"His explanation seemed weak to me, but I was unaware that I'd be paying for it each month. I'd appreciate learning of a replacement router (no need for WiFi or internet access) just for the VoIP on my regular Panasonic phone with portable handset."
I don't have Ziply service and I don't know much about it, so I did some quick Internet sleuthing and combined with my many years of telcom networking experience, here's some maybe useful guidance I can offer. 1. Based on my understanding, what I think the install tech is talking about is a "fiber optic router", not a voip router, that connects to the ONT (Optical Network Terminal) that's installed on the outside of house/building with a FTTP (Fiber To The Premises) service like Zipley provides. Ref - https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/ziply-fiber-modem The ONT is provided by and owned by Zipley and they're generally legally responsible for the service up to that piece of equipment. However, they've probably done compatibility, functionality and quality of service testing with a fiber optic router manufacturer. This cuts down on tech support costs, customer complaints, rolling out trucks & techs, etc. So, the install tech is just giving you a canned response. To further support my logic about this, VOIP can be handled by any generic off-the-shelf wifi router. because all it's doing is passing IP packets that contain voice data. If this is about VOIP router and not a fiber optic router, the other reason to use Zipley's router, would be for VOIP Quality Of Service configuration and settings that they've worked out with a particular router and its OS that they know works and they can support. Here's a link to a Reddit thread on Zipley VOIP that might be useful, https://www.reddit.com/r/ZiplyFiber/comments/12fupvw/a_few_questions_about_voip_from_ziply_fiber/ First, I'd confirm whether the install tech and you are talking about the same piece of equip. I suspect it's fiber optic router, he's talking about, but you'll need to do some more research to confirm. HTH
