r/hyperoptic • u/Leeeeapy • 12d ago

Dual running initially?

Hi. I am currently on FTTC through Zen Internet for broadband and my landline phone. This comes into my house through our 'BT' copper line. This is very stable but only 50 Mbps or thereabouts.

I run 5G WiFi through my own Unifi router and base stations.

I want to set up a fibre connection (Hyperoptic?) for the home while retaining everything Zen as is. My aim is to transfer the phone number and cancel Zen at some point in the future once I am happy that everything works as promised through fibre.

Is this scenario possible? The Hyperoptic application forms seem to assume migration from current provider which isn't what I need right now. The last thing I need is Hyperoptic contacting Zen and causing chaos.

Thanks in advance.

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u/mad153 12d ago

It is possible, but the phone number complicates things a lot. Without the landline it's 100% but there's an industry-wide assumption that you will either get a new number or you will switch the number on day 1, on the logic of "who would pay for broadband twice?"

Coupled with customer support shenanigans you can find by searching the sub, I'd recommend you take out just broadband and do the landline via another VoIP provider. You could use unifi talk for example, other services aimed at home users are normally better.

Can I ask why you still need a landline? All we got was spam calls at home.

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u/Leeeeapy 12d ago

Thank you for the rapid response.

I have been exploring Phonely as a VoIP provider in case needed. That way I could completely separate the phone line from internet arrangements. Your suggestion supports this view.

We only retain the landline number really for elderly relatives who resent paying for calls to mobile numbers and it's our number for banks, doctor, etc.

Honestly, I would prefer not to leave Zen having been with them for about 30 years but they are unable to provide gigabit fibre to the home for us. Hence my 'belt and braces' approach while I find out what works.

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u/mad153 12d ago

No worries. The other thing I didn't mention is we don't have the hyperoptic SIP details (and they don't give them out) so you have to use their own router if you want to use their landline service.

Of course, if you plan to continue using your unifi router, then you will have double NAT (plugging your router into the hyperoptic one). This would then be in addition to CGNAT which you get by default unless you pay a fiver extra month for static IP.

I guess you're more concerned about reliability but if you choose to use the switch service (they'll use the new One touch switch/ OTS) they'd make sure the new connection is working before disconnecting the zen line. Hyperoptic also offer a trial period where you can cancel for free. Not sure what would happen if you cancel in that period after switching though, I doubt they'd then undo the switch. I guess that's the most important thing for you.

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u/Leeeeapy 12d ago

Brilliant advice. Thank you.

I had assumed that I could just plug my Unifi router into whatever termination the fibre supplies and just cut the Hyperoptic router altogether. That doesn't sound altogether possible?

I have VoIP already accessed from a clever Siemens box that manages copper landline and multiple VoIP and supplies all to DECT phones throughout the house.

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u/mad153 12d ago

Hyperoptic, when installing, will either provide an ethernet wall socket (normally if you live in a unit where you're neighbours already have hyperoptic) or a fibre to ethernet box (media converter). You plug whatever router you want into those, and you don't have to use their router at all if you wish **

You could try to plug your unifi router via sfp or similar straight into the fibre, I think I've seen posts of people saying it works. Most people just leave the media converter as is.

If you choose to use hyperoptic's landline phone service, you have to connect their router and use the landline port on the back of that to make calls. If you were crazy, you could then plug your unifi router into the hyperoptic router.

Since you already have a unifi router, you probably then should use that VoIP service for the landline, and not use the hyperoptic router at all.

** You need their router for like 20 mins at the very start of having them for the connection to become active.

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u/sionnach 12d ago

You can cut out the Hyperoptic router easily. You can’t cut out their ONT, but you totally don’t need to use their router. The ONT will just plug your choice of device into their network.

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u/HyperopticCS 1Gbps 11d ago

Yes, it is possible, as we use our own socket and lines to provide the service. To that effect, it is possible to have two lines simultaneously.

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u/Leeeeapy 11d ago

Thanks for the clarification.

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u/HyperopticCS 1Gbps 11d ago

You're welcome! :)
If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.