Can Vodafone open up another ethernet port on the fibre box to allow another router, which can be used to run a phone line?

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Can Vodafone open up another ethernet port on the fibre box to allow another router, which can be used to run a phone line?

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#2979830 9-Oct-2022 20:37

RunningMan:

Slixious: I've done it before, even if only using the cable modem. Apart from setting up a VLAN (I don't know if the fibre connection needed one, probably did since I barely touched the config), both routers can just connect to the ONT through a switch. If I had a cheap switch on hand I would try to prove this concept. Is Vodafone able to provide a phone service through the ONT? If so, that would make things a lot easier.

You haven't done it before with a UFB connection though, becuase it simply won't work.

No, Vodafone don't provide voice though the ONT ports.

Apparently they do. But that's all I know.

Edit: Sorry, what I meant was other ISP's appear to have done for many years now. So I'm guessing unless I switch ISP's, using Vodafone doesn't allow a phone line through the ONT.

RunningMan

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#2979832 9-Oct-2022 20:45

I think this list has been updated since originally written. @behodar can hopefully confirm. You need to look for an ISP that does voice using ONT, not RGW.

Behodar

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#2979833 9-Oct-2022 20:46

RunningMan:

I think this list has been updated since originally written. @behodar can hopefully confirm. You need to look for an ISP that does voice using ONT, not RGW.

I've been updating that list whenever people supply information. As far as I'm aware, it's all correct.

JayJWLH

40 posts

Geek

#2979834 9-Oct-2022 20:51

michaelmurfy:

@Slixious You still haven't really stated why you -need- to use another router. The existing router still provides an internet connection and allows the senior to contact Vodafone support if needed plus allows Vodafone to remotely configure it to keep everything running properly.

If you're messing around with this configuration they lose all support from Vodafone + there is also the chance their phone line may not work as expected. For an elderly person this is vital. I personally wouldn't be messing with it even though I know I could get it working myself. If the elderly person suddenly stops getting calls this could be a major problem.

Instead, why not just activate your own service with any ISP on the 2nd ONT port and use that for your own needs? That way you're not messing with their configuration at all. Internet plans are cheap, and there are providers like Quic (https://www.quic.nz/) that have a zero contract self-managed service you can activate on the 2nd port.

Does it matter why I need to use another router? I own the house, I pay for the connection, I set everything up. I originally got the EdgeRouter 6P because it had proper traffic shaping features and processing power to handle it on a fast connection. Having a senior person living with me who would like a phone line is supplementary. Back when I was using a cable broadband connection, it was as simple as having two seperate networks running off the cable modem, one of which handled the ATA connection for the phone. I honestly don't mind if Vodafone won't support it, which is why I am asking this question here instead of asking them about an unsupported network setup over the phone with them. If I die, I'm sure someone can just plug in the old router, reset it, and be happy with it.

I haven't seen Quic before, but it looks like fun. Sadly, the price isn't competitively lower at all (if anything they cost more), and apparently I can't get fibre installed until 31/12/2021. HA! I have considered some kind of softphone VoIP solution maybe but when you are talking about $8-$10, even the likes of 2Talk will charge the same but cost more in the event that over 2000 minutes are being used. So what's the point, right?

toejam316

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#2979835 9-Oct-2022 20:51

I haven't run this configuration with Vodafone, but I've (a long time ago) set something similar up to what cyril7 mentioned before. With that said, why remain a Vodafone customer if you don't want to use their setup? Migrate to another provider that provides SIP through the ONT ports instead. Alternatively, port your number to a SIP provider, setup your own ATA and stop worrying about using ISP supplied hardware for anything other than troubleshooting.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

JayJWLH

40 posts

Geek

#2979840 9-Oct-2022 21:04

RunningMan:

I think this list has been updated since originally written. @behodar can hopefully confirm. You need to look for an ISP that does voice using ONT, not RGW.

I did follow this guide to remove the VLAN tagging off the Vodafone router. Reset the router, disabled the VLAN checkbox, disabled WLAN, rebooted the modem. Then I wired it behind my ordinary router, but sadly the WAN light is lit up but the Internet light is flashing, along with the phone line beeping as usual. Very strangely enough I can use a wired connection behind the Vodafone router (even if it might be in a double NAT situation, so I guess the flashing Internet light is just for activity), but the phone line still doesn't work.

On second thought, I don't think the phone line works even when the Vodafone router connected directly to the ONT (my own router disconnected). So I think I am just that troubleshooting step away.

JayJWLH

40 posts

Geek

#2979841 9-Oct-2022 21:08

toejam316:

I haven't run this configuration with Vodafone, but I've (a long time ago) set something similar up to what cyril7 mentioned before. With that said, why remain a Vodafone customer if you don't want to use their setup? Migrate to another provider that provides SIP through the ONT ports instead. Alternatively, port your number to a SIP provider, setup your own ATA and stop worrying about using ISP supplied hardware for anything other than troubleshooting.

Honestly? I do like Vodafone and their prices that they offer to keep me. And I'm being cheap because we are talking about $10 a month here, otherwise I would have been quite happy to run a softphone using something like 2Talk, but once you pay their package of $10 you're getting about the same thing anyway if not slightly worse. There is no value to be had for a low user / low price.

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Spyware

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#2979845 9-Oct-2022 21:18

Don't you think it would be more sensible to leave Huawei on default and have your Edgerouter present a vlan tagged port to its WAN??

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JayJWLH

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#2979846 9-Oct-2022 21:32

I seem to be having an issue where even with a reset Vodafone router connected to the internet with a phone line, it doesn't work.

Any advice on these settings? Otherwise I will just have to call up Vodafone and get the tech team to sort this part out before I do anything further.

Edit: On the Line Status page, it shows the numbers as Offline.

froob

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#2979849 9-Oct-2022 21:35

Slixious:
RunningMan:

I think this list has been updated since originally written. @behodar can hopefully confirm. You need to look for an ISP that does voice using ONT, not RGW.

I did follow this guide to remove the VLAN tagging off the Vodafone router. Reset the router, disabled the VLAN checkbox, disabled WLAN, rebooted the modem. Then I wired it behind my ordinary router, but sadly the WAN light is lit up but the Internet light is flashing, along with the phone line beeping as usual. Very strangely enough I can use a wired connection behind the Vodafone router (even if it might be in a double NAT situation, so I guess the flashing Internet light is just for activity), but the phone line still doesn't work.

On second thought, I don't think the phone line works even when the Vodafone router connected directly to the ONT (my own router disconnected). So I think I am just that troubleshooting step away.

It might be that resetting the router cleared the VoIP settings, and the HG659 needs to pull those down from Vodafone again. I expect you'll need to restore the VLAN tagging on WAN (or reset it again) and plug it directly to your ONT, to allow it to do that.

Although I wrote that guide you linked and used the setup for quite a while, I'd still recommend the option of migrating to 2talk (or similar) and using a standard ATA. I'm using a Grandstream HT801, which has been solid, but does require manual configuration of settings.

Edit: It does look like your username and password has been cleared, but from memory it can download those itself as above. I could be wrong - it's been a while since I used this setup.

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#2979854 9-Oct-2022 22:00

Factory Reset will make the HG659 pull it's config down from us providing it's still assigned to the HG659. Would take up to 15 minutes. We can also push it back down, but as other have suggested you really should look at the 3rd party SIP provider option because the configuration you're trying to achieve is not supported by us.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

JayJWLH

40 posts

Geek

#2979856 9-Oct-2022 22:15

Good news everyone.

It works.

Here is my solution:

Reset the Vodafone router
Check that the phone line is working by default.
Log into the Admin account to the Vodafone router directly (you may also want to make sure it is also connected to the internet)
Make sure that the line has pulled a phone number - mine was offline because the router was reset, and you either need to wait a while for the settings to be pushed automatically or call Vodafone to do it manually. I suspect Vodafone do remote configuration to the device and check it every 15 minutes automatically - that's my theory.
When you are ready to put your Vodafone router behind your own third-party router, remove the VLAN checkbox from the WAN ethernet connection. Recommend disabling the WLAN and not using the LAN ports as they are likely to be double NAT'd.
Reboot as needed, test the phone line, and enjoy.

Due to resetting the router I didn't realise there was a step 2 to be done first. But it was a fun journey.

nztim

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#2979862 9-Oct-2022 23:43

Oh Gosh what a load of hassle, get a naked connection from Vodafone or whoever you want and get a couple of VOIP lines from 2talk/hero/kiwivoip and a 2 port ATA (I recommend Obihai) - job done

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

JayJWLH

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#2979865 10-Oct-2022 01:15

nztim:

Oh Gosh what a load of hassle, get a naked connection from Vodafone or whoever you want and get a couple of VOIP lines from 2talk/hero/kiwivoip and a 2 port ATA (I recommend Obihai) - job done

I know, but it is my hassle.

Vodafone charge $10 a month, plus you get BestMates to let you call as much as you want towards a few cell phone numbers. If you use something like 2Talk for $10 a month then the whole thing is virtualized better, but it costs the same and in the unlikely chance that over 2000 minutes are used a month then it could be a problem. If I had any personal motivation to run a landline for myself I would happily waste money on a 2 port ATA and maybe get calls on my smartphone using a softphone app, but it just isn't worth it.

Once the need for a landline is gone, I will save that $10 a month and just get rid of it.

Spyware

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#2979866 10-Oct-2022 05:38

And as I stated you should leave the settings intact on the Huawei and have the Edgerouter provide the tagged port. That way you use the advanced features of the Edgerouter and you can freely swap the Huawei between ONT and Edgerouter WAN setup if you have any issue with no change of settings.

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