Do you still use a land line?

mdfuller · Dec 11, 2009

Nope. Not for 3 years.

toMACsh · Dec 11, 2009

DarkArt said:
No, you don't "need" an active phone line. You can setup what's called a "dry loop." Basically it's a dummy line. The digital side of the line is active for the DSL to travel down, but the analog/phone side of the line is not active.

I figured there was a way to do it. I'm not really interested in dropping the land line, just curious. Thanks!

TattooedMac · Dec 11, 2009

technologist said:
and you can use it to call your cell phone when you lose it in the couch cushions.

^^ here here, basically the only reason i have land line haha
And oh of course that 1300****** 1800****** 131*** numbers are free from landline where they cost you on your mobile.
If i need to call a company with above set numbers i wait until i get home.

Money is better in my pocket than there's

clayneal · Dec 11, 2009

Canceled mine back in 01 when I was paying bills , got to the phone bill and realized that I haddnt used it since the last time I paid the bill !

mdfuller · Dec 11, 2009

toMACsh said:
I figured there was a way to do it. I'm not really interested in dropping the land line, just curious. Thanks!

Some people refer to this as "naked" DSL.

mbohn · Dec 11, 2009

When I first got my cell I kept the landline for 6 months to see if I needed both. I really didn't and now I don't look back. Like Bob said, $8 of phone service with $15 of added taxes.

I've got marginal cell service where I live so it is fortunate that cell phones now can access their networks via your wireless home network. I get very good clarity and good reliability. (Once in a while a service tech will ask me to reboot my router and I forget that that will drop our call!)

Mattlike · Dec 12, 2009

Nope.

baggss · Dec 12, 2009

mbohn said:
I've got marginal cell service where I live so it is fortunate that cell phones now can access their networks via your wireless home network. I get very good clarity and good reliability. (Once in a while a service tech will ask me to reboot my router and I forget that that will drop our call!)

Really? Which ones? Or are you talking about something like Skype?

Kash · Dec 12, 2009

I think he's talking about VOIP

Eric559 · Dec 12, 2009

We still have a landline.

Good to have a landline in case of emergency purposes. Also when you call 911 from a landline it goes directly to the local police department. Unlike a cell phone where it goes to CHP or Sheriff then transferred to Local. We are able to directly pinpoint where your calling from and not have to just work with a wide area where we believe a cell phone call has came from.

baggss · Dec 12, 2009

Kash said:
I think he's talking about VOIP

Ah yes, but that's not through your cell company is it? Are their cell companies that do VOIP as part of their service.

Let you all think I'm being dense, I really don't know.

Back on topic though, that VOIP (if that's what it is) is useless when the power goes out (yeah, ok Backup power supply). That POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) line still has it's own power source when the lights go out.

dtravis7 · Dec 12, 2009

baggss said:
Back on topic though, that VOIP (if that's what it is) is useless when the power goes out (yeah, ok Backup power supply). That POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) line still has it's own power source when the lights go out.

That is one thing a lot of people who ditch their land line phone don't think about. Power goes out with no UPS, no phone.

I also agree with CWA, I would not be without a regular land line phone here at my place.

LelandJLK · Dec 12, 2009

From everyone's comments to my own experience, land-lines are like our federal reserve...a back-up that is questioned but used when in personal need.

Kash · Dec 12, 2009

baggss said:
Ah yes, but that's not through your cell company is it? Are their cell companies that do VOIP as part of their service.

Let you all think I'm being dense, I really don't know.

Well there are companies that offer both services, such as Verizon and AT&T (yes, I know there's a distinction between Verizon FiOS and Verizon Wireless just like there's a distinction between AT&T Wireless and AT&T DSL/uVerse, but the point is that the companies as a whole provide both services) so I suppose the answer is yes.

bobtomay · Dec 12, 2009

technologist said:
... you can use it to call your cell phone when you lose it in the couch cushions.
...

There's my number one use right there.

Kash said:
... if the house phone was ringing, nobody ever picked it up because we figured it wasn't anybody important (9 times out of 10 it was a telemarketer).

We never answer the land line. Actually, I don't answer any phone just because it's ringing after business hours.

Kevriano · Dec 12, 2009

One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far...

If you do have a landline still, say for back-up in emergencies, you need a phone that is plugged into it. By that I mean a proper old handset, not a dect "walkabout" handset, because if your power is down, so are they.

tinavisions · Dec 12, 2009

nope don't have a landline and haven't for the last 18 months - don't have access to one where i live.
Use mobile broadband for net, and mobile for calls. Doubt I will bother will land line when I get my own flat again either - just another expense

toMACsh · Dec 12, 2009

mdfuller said:
Some people refer to this as "naked" DSL.

Well, that settles it. Don't want anyone to think I'm a technoexhibitionist!

technologist said:
Yes, I do. ... you can use it to call your cell phone when you lose it in the couch cushions.

Well, since no one has pointed it out yet... You can use another cell phone for that, of course.

baggss · Dec 12, 2009

Kash said:
Well there are companies that offer both services, such as Verizon and AT&T (yes, I know there's a distinction between Verizon FiOS and Verizon Wireless just like there's a distinction between AT&T Wireless and AT&T DSL/uVerse, but the point is that the companies as a whole provide both services) so I suppose the answer is yes.

Just because the offer both doesn't mean the two work together. So name me a cell company who will allow me to do VOIP to their network on my router from a cellphone I buy from them. I know Apple and AT&T have been fighting this (well, the App to do so) but I don't know of any actual cell company that not only allows it but also uses the technology as part of their paid service.

Kevriano said:
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far...

If you do have a landline still, say for back-up in emergencies, you need a phone that is plugged into it. By that I mean a proper old handset, not a dect "walkabout" handset, because if your power is down, so are they.

Vert true. I don't keep the "old school" phone plugged in but I have two of them at easy access in my home so when I do need them they are there. Actually, that's wrong. The one in my daughters room is old school so I do have one hooked up in the house.

dtravis7 · Dec 12, 2009

I have a HardWired phone in both the computer room and bedroom just in case.