Telephone lines

[stevelclark]

I pay Telewest for both Broadband and telephone services. My Broadband, obviously, comes to my computer via the Telewest cable. My phones are separate - via telephone plug in wall as ever before Telewest cable installed. I can use phones when PC and modem are both switched off.

Does this mean I have a BT telephone LINE? I don't pay a bill to BT, but does the Telewest phone service use the BT line and network? I ask because I would like to switch both Broadband and telephone to a cheaper provider, and the bunf always states "so long as you have a BT line". I'm confused.

[vehelpfulguy]

You do NOT have a BT line, your phone is provided by Telewest along the Telewest cable in the ground.

However you may already have a BT cable coming into the house and if so it would be very easy to get a BT phone connected to your house.

[Lonnie]

vehelpulguy may well be right, but I assume your on 'Dialup, as as opposed to Broadband', and would I be right in saying that your BT line was there first, because going from experience, I also am with Telewest, if you are on Dialup, then then your probably still using the BT line, if Broadband, as I am, then it would be the cable. Check with Telewest, i've found them very helpful on the phone.

[stevelclark]

I AM on broadband and not dial up with Telewest. My broadband comes through cable and a cable modem - so-called "always on" but I switch it off when not in use.

My phone is plugged into the same socket I have always used - even when with BT.

Vehelpfulguy may be right, but (I repeat) when I have my PC and modem switched off in one room, the phone plugged in in the corridor works quite independently. Are you saying it MUST be connected to the cable, or just that you think so? Don't the phone companies use BT lines?

I shall check to see if I have a record of when the cable was put through, and if I switched to Telewest phones before that date.