Hi,
Is the only option to move the phone or router to make them closer together, to allow the switch over? We have our phone in the downstairs hall way (next to a wifi Pod) and the router is in a room upstairs, as multiple devices are connected via RJ45 (Ethernet) cables.
Therefore, we are not keen to move either if possible. Are any other options possible?
TIA
Frosty
Simplest solution (but at a cost to you) is to buy some cordless phones. Plug the base station into the VM hub and use satellite handsets where needed in your home.
Alternatively, VM will push to move the hub (as that is easiest for VM) but that will have an effect on wi-fi signal propagation in your home (as well as your issue with ethernet connections).
VM should also offer to rewire telephone sockets to the hub but often their tech's seem not to know how to do this so it can take a while to get it completed properly.
Go for the Cordless Phones.
Even BT XD56 Quad Cordless Phones are under £50 from Amazon.
This is your opportunity to break free from the 1940s style of telephone instrument
that is fixed to the wall ... or plugged into a 1980s style of wall socket !
And welcome to 2026 when your internet doesn't work and your phone is gubbed for a few hours, 1 day or 2 and so on.
This differs how from a few years ago when Phone and ADSL / FTTC both used the same phone line with a splitter, a failed 50 years old phone line was very likely & could take weeks to be resolved.
We have a cordless phone, but the rechargeable battery only lasts about 3 hours off the base and for the little it's used these day, I'm loathed to buy a new one.
There's a free RJ45 socket on the wifi pod, could you get a RJ11->RJ45 converter and that would work from the pod?
An Analogue Telephone can not be connected to the network socket of the VM Hub or of the VM Pod. It must be connected to the TEL 1 RJ11 socket of the VM Hub.
We buy replacement cordless phone batteries from :
https://www.buyabattery.co.uk/batteries-by-use/cordless-phone-batteries.html
Check the rating of the existing batteries and pick a similar capacity.
No, VM's phone service from the hub is simply a voice connection (not data) so the pod RJ45 is no use.
If you already have a cordless phone, you could buy another satellite handset to match the first (or one from a different brand that is GAP compatible assuming your existing base is GAP compatible too). A GAP compatible handset from another brand would only work with basic phone functions though and may not be that reliable.
Alternatively find another satellite charger base for the existing phone (from eBay etc.) and leave the existing phone charging downstairs with the existing setup.
If you don't wish to spend any money on new equipment and don't wish to (can't) move the hub then you need VM to rewire your phone socket so it links to the hub's phone socket on the back of the hub.
That may involve some wiring to create a link from the hub to the existing phone wiring. If you happen to have an existing phone socket next to the hub position it should be simple. If not some telephone wiring will be involved.
A VM person should reply within a few days to discuss/arrange. I think they often do the switchover first and then arrange phone wiring after the switch is complete.
Forum TeamHi Frostygills,
As stated by a few members, the only resolve for the issue is a wireless handset. We can see you do already have one but you are suggesting it runs out of power to quickly. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do bar advising changing the batteries on a regular basis.
We hope this information helps!😀
https://www.virginmedia.com/help/digital-voice-switchover
What if the Hub and my landline are in different rooms?
Let us know so we can arrange for an engineer to move them closer together, for free.
Past topics have also included sending techs to modify phone wiring to re-enable phone sockets to work post switchover. Same has applied to those needing security alarms or care alarms to work via fixed phone wiring.
Has VM's policy on this now changed?
You have battery fatigue if the phone charge lasts only three hours. Remove the batteries and clean the contacts with cotton bud and a tiny bit of isopropyl alcohol, then replace the batteries of the correct capacity. For the first charge: when you put the new batteries in, leave the phone on the base and switched on for a full 16–24 hours (or whatever the manufacturer specifies). On no account should you pick it up “just for a second” as the battery never reaches full saturation on that cycle causing the phone to think the battery is smaller than it really is.
