VDSL2, Digital Voice & SR203 (MER, VoIP)

[cassally]

(I am placing this discussion to Broadband thread, as the "Digital Voice" is delivered over the Broadband,

so if there is no electricity and back up battery for the SR203, there is no landline/internet...)

My PSTN telephone number has been migrated to a "Digital Voice" last month and I have been given a NEW Router - SR203
(I know, its old, but an upgrade to what I have had and has two FXO ports - UK aand ITALIA/ROI plugs).

Upgrade on the day went OK,  just swapped the old router for the new one and un-plugged out landline

from the BT socket and plugged it to the port on the new router ""UK"" and the cable from purple port to purple port 😉

Calling out and in also works.

After a month, when the line and the checkes on the line ware stable, I wanted to swap out the SR203 for another router

and also use the "Digital Voice" on alternative VoIP device (GIgaset).

I know there is no need to extract the username/password for the MER authetication for the broadband,

as anything that follows "654321abc123@skydsl|edcba321" works, but I tried,

it looks like it's not over DHCPv4, but now DHCPv6 (Wireshark: frame contains "skydsl|")

or (Wireshark: udp.port==546).

Got the alternative Router/Modem and IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity works great,

but looking around the Web interface of SR203 I could not find any settings

for the "Digital Voice" settings, are they behind a hidden menu?

Tried 😉

https://192.168.0.1/sky_voip.html
https://192.168.0.1/sky_voice.html

I have tried plugging ethernet cable to port 4 (that also has marking of WAN) on the router

and the PC connected to WI-FI and reset the device (so it thinks its used with ONT)

but it did not work, and Wireshark did not show any SIP related info either ;:(
a)
Does anyone know if it's possible to use Sky "Digital Voice" on alternative device?

b)
How does one extract the SIP details for my "Digital Voice" from the SR203?

c)
Does Sky ""Digital Voice"" use SIP or IMS?

[Chrisee]

@cassally the Sky digital voice solution only operates if a. Sky hub (models SR203/4 or SR213) is directly connected to the . Line. Although the service is digital the technology is not the same as regular VOIP services. Therefore while you can use any router that will connect for your broadband service use of Sky Talk requires a Sky hub is used although you can of course use a second router in a double NAT set up or replace the WiFi duties by connecting a wifi access point.

To connect a router to any UK Sky line using DHcP Option81 you require a string in thecform anything@skydsl|anything there is no need to extract a soecific string from a Sky hub only the format matters. Alternatively you can use DHCPv6 PD which works on most but not all exchanges.

[TimmyBGood]

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@cassally wrote:

a)
Does anyone know if it's possible to use Sky "Digital Voice" on alternative device?

No-one has identified any  compatible hardware.

b)
How does one extract the SIP details for my "Digital Voice" from the SR203?

Nobody has posted any  success in doing so

c)
Does Sky ""Digital Voice"" use SIP or IMS?

Good question, but in the absence of the information above, sadly irrelevant.

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[cassally]

@Chriseethank you for your reply.

I want to avoid having "double" NAT (two routers) ....

as I have already swapped to:

- VDSL2 Modem,

- Router,

- AP's around the house and

- SIP Gigaset PBX, with headsets in each room....

Is it possible to use the "SR203" in bridge mode
(so I can only utilise the FXO telephone port)?

Why is the ethernet port 4 on the SR203, labled WAN?

Could someone please explain on how the "Digital Voice" works on Sky
(with the Sky hub models SR203/4 and SR213)?


Thank you.

[Chrisee]

@cassally answers to your questions

1) no Sky hub has a bridge mode if there was I would have mentioned it

2) ethernet port4 switches to acting as a WAN port when connected to a ONT for a full fibre service. Before you ask you cannot use that to connect behind a another router to use the digital voice service it simply doesnt work.

3) the only people who could explain how the system works will be Sky staff or their suppliers who will bound by NDAs 

Most people who want to use a secondary router either abandon the landline or transfer the number to a third party VOIP service. Sorry all of this has been discussed before.if it helps forum super users have, raised with Sky who confirmed the details and told us they had no plans to change. Ofcom could have required a common interchangeable standard but didnt so each isp developed their own solution.

[cassally]

Thank you @Chrisee and @TimmyBGood for explaining.

I was not aware that the "Digital Voice" is such a shamble ....
(it goes on the list, same for when travelling on train when it runs if at all,
visiting hospital, local park and council run leisure center, GP, reporting stolen property ......)

I guess if I could "lock" customers to use "my" equipment like
Sky does with sat TV and Sky Box (only officially supported device for decoding paid TV)
I would lock "my" customers to use the "landline" only with my device
(for customers sake, compatibility etc. 😉
...... I should have thought of it before embarking on this journey ...

The prices they offer on the "Pay as you go" for the landlines are also shocking ....
compare to some deals available for mobiles ...

Does OFCOM also operate "revolving door"? 😉
OFWAT does and we have a [removed] floating all over the coast and rivers .... ;(

Moderator Notes: removed inappropriate language

[cassally]

Thank you @Chrisee and @TimmyBGood for explaining.

I was not aware that the "Digital Voice" is such a shamble ....
(it goes on the list, same for when travelling on train when it runs if at all,
visiting hospital, local park and council run leisure center, GP, reporting stolen property ......)

I guess if I could "lock" customers to use "my" equipment like
Sky does with sat TV and Sky Box (only officially supported device)
I would lock "my" customers to use the "landline" only with my device
(for customers sake, compatibility etc. 😉
...... I should have thought of it before embarking on this journey ...

The prices they offer on the "Pay as you go" for the landlines are also shocking ....
compare to some deals available for mobiles ...

Does OFCOM also operate "revolving door"? 😉
OFWAT does and we have a stuff floating all over the coast and rivers .... ;(

[GD1]

@cassally  What I have done in my situation is use a dedicated VOIP provider and ported my home number to them from another ISP.

This has the benefit of regardless who you use or change your ISP to you don't need to worry about porting numbers/keeping numbers, which can sometimes fail.

I suspect what you need to be able to use your current handsets is a dedicated VOIP provider (if you don't already have one).

I don't use an ISP's provided hub/router although I keep hold of it in case of any trouble shooting.  I prefer my own setup using Draytek equipment.

I also use Polycom VOIP Desk phones.

[cassally]

I agree.

I already have SIP Numbers for each member of family

(ringing only on their specific phones)

and set up on mobiles as well plus also running FreePBX ....

I'm just surprised what a shambels this "Digital voice" is ....

as always had a landline as a backup, and it always worked
(even during power cuts that do not happen that offten),
so it was there as a backup .....and after so many year

it's gone ......

Having the number as part of the package I thought I add it to
our phone system like the other SIP providers, but no SKy/BT or EE "DIgital voice" numbers ;(

################################################################################
I do not own or need 😉
- xx" 8K/4K TV
- sound bar
- games console

[TimmyBGood]

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@cassally wrote:

I'm just surprised what a shambels this "Digital voice" is ....

as always had a landline as a backup, and it always worked
(even during power cuts that do not happen that offten),
so it was there as a backup .....and after so many year

it's gone ......

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Well, yes, hair-fine strands of glass being somewhat famous for their ability not to carry electrical current ; )

Hybrid optical with parallel copper for remote power was never seriously considered: the national FTTP project is costing enough as it is...

'Backup' is now essentially the responsibility of subscribers if they feel they need it, by having UPS for both ONT (where relevant) and router.  Ofcom advises ISPs that they need to identify vulnerable customers and offer such solutions.

[TimmyBGood]

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@cassally wrote:

I guess if I could "lock" customers to use "my" equipment like
Sky does with sat TV and Sky Box (only officially supported device)
I would lock "my" customers to use the "landline" only with my device
(for customers sake, compatibility etc.

---

Largely an attempt to minimise support costs in an industry where ruthless competition has brought the average individual account down to being very barely profitable.

[cassally]

Which "Tesla" power wall should customers get to add the redundancy

that was there for so many years? 😉

Who exactly is classed as "vulnerable customer"?

The over 60's, 70's, 80's 90's ...?

Is OR going to rip out all the old copper wires after being "decomisoned"?

[cassally]

I may have missed something, but "ruthless competition" ???

Does Sky TV not have a monopoly in the UK?

"Digital voice" or the landline is a dying product .....
and if I had to pay for it, I would canncel it.

Competition from BT/EE/VF ...and SIP providers offering decent prices?

Ever tied the Google Voice offering?

When the regulator, fails to regulate,

companies would only offer to thouse that are the most profitable ...

[TimmyBGood]

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@cassally wrote:

Which "Tesla" power wall should customers get to add the redundancy

that was there for so many years?

Bizarrely, Ofcom specifies a UPS with a one-hour run time, which seems entirely inadequate but apparently they know best.

Who exactly is classed as "vulnerable customer"?

The over 60's, 70's, 80's 90's ...?

Circumstances rather than age, I believe.  Lack of mobile phone coverage at an address is one such factor.

Is OR going to rip out all the old copper wires after being "decomisoned"?

Probably, yes: backbone cable at least because that has a decent weight.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2024/09/bt-get-105m-for-first-sale-of-old-uk-copper-telecoms-c... 

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[TimmyBGood]

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@cassally wrote:

I may have missed something, but "ruthless competition" ???

Does Sky TV not have a monopoly in the UK?

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The end of analogue telephony and the parallel rollout of optical cable to replace Edwardian copper technology has nothing to do with subscription television.