Vodafone Migrating customers to Voice over Broadband

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Vodafone Migrating customers to Voice over Broadband

AndrewPNZ

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#255635 21-Aug-2019 21:36

My elderly parents have been moved to Voice over Broadband, a move which has gone very badly for them as their old analogue wiring in their house worked well for them including a copper extension 100m to a garage/workshop 100m from the house, analogue answerphone. They are in the country, will never get fibre but do get regular power cuts.

I was hoping for some background as to why Vodafone is wanting to move customers to voice over broadband. I assume this is commercially driven, it probably costs more to offer analogue phone and adsl internet. But I would be interested in a very specific explanation, of the pieces of the puzzle involved...

With the old analogue system I am guessing Vodafone have to pay Spark Wholesale for the use of their POTS phone exchange, something they avoid with voice over broadband?? Why the impetus to change now??

Thanks
Andrew P

antoniosk

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#2303386 21-Aug-2019 22:44

How did it go badly?

Vobb was meant to be an analogue signal injected into the line from the cabinet, presenting as a classic analogue line to the customer. They need never know the difference, but I would like to know what’s happened. The signal should have had the same punch as before.

As to why there’s a number of reasons, the main one being that near ports are being withdrawn fast I. Favour of the above or similar. There are commercial benefits for chorus in forcing vobb over wholesale voice for spark customers.

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hio77

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#2303409 21-Aug-2019 23:51

antoniosk:
Vobb was meant to be an analogue signal injected into the line from the cabinet, presenting as a classic analogue line to the customer. They need never know the difference, but I would like to know what’s happened. The signal should have had the same punch as before.

Baseband IP and voice over SIP are quite different. Vodafone does the later.

A standard RGW wont punch like the old neax's did. particularly around the REN value, which by the sounds of this setup will be the issue.

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antoniosk

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#2303441 22-Aug-2019 08:00

hio77:

antoniosk:
Vobb was meant to be an analogue signal injected into the line from the cabinet, presenting as a classic analogue line to the customer. They need never know the difference, but I would like to know what’s happened. The signal should have had the same punch as before.

Baseband IP and voice over SIP are quite different. Vodafone does the later.

A standard RGW wont punch like the old neax's did. particularly around the REN value, which by the sounds of this setup will be the issue.

Fair call, I saw vobb and thought bboip. RGW would be very high risk on a long run dsl line, and basic line tests would have confirmed

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sbiddle

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#2303450 22-Aug-2019 08:14

Spark are currently in the process of shutting down their NEAX switches which provide the traditional "analogue line" that many people still have. This process will accelerate from next year onwards. Note that this does not mean copper lines are going (they're not), it simply means that the way voice is delivered will change.

It means traditional analogue lines will no longer exist in their current form - to have a voice line you'll need to either have it delivered via the voice port an the ONT if you have UFB, via a voice port on the RGW if you have ADSL/VDSL, via wireless, or via a ISAM-V (or similar) port in the exchange or cabinet.

Most operators are moving towards delivering voice via the RGW or ONT, but in some cases will still deliver analogue lines via copper via either as Chorus ISAM-V card which will be a VoIP service, but delivered over copper to your premises.

AndrewPNZ

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#2303474 22-Aug-2019 08:47

Thanks for the feedback, I read all of the comments many times, understanding a little more each time! I know just enough to realise I know virtually nothing, please excuse my laymans terms. Aside from the ongoing customer service issues, and the losss of connection when changed to new setup (Old white modem/Old TelstraClear Customer didn't work, waited a week for new modem) the main problem with the voice via the RGW is:

They live 30km outside Christchurch, 5km past West Melton, they have copper lines and I cant see this ever changing due to their location.

With the old setup (which sounds like it was connected to the NEAX switch) inside the master with adsl filters etc. Inside the jack it seems

there was a split to a cable which ran underground 150m to the workshop/garage, this has a adsl filter and then cordless phone and slave phone
there was another split with a cable runninc upstairs, that jackpoint had a plug in splitter, on one side an adsl filter then a cordless phone, on the other side another adsl filter and then brother fax answerphone (dad agreed to stop the fax and their fax number)

My challenge as the 'son' was there appears no way to patch between the single port phone service on the RGW to their exisiting setup which worked perfectly for them. They are left with just a single cordless phone. I guess they could buy a new cordless base with answerphone and a slave, but I could not understand how they could connect the workshop. A connection in their workshop is a safety issue (no mobile coverage) and they are elderley. They also used as an 'intercom' to dial 137 and hang up and all phones would ring. Is this a a NEAX feature, which will soon be lost forever?

Vodafone have agreed to rollback their setup,. This has not happened yet, but I am interested if this would be moving them back to the NEAX or do you tink they would be put onto Chorus ISAM-V...? For example would I go back to having the old plugs, adsl filters etc. Is this the same solution they would have inplace for medical alarm customers?

Its very kind of you all to give help and feedback.

Quinny

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#2303477 22-Aug-2019 08:51

Are they near Kirwee? That area has been horrid all around for phone, broadband and mobile as my friends who moved there have found. You sound like you are doing a great job for your folks.

AndrewPNZ

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#2303493 22-Aug-2019 09:01

Hi Quinny, they are partway between WestMelton and Kiweee, on the main road. It's surprising for mobile 100m from the road no mobile signal.

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hio77

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#2303494 22-Aug-2019 09:04

For the line to be patched into the internal wiring, the street side will need to be disconnected first.

Otherwise your in for a world of hurt.

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Linux

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#2303496 22-Aug-2019 09:06

As what @hio77 said 50 Volts back into the RGW would not be good for it LOL

hio77

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#2303498 22-Aug-2019 09:09

Linux:
As what @hio77 said 50 Volts back into the RGW would not be good for it LOL

It's more the double dialtone etc that's an issue.

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nztim

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#2309613 2-Sep-2019 17:56

Late to the party on this post, but have been researching this same thing for my Elderly relatives

Bottom line as others in this post has mentioned Spark (who own the PSTN / NEAX) are shutting them down by 2022, Vodafone have decided not to go with the chorus replacement (Baseband IP) and are delivering voice over the RGW this has issues with multiple / older phones / long cable runs which draw a lot of ring current - so even attaching the internal wiring to the RGW and disconnecting from the street you will still have issues

I would suggest you find a provider who will deliver the voice over Baseband IP and then your adsl/vdsl on top of that, this product is almost identical to the NEAX offering, along with a full 5 REN (ringer power) and only has the following drawbacks

1) House / Medical alarm may not work

2) Pulse dialing (old rotary phones yes some oldies have them) don't wor

3) if there is an intermediate cabinet between you house and the exchange the voice will be supplied from there and wont hold up in a power cut, if you are lucky/close enough (and my relatives are) to the exchange the Baseband IP is delivered from there which has full battery / diesel generator backup

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

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2309616 2-Sep-2019 18:01

nztim:

Late to the party on this post, but have been researching this same thing for my Elderly relatives

Bottom line as others in this post has mentioned Spark (who own the PSTN / NEAX) are shutting them down by 2022, Vodafone have decided not to go with the chorus replacement (Baseband IP)

CCN is still a Spark Wholesale product, Just delivered over Baseband IP.

Nothing really stopping a provider themselves from taking up Baseband IP too AFAIK.

nztim:

3) if there is an intermediate cabinet between you house and the exchange the voice will be supplied from there and wont hold up in a power cut, if you are lucky/close enough (and my relatives are) to the exchange the Baseband IP is delivered from there which has full battery / diesel generator backup

Most cabinets do have battery backups.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.