topic Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi in Digital Home Phone

Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Andy1T — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:55:10 GMT

We are just about to get EE 150Mbps full fibre with the smart Hub 7 plus router/modem.

We have a secured Unifi network (VLANs for trusted devices, IOT, security cameras erc). This is currently connected to the Plusnet router which is setup in bridge mode.

I believe that BT VoIP phones have to be connected directly through the WiFi hosted on the hub and connected be routed to another WiFi network. Is this correct? Does this also apply to the ATA supplied as part of the install?

Can I set the Smart Hub 7 plus to bridge mode?

If so will the analogue port on the new router still allow our existing analogue phone to work?

My Unifi Dream Router 7 supports direct fibre connection. Can I connect this in place of the EE fibre modem?

All help appreciated.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Thu, 07 May 2026 14:06:52 GMT

If by "BT VoIP phones" you mean the dedicated BT Digital Home Phones, these connect by DECT directly to the DECT base station integrated in the router. They do not use WiFi (other than a WPS press to pair) or ATAs. Otherwise for normal landline phones these plug into the Phone socket on back of router or ATAs remote from router.
EE's SHs can't put into bridge or modem-only mode.
For DV to work the EE supplied router must be 1st downstream of BB supply.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

JimM11 — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:15:44 GMT

@Andy1T About the adapter from the help.

Set up and use a Digital Home Phone Adapter | Home Phone Help | EE

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Andy1T — Thu, 07 May 2026 18:23:33 GMT

No bridge mode. That's a huge omission.

Will my existing Plusnet router work instead? We can live without the BT Digital Voice as we aim to keep the existing analogue DECT base station and handsets.

I am an IT professional with over 50 years experience in telephony and IT. I managed large voice and data fir over 4000 users.

Configuring these things are not an issue and would prefer not to be hobbled with restrictions configured to protect non technical users

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Thu, 07 May 2026 18:47:04 GMT

A non-EE router would work for BB but w/out any DV.

@Andy1T wrote:
We can live without the BT Digital Voice as we aim to keep the existing analogue DECT base station and handsets.

Can you? How? What are you gonna plug them into? When you are on DV existing analogue DECT base station and handsets need to plug into the Phone socket on back of the EE supplied router or ATAs remote from router, as I told you earlier.

I don't think you are following this thro' about DV.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

JimM11 — Thu, 07 May 2026 19:11:05 GMT

@Andy1T You can also transfer / port your landline number to a true voip provider and maintain your voice connection that way, if your unifi supports voip direct on the router then match a voip provider that supports that for connection. EE/BT system is totally controlled by them, so no EE/BT hub then you will have no DV with them.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Andy1T — Thu, 07 May 2026 19:59:56 GMT

@XRaySpeX

The Plusnet router has an analogue port just the same as the Smart Hub 7. That is what I was asking if it would work.

Can I not get an optional uub from EE which is not as tied down?

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

JimM11 — Thu, 07 May 2026 20:07:45 GMT

@Andy1T Are you moving to EE because Plusnet are no longer supporting voice with there system?

plusnet landline phone service - Search

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Thu, 07 May 2026 20:30:37 GMT

OK. With PN not moving to DV but instead dropping landlines entirely I would not expect their routers to support DV.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Mustrum — Thu, 07 May 2026 20:44:27 GMT

@Andy1T As per @XRaySpeX response, for EE to supply their Digital Voice service the EE Router must be the first device connected to the Openreach ONT. So your existing DECT system will need to br plugged into the phone port of the EE Router.

The plusnet router is based on quite an old BT router without the Digital Voice capability, so no good or point in using it. It is only using electricity and serves no purpose o FF service when in bridge mode.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Andy1T — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:07:02 GMT

Use it as a WiFi repeater then 😁

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

JimM11 — Sat, 09 May 2026 15:17:53 GMT

@Andy1T You could do that if you can make it work, still does not solve the DV side for you.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Sat, 09 May 2026 16:38:28 GMT

The PN router cannot have an analogue DV port like the EE SH 7. It may very well have a DSL port for connecting to FTTC or ADSL. You may have confused that.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Sat, 09 May 2026 16:42:02 GMT

You plugged this thread in the Digital Home Phone forum & so we must assume that is your main concern, not whether you can still use an old PN router.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Mustrum — Sat, 09 May 2026 19:51:54 GMT

@XRaySpeX wrote:
The PN router cannot have an analogue DV port like the EE SH 7. It may very well have a DSL port for connecting to FTTC or ADSL. You may have confused that.

@XRaySpeX No you are the one confused/wrong, the PN Hub2 is a clone of the BT Smart Hub, with a different coloured case complete with a physical phone port, but disabled in the firmware.
@Andy1T there is nothing for you to configure with BT/EE Digital Voice,, how it is configred is all shrouded in secrecy. There are plenty of 3rd party VPIP systems yu could use and configure your ATA and SIP settings however you like.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Sat, 09 May 2026 20:09:59 GMT

You're right, @Mustrum,. I am! I did not realise when you said it did not have DV capability that it did have the port but it was disabled. As I said earlier I would not expect PN's routers to support DV.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Andy1T — Sat, 09 May 2026 21:21:22 GMT

Yes I realise that now.

Bitterly disappointed to have been supplied a router so tied down that a competent customer cannot maintain the secure network built up at some expense and time. Jot having control over being to use as a bridge is a real mistake.

The only thing I can do, I think, is to use my Unifi Dream Router 7 fibre capability to bypass the BT/EE hub and go to another VoIP provider.for voice.

The really annoying thing is we have been with Plusnet for many years. Support and service has always been excellent. Why they are dropping voice is a mystery and is the only reason for moving to EE.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

JimM11 — Sun, 10 May 2026 08:14:21 GMT

@Andy1T Lower cost ISP, and integrating DV to there system would just not suit and price would go up, therefore no longer a budget ISP. UNIF does a ATA Gateway if you can find a VOIP supplier that will allow you to use and give the required details.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

Andy1T — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:19:53 GMT

OK.

I now have all up and working as follows.

FTTP using EE provided EE Smart Hub 7 router which is showing 147Mbps download andv42Mbps upload. 2.5Gb connection to Unifi Deam Router 7. )(I understand this means double NAT but doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment). All devices on separate VLANs working as before migration and al seems fine.

Analogue phonecwirks fine directly plugged into EE Smart Hub 7 analogue port. However.

On previous Plusnet network over copper the BT connection came into the rear of the living room. An extension socket is wired to the front of the room. The analogue phone was plugged into the extension socket but after a room reorrganisation it was not really convenient there. So to move

Once the EE broadband was commissioned the analogue handset was moved to the opposite side of the room. A BT male to male extension lead used between the EE SH7 and the extension socket. Hope that makes sense thus far.

Now when calling in the analogue handset does not ring. There is dial tone and call can be made out no problem.

As the socket on the rear of the room is a BT ADSL Master socket would that prevents the ringing on the analogue handset? Should I replace it with a simple extension socket?

It should work and is so close.

Re: Smart Hub 7 plus with Unifi

XRaySpeX — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:45:48 GMT

Getting confused by your "opposite"s. Is it right that the phone is plugged in to the BT master socket at rear of room & this is feed from the extension socket at front of room which is turn feed from the back socket of router? In fact, what you have done is inject the analogue phone signal from the router into your home wiring. It is possible that that wiring might still be live from outside & so the the A & B terminals at back of master socket need to be discon'ed to isolate it.

To test this, plug the phone directly in the back socket of router. Does it now ring on incoming calls?