Skip to main content
Answer

IHD not working since BT 'Digital Voice' started

  • July 1, 2025
  • 11 replies
  • 107 views

Since BT in their wisdom changed my landline service to Digital Voice  ( I had no choice in this) I have not only lost my answerphone service but my IHD  is not showing anything, which is the most serious implication

Best answer by Blastoise186

Gotcha.

Couple of options here. Firstly, try using https://smart-meter-help.ovoenergy.com to make sure the meter itself is still communicating. If that checks out, ask OVO Support to run the XJoin command as it usually forces your IHD to re-pair itself with the meters and can fix some of these issues.

We’re limited in how much we can help with Digital Voice stuff here, but I’m happy to discuss that one as it’s related to the current thread. Long story short, the residential version shouldn’t impact your IHD as it cuts off at the router where you then plug in your usual phone that you would have used previously.

When it comes to the answerphone… That should restore soon but it apparently takes a few days to migrate over and can’t be done until after the line itself has migrated. You should talk to BT if it still doesn’t restore by the end of this week.

It’s a mandatory migration though, as Openreach is turning off the old telephone infrastructure (PSTN) in January 2027 - if you upgrade your broadband to Fibre or Full-Fibre, doing this migration to DV is a requirement if you still want phone service.

11 replies

Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • July 1, 2025

Hi ​@Jane Griffiths ,

Please post photos of your IHD. It’s probably not Digital Voice that has caused this. If I can diagnose this, I’ll see if I can figure something out.


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter***
  • July 1, 2025
ihd type

 


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • July 1, 2025

Thanks.

What does the screen show?


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter***
  • July 1, 2025

Many thanks for replying and trying!


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • July 1, 2025

Np. Give me an hour and I'll think about a potential option 


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter***
  • July 1, 2025

 


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter***
  • July 1, 2025

Just so you know, I live upstairs  in a converted chapel, walls are 3 foot thick. Meter is downstairs in outside wall directly below where IHD is on windowsill. BT Hub is also near that same window

 


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • Answer
  • July 1, 2025

Gotcha.

Couple of options here. Firstly, try using https://smart-meter-help.ovoenergy.com to make sure the meter itself is still communicating. If that checks out, ask OVO Support to run the XJoin command as it usually forces your IHD to re-pair itself with the meters and can fix some of these issues.

We’re limited in how much we can help with Digital Voice stuff here, but I’m happy to discuss that one as it’s related to the current thread. Long story short, the residential version shouldn’t impact your IHD as it cuts off at the router where you then plug in your usual phone that you would have used previously.

When it comes to the answerphone… That should restore soon but it apparently takes a few days to migrate over and can’t be done until after the line itself has migrated. You should talk to BT if it still doesn’t restore by the end of this week.

It’s a mandatory migration though, as Openreach is turning off the old telephone infrastructure (PSTN) in January 2027 - if you upgrade your broadband to Fibre or Full-Fibre, doing this migration to DV is a requirement if you still want phone service.


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter***
  • July 1, 2025

Thank you SO much. The meter was not communicating with OVO, I read it this morning and sent it to them. I will go back onto the help line and do as you suggest

Really good to know that the answerphone may come back on in a while.

My Broadband contract with BT has been renewed today.

This whole village is alive with BT vans and engineers up the poles with lengths of cables. Many thanks again


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • July 1, 2025

No worries - that link I gave you can help diagnose meter issues and send off a report to the right team on your behalf. If you haven’t used it yet, it’s definitely worth giving that a go to save you a call. But you’re also welcome to go via the Support Team if you prefer, totally up to you.

And yeah, I’m not surprised that there’s so many engineers buzzing around your area - they have a deadline of January 2027 to get everything taken care of!

If I can help with anything else, you know where to find me. :)


Ben_OVO
Community Manager
  • Community Manager
  • July 2, 2025

Morning ​@Jane Griffiths and a warm welcome to the OVO Forum 😁.

 

Sorry to hear of the issues you’ve had, I can see ​@Blastoise186 has come through with some great replies here. With any luck, your smart meter may start working again on its own, but it may be that we’ll need to replace it. Our Support Team will be able to look into this properly for you, and I hope this gets fixed soon! In the meantime, these articles should be of help to you: