Thank you @PhilT
Much appreciated 
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Hi @Gabyā¦just wondering if you know that make and model of your existing phone. It easily to then check and confirm.
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Thank you @phb
Itās a T800 (I donāt need large numbers
but thatās what Telstra sent to me 4 years ago when I moved in the flat.)
At first, in the Telstra shop, they told me the phone would be fine with the modem. But when I explained what the plug looked like ( I had never noticed there was a smaller detachable one in there), they said, yes, in that case I would need to buy a new phone.
Before getting one Iāll wait for the technician to come in, but from what I remember of the modem at Telstraās Iām pretty sure my phone will be compatible. 
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While the user guide may date to pre-NBN and is silent on whether the compatible, I tend to agree with @PhilT that it most likely will work. I would definitely wait until you are connected to see if there are any problems and then run out and buy a different phone should there be issues.
If your NBN box is not where the T800 plugs into the existing wall socket, it is likely that on connection to the NBN the technician will cut the existing internal phone line and install a āplugā at the end which will plug into the modem. This means that any phone ports within the house will also be able to be used for a landline phone.
Also, one of the main changes you will notice is that the nbn landline phone wonāt work in blackouts, unless one specifically requests as battery backup system *(which may be an additional costs and require battery replacement from time to time).
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This phone is a VTech model marketed by Telstra. It is supported by the VOIP part of your modem. Just ensure the cord from the phone station base is plugged into the VOIP/Phone port on the modem. It will need constant power to be able to send or receive calls (this is different to when it used to be on the PSTN copper) as well as using the other functions of your phone base (as it always was).
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When my HFC got installed they did not do anything to my PSTN line. That was left to me and my arrangements. Of course I had not asked nor did I assume anything, I just plugged my multi-handset cordless base into the modem VOIP port.
My wiring was complex having a B2B alarm, central splitter for the old ADSL, and many outlets throughout the house.
Assuming @Gaby has a typical simple wiring the PSTN gets cut going outside the house, and the internal wiring can be connected to the NBN modem VOIP port from any point, including a patch into an existing phone socket.
Not hard, but do not assume anything. Ask what they will do regarding the phone connection before the tech arrives so no surprises.
Anecdotally it seems some modems work fine with longish wiring to the physical phone and some less so, and then there are sometimes issues with multiple handsets going to one port, modem dependent.
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I have been helping an elderly lady swap to HFC nbn (landline phone only). During the visit from the nbn technician, the phone line entering the house was cut and a plug installed on the end servicing the house. The phone line was then used to connect the existing phone.
The reason why the phone line was cut was there was no room where the only house phone point was located, which was in a smallish kitchen and above the bench. Having the nbn modem and Telstra router on the bench would have taken up considerable space and used up the free powerpoints in the kitchenā¦meaning the modem and/or router would need to be disconnected everytime cooking was doneā¦which is why the modem and router were located elsewhere in (under) the house.
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The NBN technician just left. He plugged in the Modem to the nbn connection box which had got plugged into my Foxtel antenna a few days ago by another technician.
Everything is working well.
All the cables are going to be hidden
behind the TV set on the corner.
Got reminder courtesy calls, and they were punctual.
Easier than I expected.
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Your post raises a question for @BrendanMays: does the CHOICE Forum software remove EXIF information from photos and other metadata from files individuals may upload?
I see @Gabyās file appears not to have EXIF data, and certainly remove it from my own uploads - but it is unclear to me whether Gaby deliberately removed it or whether the forum translation tool(s) did it.
If not the latter, is there a way of tweaking the forum software to do so - or at a minimum warning those who choose to upload personal content about the risks?
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I just touch the āpictureā icon, and choose a photo from my photo app.
The photo appears after I touch the āReplyā box. Donāt do anything else.
Actually, itās just a corner of a room:
would there be any risk involved?
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Digital photos generally contain a heap of information about where they were taken, using what device etc. A US army base in the Middle East was discovered (and attacked) because soldiers uploaded photos that still had geographical data. If you post a photo online, and neither you nor the website strip the EXIF data, then someone can see exactly where the photo was taken. This is a great tool for stalkers and malicious ex-partners.
If you didnāt remove the metadata, then either it was removed by my browser upon download or the forum software removed it. Preferably the latter.
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Iād like to think that the forum software removed it, because we are very often asked to upload pics: food etc. 
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My apologies @postulative,
I forgot that sometime ago I disallowed
camera access to locations, probably following some security advice from the
net.
My last phone would show the general area where the photo had been taken, but hard to pin point the exact place, and it was useful when travelling to help remember where the photo was taken.
FWIW to turn the tagging off on iPhone SE:
Setting>General>Restrictions>Location
Servicesā¦
As I know very little about technology,
I hope this is what you were referring to.
In any case, Iām grateful that youāve brought it to my attention
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This probably needs a definitive answer from those in the know on how the forum software functions, @BrendanMays?
If the metadata is not stripped in the posting process, perhaps there should be an advisory included in the upload dialogue box we are all familiar with.
99% of us probably use geotagging as a default for all photography. That is what is supplied with camera equiped devices and it is typically on by default. It is extremely useful in so many ways.
Removing metadata from an image after the image is created is not a two step option on an iPhone or Android etc. one more specialised app to seek, download and install?
In a perfect world the great software writers of camera apps and software would add a step that asks politely after each shot whether you would like to geotag the pic, before saving it and relevant metadata!
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Thatās an untidy install. I understand you are going to hide it behind the TV set but it still is a cable tangle waiting to happen. A couple of cable tidies wouldnāt have gone amiss from them and not cost a lot. That isnāt a professional job in my opinion. I am glad that it is all working though for you.
Things like these are cheap to buy and as they are commercial users I am sure they could get them far cheaper and even other types that may even be cheaper:
https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/wrapt-up-hook-and-loop-cord-straps-6-pack-crcmhlcs
https://www.jaycar.com.au/mixed-hook-and-loop-cable-ties-pk16/p/HP1232
https://www.jaycar.com.au/hook-and-loop-cable-ties-pk-5/p/HP1210
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Two suggestions for cable management:
- Ordinary twist ties that you get with plastic bags. These can attach cables together, and keep them neat.
- Toilet paper rolls, after you have used the paper. I heard someone suggest this as a means to store spare cables many years ago, and it works okay - but you may also want to use them to get cable going where you want it to go.
Plenty of other low cost options, including hooks to hold said cables. With the cables in your photo, you may want to use both options. Fold a cable together, fasten with the twist ties, and poke the gathered bundle into a toilet paper holder to hide it from nosy in-laws.
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I agree but as a paid/contracted installer they should carry out professional standards of work, this shouldnāt be a consumer/customer needed fix. A pleasant āLet me just tidy this up a bit for you before I goā wouldnāt hurt and may increase the positive outcome of the visit.
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Yes, @grahroll, luckily I can hide all those cables behind the TV set,
but to make it easier to clean that corner of the room I will get them in better order.
I will also have to get a power board with at least 5 outlets, because the phone, which used to be in another room , needs power for the caller ID display to work, and the modem needs one too.
Than thereās the TV and the VCR and the nbn connection box. And Iāll get one with overload protection.
I agree that it would have been nice of them to tidy up the cables and cords a bit, but I donāt expect anything extra anymore, and I find that tradesmen nowadays are hesitant to touch or move anything, the technician who came to install the nbn connection box did not move the TV, although itās on wheels, and worked in a very small space behind it.
I shifted things myself to make a space for the technician the other day, but he also didnāt touch anything other than what was needed for the phone.
I guess theyāre protecting themselves from any claims people might come up
with 
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Just watch what loads you are putting on the board. I know you are getting one with Overload protection but if the load when all or some of the devices are running are near or above the limit you may be resetting the board a lot. Sometimes using two power points and if needed 2 boards with that are a better way of keeping the loads under the limit. Also try to get one/s with surge protection as this may save some of your tech from being fried by lightning and other surges. You may also get one with UPS (uninterruptible power supply) function but these will be a lot more expensive and with HFC you still wonāt have phone service in a power cut unfortunately.
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