VOIP without using Sky Hub

[Sloemanj]

My current setup is Sky Superfast (using Vigor 130 + Asus RT-AX88U & AiMesh nodes) + Talk (Analog).  I also have a Sky Q and Sky Q mini (connected via powerline)

I looking at migrating from analog to VOIP,  but do not wish to use  a Sky Hub, the Asus setup better suits my needs and AFAIK the Sky Hubs cannot run in pure passthough mode.

Is there any way to use the Sky VOIP service using a third party basestation (e.g. Gigaset N300) connected to the ASUS router or will I need a different VOIP provider ( we have used Sippgate at work for may years and it works well).

If I decide to use a non-Sky VOIP provider, what is the process for transferring my landline number (it is registered though BT not Sky) without cancelling my broadband (superfast) service and do I need to wait for the the contract expiry date to do this.

[GD1]

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@Sloemanj wrote:

My current setup is Sky Superfast (using Vigor 130 + Asus RT-AX88U & AiMesh nodes) + Talk (Analog).  I also have a Sky Q and Sky Q mini (connected via powerline)

I looking at migrating from analog to VOIP,  but do not wish to use  a Sky Hub, the Asus setup better suits my needs and AFAIK the Sky Hubs cannot run in pure passthough mode.

Is there any way to use the Sky VOIP service using a third party basestation (e.g. Gigaset N300) connected to the ASUS router or will I need a different VOIP provider ( we have used Sippgate at work for may years and it works well).

If I decide to use a non-Sky VOIP provider, what is the process for transferring my landline number (it is registered though BT not Sky) without cancelling my broadband (superfast) service and do I need to wait for the the contract expiry date to do this.

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You should be able to use any VOIP provider and depending on who you use may either be a direct voip phone or some plug in box alllowing standard handset to be used.

[Mark39]

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@Sloemanj wrote:

Is there any way to use the Sky VOIP service using a third party basestation (e.g. Gigaset N300) connected to the ASUS router or will I need a different VOIP provider ( we have used Sippgate at work for may years and it works well).

If I decide to use a non-Sky VOIP provider, what is the process for transferring my landline number (it is registered though BT not Sky) without cancelling my broadband (superfast) service and do I need to wait for the the contract expiry date to do this.

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There's no known way to access Sky VOIP, other than via the Sky Broadband Hub's telephone port.

I don't know of any way to migrate your telephone number, without also migrating your broadband service.

[Sloemanj]

As I it appear that I cannot use Sky VOIP without using Sky hardware, is there someone (ideally a Sky employee) who can assist in how i can

• keep Sky Broadband
• stop Sky talk
• migrate my landline number to VOIP provider

[GD1]

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@Sloemanj wrote:

As I it appear that I cannot use Sky VOIP without using Sky hardware, is there someone (ideally a Sky employee) who can assist in how i can

• keep Sky Broadband
• stop Sky talk
• migrate my landline number to VOIP provider

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You don't need a Sky employee to assist, the answers have been provided.

You cannot stop Sky Talk line if you wish to have broadband over copper cables, both are needed as they are linked.

[Sloemanj]

AS far as I know, while both the phone (PSTN) and broadband (VDSL) signals are carried over the same copper wire, there is no technical reason to actually have a PSTN link in addtion to the VDSL (I had this setup as a interet failover some years ago on ADSL when C&W were still providing connections).

I can see that both BT and EE offer this service in my area, which would free up the number for porting, but it seems like overkill to have to switch broadband providers in order to release the landline number.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Sloemanj wrote:

AS far as I know, while both the phone (PSTN) and broadband (VDSL) signals are carried over the same copper wire, there is no technical reason to actually have a PSTN link in addtion to the VDSL

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If Sky Talk is using VOIP then by definition there's no longer a PSTN signal arriving at the address: that's part of the rolling withdrawal of PSTN prior to its scheduled demise.

Increasingly, PSTN services will just not be available on any change of broadband/telecoms provision, as exhanges reach their 'stop-sell' dates.

It's worth noting that migrating to BT doesn't solve the problem for most users as there's not yet any identified way of using anything but a BT Smart Hub for the bundled BT VOIP service.

[Sloemanj]

My issue is not that UK PSTN is going away, rather that I do not wish to be tied to Sky's (or any other ISP's) hardware.  There was a time when Sky tried to mandate using their routers for broadband connectivity and while this has gone away, (it appears that) they are trying again with their VOIP solution.

As @GD1 has noted "You cannot stop Sky Talk line if you wish to have broadband over copper cables, both are needed as they are linked", but where this is a commercial decsion by Sky as there is no technical reason to have the Sky Talk service in order to have broadband (it is just the line that is required).   

My preferred solution would be to use Sky's VOIP solution with a DECT basestation of my choice plugged into a router of my choice.  If that cannot be achieved then achieved then the next best option for me (if I want to to keep my number) is to

1. setup VOIP kit and provider of choice (with a default number), 

2. setup a second internet connection on a naked/SOGEA basis with BT, and

3. once my Sky broadband is passed its contract date, port my telephone number to my VOIP service, which will terminate the Sky broadband as they do not (AFAIK) offer a "Renumber with Number Export" option.

Not a simple solution but no rush as I am under contract to June, and maybe by then Sky will be a little more flexible.

[Mark39]

I guess Sky's view is that their target customers want a packaged voice and broadband service and are content to use the hardware Sky provide. 

[TimmyBGood]

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@Sloemanj wrote:

There was a time when Sky tried to mandate using their routers for broadband connectivity and while this has gone away, (it appears that) they are trying again with their VOIP solution.

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As I noted above, it's not unique to Sky: BT do the same thing.  Typically mass-market ISPs seek to limit choice in order to reduce their support burden: their own Hubs plug-and-play with the bundled VOIP service and third party ones would not even if the required settings were made public.

[Sloemanj]

Agree with your point, but at least BT let you buy broadband only, with no need for a PSTN or VOIP number.  (EE do as well but they still have no IPv6 support).

[Raphael]

Hi,

did you find a solution ?

[Sloemanj]

As there does not seem to be a solution while staying with Sky Broadband, I have put this on the back-burner until I have no fixed contract term penalties (late summer) and will then review.  As it looks today I will probably keep my TV with Sky, but move the broadband to a bare contract with BT, so I can migrate the phone number to my preferred VOIP service.