topic Extending phone devices further away from the router. in Talk

Extending phone devices further away from the router.

Eli-66 — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:19:35 GMT

Our previous configuration of lines going from the router to the office (out building) and the farther side of the house isn’t working anymore after the latest software update of the router. The router location near the main fibre connection is too far for a phone base to connect to the cordless handsets and work in the rest of the house.
Can I somehow extend the reach by either adding a Digital Voice Adapter Phone Range Extender – or
connecting a new VoIP Phone to the broadband ethernet switch in the out-building?

Re: Extending phone devices further away from the router.

Mark39 — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:43:35 GMT

@Eli-66 I don't know what the Hub update might have done to affect the range of a cabled telephone connection, or whether it was intentional. Have you spoken to Sky about it?

If you're referring to a BT/EE Digital Voice plug in adaptor, it won't work with Sky, I'm afraid. It only works with a BT/EE phone service. I don't know of a range extender that would work with Sky.

You could certainly use an IP phone, but not in conjunction with Sky's landline service. You would have to sign up and subscribe to an independent VOIP provider, It would use a different phone number.

Re: Extending phone devices further away from the router.

Eli-66 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 11:44:33 GMT

Thanks., Sky say that if the phone itself works when it is connected to the router, then from their point of view all is OK and they can't take responsibility on extensions and cables going from the router to other devices...this is quite frustrating and I don't have a solution.

Re: Extending phone devices further away from the router.

TimmyBGood — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:08:12 GMT

@Eli-66 wrote:

Sky say that if the phone itself works when it is connected to the router, then from their point of view all is OK and they can't take responsibility on extensions and cables going from the router to other devices...

That's correct. Ofcom doesn't expect Openreach or the ISPs to tackle re-use of internal extensions as part of the move away from analogue telephony: such cabling has been a support nightmare for many decades and frankly they are all glad to be shot of it.

The unofficial solution is to investigate 'Voice Re-Injection' (VRI)

Re: Extending phone devices further away from the router.

Eli-66 — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:14:04 GMT

Thx, who can do a Voice Re-Injection' (VRI) instilation?

Re: Extending phone devices further away from the router.

TimmyBGood — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:22:56 GMT

@Eli-66

I'm afraid you'll need to establish that information yourself: all I can advise is neither Openreach staff or those from an ISP will do so (at least not in work time ; )

I suspect any capable handyperson or electrician could research and carry out such a thing: the key is to make sure that there's no crossover to an external copper circuit (if one is still ther at all)

There's at least one good YouTube video on the topic which I'll try to locate again.