How to connect an old phone to a router?
How to connect an old phone to a router?
Hey Eli, I understand your frustration. Connecting a phone directly to the router via RJ45 is possible, but you'll need a compatible adapter. Make sure it matches your phone's port type and the ISP's specifications. It should work if everything is set up correctly. Let me know if you need more details!
Are you referring to a basic telephone device? The traditional analog phone setup functions entirely differently from Ethernet, meaning you can't simply connect an RJ11 jack to an Ethernet port. (For instance, when the call comes in, it sends high-voltage pulses—around 100 volts modulated at 20 hertz.) There must be an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) that creates a standard POTS line for your phone and translates your voice for your Voice Over IP (VoIP) service. If you rely on your ISP for connectivity, you might be limited to their router or the voice-enabled models listed there. There are independent ATA options available, but your ISP may not provide the details needed to integrate them into their system. If you're dissatisfied with your ISP's internet speed, switching it to a bridge mode and using your own router afterward could simplify things. We'll need more details about your location, router type, and phone setup to offer better guidance.
Yep, your ISP provides a router box with an ATA built-in, which can't be switched to bridge mode. You won’t get access to the phone line through other methods, so you’re left with two choices: either use it with a phone that crashes frequently or replace it but lose the phone.
Country: Australia Connector: Unknown The phone connects to the router since it has its own dedicated phone line.
Without the ISP sharing how it operates or providing login details for your own VoIP device, there are limited options. The best alternative would be joining a standard VoIP service and disconnecting from the ISP if possible. In the UK, platforms tend to be more transparent—some ISPs link their VoIP services to routers, others supply credentials directly via the internet rather than optical networks. You can also transfer your current phone number to third-party providers, which often work with existing numbers.
Hey there, living in Australia with VOIP since we're all linked through the NBN now. Everything runs through optical fibers instead of old copper wires. Location: Australia. Device: FAST5366TN-A. Connected: Linked to ISP router via RJ11, I think. The router is connected to an optics-to-ethernet device by the NBN and then passes through optics.
They refuse to adjust my DNS settings on the router due to "company policy," a problem that has been documented and raised by numerous other users over the years. These individuals are extremely unreasonable, but since I don’t pay the internet bill, I can only ask what those people are like! 😅
It's hard to believe they made such a huge mistake with NBN—it should have been a success. This was one of the rare instances where I felt grateful the UK chose privatization while still enforcing rules that let third parties use their networks. A nationalized provider could have worked just as well, which is how NBN originally intended to function. Offering a service that bundles everything into the router and keeping VoIP separate for reliability is sensible, but forcing it as the only choice is foolish.