract, so if it doesn't perform as I'm hoping, I could switch?

[nowster]

The data circuit is no longer tied to your phone number once you've gone to SoGEA or FTTP.

Also, at Dad's the copper pair phone line is physically separate (and billed separately) to the FTTP feed. It's up for contract renewal in December too.

[Simon]

Thanks for that.  Still think I'll hold out until I have to switch.  Silly really, because the cost of UBOSS would be cheaper than that of my current PSTN line.  It's just the functionality that concerns me.

[peasblossom]

I emailed A+A about it and they got back to me so now I know exactly when I need to order Voip from them.

I'm less bothered about functionality than keeping my number, but I get the sense from what everyone's said that IDNet are a bit more specific/particular about what tech they want you to use than A+A are. My current landline phone is a dect, albeit a bit old. But the other reason for going with them is that it's even cheaper than UBOSS, at least for anyone who barely uses their landline, like me.

[nowster]

I emailed A+A about it and they got back to me so now I know exactly when I need to order Voip from them.

I'm less bothered about functionality than keeping my number, but I get the sense from what everyone's said that IDNet are a bit more specific/particular about what tech they want you to use than A+A are. My current landline phone is a dect, albeit a bit old. But the other reason for going with them is that it's even cheaper than UBOSS, at least for anyone who barely uses their landline, like me.

Similar! The situation for Dad is two hard-wired phones and a clutch of DECT handsets. I'll be bringing a ten year old Cisco/Sipura ATA out of the junk box initially, with potentially a new Grandstream HT801v2 to be ordered if it doesn't work well.

I have the necessary bits and bobs to connect the existing extension cabling to the ATA (old master socket, some RJ11 plugs and phone cable).

The other reason for holding on to the copper landline so far is that big storms knock out the electric supply. Last winter both Darragh and Eowyn left us for several days with no leccy. The current UPS only lasts about three hours.

I now have the kit to run the router (USB C @5V), Wifi AP (USB C @5V) and ONT (12V barrel jack using a USB PD converter cable) off USB C power bricks which, although a manual system, should last much longer.

[peasblossom]

So I'm due to switch next Tuesday and have the new router. This may seem a daft question (perhaps it is?!) but as someone who, for various practical reasons, only uses WiFi, will I need to set the internet side up first (in whatever way set up can be done when the router is pre-configured) on my laptop and then do WiFi or what?

[Terryphi]

Swich on your router and log in to the router using the password provided by IDNet. Your router will come with a default SSID (network name) and password. I prefer to change the SSID and password to something of my choosing but that is up to you. Check whether your computer wifi card (or other device) is compatible with 2G or 5G. (older computers may be 2G only.) In Network settings enter your SSID and password in the 2G or 5G box and enable it. Switch on your computer and select your network from the list available and enter your password. Your internet connection should now work.

[peasblossom]

Sorry, maybe I didn't explain myself clearly. What I meant was, will I need to physically plug the ethernet (or equivalent) cable into my laptop first and follow your procedure, OR can I dive straight into WiFi? There's an app for the router, by the way, so could I use my mobile to sort it out?

[Simon]

The router should be preconfigured, so assuming you have the SSID and WiFi password, you should just be able to search for it in your laptop or phone WiFi settings and it should connect.  All you will need to do is enter the WiFi password, which is usually on a label stuck on the router somewhere.

[peasblossom]

The router should be preconfigured, so assuming you have the SSID and WiFi password, you should just be able to search for it in your laptop or phone WiFi settings and it should connect.  All you will need to do is enter the WiFi password, which is usually on a label stuck on the router somewhere.

Thanks!

[peasblossom]

Anyone else got experience of waiting for a switch like this? [a bit later] Found this, which answers some of my questions too. https://forums.thinkbroadband.com/fibre/4753758-fttc-to-sogea-how-quickly-does-or-do-the-work.html

[peasblossom]

Now in the curious position of being able to access the internet on my old router but not the new one. They are investigating. (Power, dsl, and both WiFi lights on and that's it.) Happy to hear your theories. [Thinks: will I regret this? lol]

[nowster]

SoGEA is a DSL type thing. Even FTTP has its problems.

Well, there's weird things happening on the OpenReach network at the moment.

The PON light started flashing on the ONT box at 05:57 on Saturday morning, and it's still that way. IDNet's tech support say it's a network fault.

The fact it was near 6am is highly suspicious, as that's the usual time OpenReach do changes to their network.

And then there was the "stuck session" we had in the summer, which also started at exactly 6am (and lasted several days including an inconclusive engineer visit).

I now have the VoIP equipment and cabling ready to move the phone line off the copper pair next month, but network problems like this don't inspire confidence.

(And in Manchester a few weeks ago our telegraph pole got enabled for both FTTP and one of the AltNets. Unfortunately I still have 12 months to run on the contract with Vermin.)

[nowster]

Now in the curious position of being able to access the internet on my old router but not the new one. They are investigating. (Power, dsl, and both WiFi lights on and that's it.) Happy to hear your theories. [Thinks: will I regret this? lol]

Are the login details on the new router the same as the old one? Is the SoGEA a new line provided in addition to your existing phone line (which will be ceasing soon), or has the SoGEA service already completely replaced it?