Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Getback on July 18, 2009, 08:17:18 PM
-
Been thinking about it for years. After I upgraded to u-verse it turns out I don't need a phone line with my DSL. In fact the whole connection type changed. So I dropped the land line after having one for 36 years. Never answer that phone anyway. All people who call want money (donations). In fact I renamed it the beggars line.
-
Are you using Voip or cell?
-
Are you using Voip or cell?
Cell, not so big on Voip.
-
It's a racket that so many DSL offers require home phone service. I've been without a land line for a year now.
-
Once my kids move out, my land line is history.
-
Is this something different? Other than the phone via ISP thing going around these days?
I never use my hardline either.. But I keep it, trimmed to barebones, its only 11 bucks a month..
Because we get heavy storms that blow in from the Pacific in the late autumn.. 100mph+ winds!!!
It knocks over the 20ft thick 150ft doug firs.. Which always wipes out the cable, its the first thing
to go, then the power... Cell towers get damaged as well.. So I keep the hardline, because its
underground, and has its own integral power source... Other that that, its HAM radio time...
Is there something I'm missing, commo wise???
RC
-
Im starting to get really irritated and jealous that everyone is getting U-verse.
Living in a pretty big suburb, think that AT&T would hurry up and make it available in my area. :cry
-
This is a funny post because I was wondering why I keep the hard line , I never pick it up and the ringer is off cause its to loud .
I believe I'll cut it off I also have u-verse and don't need a hard line
Nutte :salute.
-
As logical as it seems to terminate the land-line because you live with your cell phone instead, I would ask that you consider the tendancy of cellphones to be completely useless in times of crisis.
Exactly when you need a phone the most.
When the tornado sirens sound or when a major storm blows through, our cell system is instantly overloaded and you cannot rely on the service to be there.
Sure.. you can save a few dollars and 'stick it to the man' by shutting off the land line...
But when you NEED the service.. are you willing to trust the cellphones?
I'm not.
-
As logical as it seems to terminate the land-line because you live with your cell phone instead, I would ask that you consider the tendancy of cellphones to be completely useless in times of crisis.
Exactly when you need a phone the most.
When the tornado sirens sound or when a major storm blows through, our cell system is instantly overloaded and you cannot rely on the service to be there.
Sure.. you can save a few dollars and 'stick it to the man' by shutting off the land line...
But when you NEED the service.. are you willing to trust the cellphones?
I'm not.
I weighed that. There are many considerations besides the obvious. If you have a security service for instance. The big one though is what you are pointing to, security and dependability. Cell batteries don't last and towers may be overloaded.
Here's how I reasoned it out. Who is using my land line, not me, the beggars are. If my cell goes dead because I lose power I have a car charger. If the cell towers are that overloaded the land lines will be as well. Additionally if there is that much going on any help by police, fire, or paramedics will be slow as well. The big risk again is the 911 call although you can do that as well from a cell phone. The thing I am not certain of is does your cell # display at the 911 site and does your address. I just don't know.
If it were more than me I might reconsider. It's just me.
However, excellent points :salute
Here's an article of things to consider. I fall in the category of happy empty-nester. (Wait I don't remember the word happy)
Addendum: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/20030917a1.asp
-
...
If the cell towers are that overloaded the land lines will be as well.
...
I think this is a terribly wrong assumption.
It would be interesting to know what the cell capacity vs. subscriber ratio is. For instance, if there are 100,000 cell customers in a city, will the cell hardware be adequate to handle all 100,000 at once or some fraction of those subscribers.
I cannot believe they would install enough hardware to handle all subscribers at once.. especially when they're probably running at some fraction of a percent during any given time in a non-crisis situation. The costs would be prohibitive.
-
I think this is a terribly wrong assumption.
It would be interesting to know what the cell capacity vs. subscriber ratio is. For instance, if there are 100,000 cell customers in a city, will the cell hardware be adequate to handle all 100,000 at once or some fraction of those subscribers.
I cannot believe they would install enough hardware to handle all subscribers at once.. especially when they're probably running at some fraction of a percent during any given time in a non-crisis situation. The costs would be prohibitive.
Spoke beyond my expertise and got called to the carpet. :lol
Well I did a little research. Could not find a definite answer. Much has to do with the number of towers in a vicinity. Usually in heavy populate areas they are about 5 miles apart. It seems a common number of phone calls they can handle at once is between 300 - 500. Let's consider a single emergency, not probably going to bring things to a halt. However a disaster, hurricane Katrina would. The bridge that collapsed in Minnesota collapsed maxed out the cell towers as well. However as stated in the article, it was a lightly used area. I guess what is needed is how many phone calls can a local switch box handle. In hurricanes, blizzards, tornados, earthquakes all communication is at risk, including cell towers. Like I started, I cannot find a definite answer.
Glad (so far) I dropped the line. Hmmm maybe ham radio is the answer and I know you use to have a ham radio.
-
I got rid of the landline a year ago when i retired. Landlines will prolly only be for businesses in a few years time.
-
In this massive disaster, what's to stop you from running to your neighbor's house to use their phone? (Maybe if you're in a rural area, but how common is cell service in areas that sparse?) If something's caused your home to be the only one within a specific distance to be the only one landline-capable, something is terribly wrong in the first place. If you're trapped in your home, if someone isn't already on their way, they probably won't be any time soon no matter what.
Once landlines start to totally vanish it may become a bigger issue, but for now, no landline for my family.
-
i also have dsl and can ditch the land line. i've not due to cost. $35 a month beats what i would pay for a cell phone. or . . . have things changed???
-
I've heard that that "MajicJack" thing isn't so bad, and it's dirt cheap. Also, you can get a prepaid cell phone that has a cheap rate per minute and you only pay for what you use.
-
i also have dsl and can ditch the land line. i've not due to cost. $35 a month beats what i would pay for a cell phone. or . . . have things changed???
No. Still the same, My plan is 35 per month for my cell and another 30 for the internet but then I get a 23% discount.
-
I've heard that that "MajicJack" thing isn't so bad, and it's dirt cheap. Also, you can get a prepaid cell phone that has a cheap rate per minute and you only pay for what you use.
I would STRONGLY advise against getting the majik jack. I work for Verizon and even tho I'm not ready to cut my landline I understand the desire to do so. I have cust ALL the time having problems with the majik jack.
Consider this. It hooks up to a usb port on your pc. so your pc has to be on for it to work. plus your internet connection has to be working as well. personally I dont like to leave my desktop on all the time.
That's the obvious issues I have with it, there are other more technical problems that people have reported. to date of all the ppl I have met that have one or have in the past used one every single one of them have had problems with it. The technology just isn't there yet IMNSHO for me to trust one of these things
-
i also have dsl and can ditch the land line. i've not due to cost. $35 a month beats what i would pay for a cell phone. or . . . have things changed???
Yep I get phone service for about 12 bucks a month. A cell phone starts at 49 bucks a month for what I would need. Who wants to pay 600+ a year for a stinking phone so someone can bug you 24/7.
-
Yep I get phone service for about 12 bucks a month. A cell phone starts at 49 bucks a month for what I would need. Who wants to pay 600+ a year for a stinking phone so someone can bug you 24/7.
One of the things I heard and agree with it that the best safety device you can own is a cell phone. Almost every call I have received on my land line for the last 2 years has been for donations. A land line is 24/7 as well.
However, I'm not trying to sell you anything. I think it's great that you are comfortable living without a cell phone. I'm a great believer in saving costs. Although you sure couldn't tell by the way I upped my cell phone bill. However, after paying off 2 credit cards cutting my land line and switching to u-verse I am ahead. BTW I have 4000 unused minutes on my cell plan. I only use about 200 minutes a month on a 450 month plan.
-
The price of land line service will cary from state to state. In Texas, it is cheaper to have basic cell phone service than a land line.
We have been trying to get rid of our land line for years, but it is required to have if you want DSL service. What a racket.
We can get FIOS and dump the land line, but I refuse to support any service which forces PPPoE to be used. One day I'll probably have to switch to it, or drop Internet service altogether, as Verizon is making noises about either a substantial cost hike for DSL or dropping it from FIOS enabled neighborhoods.
If we just drop Internet service and kill the land line, we could save $100/month.
-
One of the things I asked about when switching to u-verse was will my internet protocol change. They said no. So I hope they are right. However, so far so good, though I haven't been playing much do to studying for the cpa exam.
-
I've heard that that "MajicJack" thing isn't so bad, and it's dirt cheap. Also, you can get a prepaid cell phone that has a cheap rate per minute and you only pay for what you use.
From Wikipedia, but I remember looking into this when it first came out as in my apartment, cell phone reception is zilch. Prior to living where I am now, I'd been using just a cell phone since ~2003.
"Users have expressed concerns with the advertisements displayed by the product and the policy, which allows YMAX to analyze numbers called by customers. From the EULA (End User License Agreement):
You also understand and agree that use of the magicJack device and Software will include advertisements and that these advertisements are necessary for the magicJack device to work ... Our computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads.[4]
The EULA also forces users to resolve all legal issues with the company through arbitration in Palm Beach, Florida.[4] The Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida has received hundreds of customer service complaints, primarily related to difficulty returning the product under the 30-day guarantee. As of June 5, 2009 Magic Jack has a Better Business Bureau (BBB)Rating of A-. The BBB website states that Magic Jack is BBB accredited business.[5] According to the Better Business Bureau records, the company has provided refunds in all cases. The inventor has also responded to customer service complaints on the company website as well as a May 2008 interview with Laptop Magazine.[6]
MagicJack does not provide an uninstallation method either in the software or in any documentation it provides. Removing software from a Windows machine requires editing the registry.[7] Step-by-step instructions have been published by MagicJack users.[8]
According to the company's terms of service, a customer satisfaction guarantee is offered for the device and service for the first 30 days only and no warranty exists beyond that period.[9]
Area codes where numbers are available are limited.[10]"
-
We dropped the land line over 5 years ago. We have been totally on cell since then. Of course we also dropped the stick house too so there is no place to plug a land line into. We use satellite for internet but that means no more online gaming with the 2 second delay or lag. I put the cell phones on the do not call list when it first came out. That has worked just fine for us.
-
Like I say, the MagicJack thing was just hearsay. I've never looked into it because I keep my computer thinned, mostly due to the bad quality wiring and electric signal here.
-
9 out f 10 majicjacks I sell are returned. If you live in an outlying region you won't get a local phone number. If your puter isn't good at multitasking majicjack will bring it to a screeching halt. Cod hep you if you need service that might require a human voice. Other than that, they're peachy...
I'm totally wireless. Three cell phones and a Sprint aircard.
-
One of the things I heard and agree with it that the best safety device you can own is a cell phone. Almost every call I have received on my land line for the last 2 years has been for donations. A land line is 24/7 as well.
However, I'm not trying to sell you anything. I think it's great that you are comfortable living without a cell phone. I'm a great believer in saving costs. Although you sure couldn't tell by the way I upped my cell phone bill. However, after paying off 2 credit cards cutting my land line and switching to u-verse I am ahead. BTW I have 4000 unused minutes on my cell plan. I only use about 200 minutes a month on a 450 month plan.
I'm not home 24/7 and no phone ringing in the car,at work,at the store or the bar...etc. I have an answer machine that's not worn out yet ...works fine ;)
I actually have digital phone service. Not quite the same as a land line <no Pac Bell or ATT> but cable provided. The rates are great. Larger calling area and .05min in state and .10min nationwide. I rarely call out of my calling area.
What did we ever do with out cell phones :rolleyes:
-
I have to have a land line for work. But they never said I have to actually pick it up. :D
Seriously I just got a new cell a few months ago and already get junk calls. It seems everyone wants to make money selling your phone #.
-
I have not had a land line for over 10 years.
-
The thing I am not certain of is does your cell # display at the 911 site and does your address. I just don't know.
In most places in the US your number will be displayed however your address not. Your address will be of little use to them since your cell can go to an almost unlimited number of places. There is a requirement that has been placed on cell companies to get GPS capabilities to all new cell phones that become automatically active when 911 is called but the problem is some 911 centers are a little slow in getting the capabilities to acquire the GPS locations from the phone.
-
The 911 call to local fire dept or police is why we still have land line.
I've had to dial it twice in the last coupla years, each time, they asked about nature of the emergency and stated help was on the way,
..they had our address.
If Cell phones get to the point where they can match that .. I'm in.
Until then .. voicemail screens my calls, I rarely answer the phone as I am always busy doin somethin it seems.
-GE aka Frank
-
The thing I am not certain of is does your cell # display at the 911 site and does your address. I just don't know.
No, it does not. What pops up on the 911 system is the tower the call bounces off of.
But for the record having an address come up on the system, with a landline, doesn't get Police/Fire there any quicker. The call taker still has to enter all the info into the system in order to send it to the dispatcher. Maybe other systems are different in that the call taker and dispatcher are the same person. Ours are to busy for that. The only way I could see it helping is if your incapacitated and your landline call is interrupted.
-
Having been through a few tornados I have been glad I kept the landline. Electricity was out. Cell phone service out. Cable TV out.
My land line phone worked.
-
Having been through a few tornados I have been glad I kept the landline. Electricity was out. Cell phone service out. Cable TV out.
My land line phone worked.
Lucky since most phone lines are strung on the same poles as the electricity.
-
The price of land line service will cary from state to state. In Texas, it is cheaper to have basic cell phone service than a land line.
We have been trying to get rid of our land line for years, but it is required to have if you want DSL service. What a racket.
We can get FIOS and dump the land line, but I refuse to support any service which forces PPPoE to be used. One day I'll probably have to switch to it, or drop Internet service altogether, as Verizon is making noises about either a substantial cost hike for DSL or dropping it from FIOS enabled neighborhoods.
If we just drop Internet service and kill the land line, we could save $100/month.
Skuzzy, we switched to DHCP. we haven't used PPPoe for awhile. I was 99% sure before posting this so I called one of my buddies in the IT dept. he confirmed it. Sooo email me your info so I can get a sell one more credit!!! :D
With our new bundle discounts AND the choice of either a free netbook or camcorder now is a great time to take the plunge !!!
ofcourse any info you give me will be kept in the strictest confidence per company regulations :aok
-
No, it does not. What pops up on the 911 system is the tower the call bounces off of.
Not true in most populated areas.
"The system can pinpoint a caller on a map, placing the call to the closest address. "
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/11/911update.ART_ART_07-11-09_B3_3BEEMQ0.html?sid=101
-
Been thinking about it for years. After I upgraded to u-verse it turns out I don't need a phone line with my DSL. In fact the whole connection type changed. So I dropped the land line after having one for 36 years. Never answer that phone anyway. All people who call want money (donations). In fact I renamed it the beggars line.
Considering that's the last vestige of communication that remains when a hurricane makes landfall here, I'll always have one. The last three hurricanes I've been in it went like this:
No cell phone (every time)..... no electricity (every time)..... no water (twice)..... no landline phone (only happened once). It's amazing to plug in a cheap ten dollar phone, and have it work over all the expensive cell phones in the house. IMO that should be in every hurricane prep box for every house that has that eventuality to contend with. Those low voltage lines always seem to be resistant to high winds!
-
My experience has been that when the power goes out, the phones quit with them. Two weeks ago someone cut a very important fiber optic cable which took out all the landlines for the better part of a day. While cell phones were also greatly affected, I was able to keep in contact with my wife via text messages. You should have seen all the idiots running around "OMG!! 911 isn't working!!" Yeah... what the hell did people do up until twenty years ago... Get a grip.
-
Considering that's the last vestige of communication that remains when a hurricane makes landfall here, I'll always have one. The last three hurricanes I've been in it went like this:
No cell phone (every time)..... no electricity (every time)..... no water (twice)..... no landline phone (only happened once). It's amazing to plug in a cheap ten dollar phone, and have it work over all the expensive cell phones in the house. IMO that should be in every hurricane prep box for every house that has that eventuality to contend with. Those low voltage lines always seem to be resistant to high winds!
Makes sense to me. However, that's the risk I'm willing to take.