Maybe getting rid of the landline

Diana

Diana

Final Approach
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Diana
We're seriously thinking about getting rid of our landline and using only our cell phones. Have any of you all done that? If, so, have you run into any problems since eliminating it?

Thanks. :)
 
Been landline-less for close to 7 years now. Never looked back.

So far cell phone numbers haven't made it onto the global telemarketer lists. The only time I get sales calls is if I forget to check a "don't contact me" box when signing up for a 'free' online site somewhere.
 
The only reason we still have the landline is because the security monitoring company we use requires it. I really wish we could get rid of it!
 
I was very apprehensive about giving up my landline. But, never missed it at all. Although I do look at the shelf where it set, when I walk by. :thumbsup:
 
Diana said:
We're seriously thinking about getting rid of our landline and using only our cell phones. Have any of you all done that? If, so, have you run into any problems since eliminating it?

Thanks. :)
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The only downside is the lack of a monthly bill nickel and diming you to death. Check out Magic Jack - not without some issues, but basically does the job.

Dave
 
Might make 911 an issue, but the only reason I have kept mine for as long as I have is because of the occasional need to fax stuff.
 
Greg Bockelman said:
Might make 911 an issue, but the only reason I have kept mine for as long as I have is because of the occasional need to fax stuff.
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Yup. Same reason here. I've finally gotten answering machine/fax to not conflict on the one line.
 
We still have a land line in AR for the same reason as Grant - security system. We don't have a land line in TX and haven't missed it at all. In lieu of a fax in TX we use a scanner and email. I don't know why the security company can't use a cell signal since our system uses a cell backup in case the land line is cut.... Otherwise I'd definitely get rid of the land line there too. I don't miss the telemarketer calls when we're in TX - even though I put the AR home number on the do not call list. If you have pretty reliable cell service then I don't think you'd miss it. As far as 911, where we're at in TX, they probably couldn't find us if we did have a land line - LOL. Heck, when I changed my residence with the FAA I had to send them a map :wink2:.
 
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When I bought this house in Georgetown, a highway-accessible island, there was no cable service available to carry on from my earlier Comcast. I had to "go" satellite for Internet but didn't reestablish the new house's existing land line connections, staying with cellular, only. After 2½ years Fairpoint(bad news) having bought Verizon's land lines in Maine, NH, and Vermont, finally put DSL connections onto the island. So I had to establish a land line account in order to get DSL(for Internet) but it's only good for local calls. Otherwise I'd have stayed cellular-only; but DSL is so much faster than the satellite for all my large photo file transmittals.

HR
 
ladyaviator said:
I was very apprehensive about giving up my landline. But, never missed it at all. Although I do look at the shelf where it set, when I walk by. :thumbsup:
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Same here (except the shelf part). We got rid of ours a couple of years ago and don't miss it.

I'm probably gonna climb the pole and cut the wires loose sooner or later to get rid of *that* eyesore.
 
jlwilson said:
We still have a land line in AR for the same reason as Grant - security system. :wink2:.
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We had a radio transmitter installed (with battery back-up) that transmits a message to the alarm company if the alarm goes off. It wasn't cheap, but the savings from eliminating the phone bill paid for it in under a year. You might want to double check with your alarm company or talk to a couple of other ones in the area.
 
I use only VoIP phones as Satans phone company (Verizon) has a near monopoly where we live. The alarm company didn't want to go through a VoIP line so they have cell transmitters instead. The transmitter is $200 at the time of installation, depending on your contract, there may not be any additional charges on the monthly bill.

The only downside of loosing a bona-fide landline is in a major disaster such as an ice-storm. The landline receives its power through the line, so even if electricity is out, all it takes for the landline to function the backup generator at the local phone exchange. The phone (and natural gas) companies for all their evil ways are pretty good in keeping the lines alive even if everything else is out. The cable otoh is typically the first to go and the last to come back.
In order for the cell system to work, each individual tower needs to have a power backup. Many don't have a permanently installed generator and it takes a while if grid power is lost until someone gets out there to hook something up.
 
We dumped our landline this year and added a third cell number to our plan for $9.99 a month that uses our old landline number. Some people did not (and did not need to) know our cell numbers. We let our daughter use the old landline number when she goes to spend the night with a friend or goes on a church function/retreat. She's 12 and we don't think she needs a cell phone full time. We should have done it years ago. The landline was $40/month.
 
cessna182b said:
The only downside is the lack of a monthly bill nickel and diming you to death. Check out Magic Jack - not without some issues, but basically does the job.

Dave
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What issues have you had with Magic Jack?
 
I've seen lots of internet fax sites, some free, some charge for. Both send and receive. It should be cheaper than keeping a phone line and a fax machine.
 
Greg Bockelman said:
Might make 911 an issue, but the only reason I have kept mine for as long as I have is because of the occasional need to fax stuff.
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You can get a box that connects to your cellphone via bluetooth and provides a POTS line for your house phones and fax machine. I think they're about $100.

MagicJack is a pretty low cost option but you must have it attached to a running computer. That shouldn't be a problem if you're sending a fax though. I have a MJ in my hangar to support my telephone controlled heaters and it works fairly well but the computer does need rebooting now and then.
 
gismo said:
You can get a box that connects to your cellphone via bluetooth and provides a POTS line for your house phones and fax machine. I think they're about $100.
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I hadn't heard of these:

http://www.cell2telgateway.com/cell2tel.php

Let's you also answer cell phone calls on your normal house phones (wired or wireless) when your cell phone rings. You can keep your cell phone on the charger and answer it anywhere in the house. And, like you said, answer a fax using your cell #. Cool.
 
The telephone guy that installed our dsl (when we dumped hughesnet) told me he doesn't have a landline at home.

He uses an AirCard for internet. He's almost as deep in the woods as we are.
 
I would love to dump hugesnet! If Verizon will ever get their tower situation here straightened out, I'd dump hughes in a heartbeat!
 
"Land-line"... hmmm, I think I remember those...

They are kinda useful for when you want to make a dramatic moment out of not wanting to be bothered, and rip it out of the wall. Turning off your cell phone just isn't as cathartic. :D
 
As a fulltimer, there is no other option at all.
It is harder to get away where people can't get hold of you. On the upside of that, I am quiet successful at finding the beyond service areas a significant amount of time when in the middle of absolute nowhere out west however that's really nice actually.
 
We built a house two years ago and I fought my wife about a land line. I wanted one, she didn't.

She was right. We don't miss it. Sometimes it's hard to hear the single cell phone in the house, but that's not a big deal. We use Road Runner for internet, and DirectTV, but at least can avoid yet another bill with a land line.
 
Every time Comcast tries to sell me on their VoIP service I ask them what heppens when the power goes out. They tell me about their battery back up. I ask "how long?" 8 hours. Nice. We've had a 5 day power outage and a 10 day power outage. And the landline worked throughout. Between been a safety of life critical service and the alarm being connected to it, it isn't going anywhere soon. And cell coverage at our house is spotty. Just due to the location of the house and the nearest tower.
 
I went all cell a few years ago when I switched from dialup to cable internet. My phone system can be tied to the cells via bluetooth so I have a house full of regular handsets kind of like this VTECH.
I don't miss the telemarketting calls one bit!
 
We still have a land-line, but have dropped almost every option on it other than local calls. We've had the same home phone number for almost 25 years - it'll be hard to give that up. Haven't checked yet to see if canceling the land-line would have any effect on our DSL service.
 
CJones said:
So far cell phone numbers haven't made it onto the global telemarketer lists. The only time I get sales calls is if I forget to check a "don't contact me" box when signing up for a 'free' online site somewhere.
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Not true here. I got one on my cell on Friday from some ****ing company that was selling alarm systems. "We'll put a sign in your yard and give you the system for free, all you have to do is...."

And yes, that cellphone number is (and has been for several years) on the no-call list. Googling the number that called finds numerous complaints on the internet.

There was another one trying to sell car warranties.

And I regularly get some spanish telemarketer on my work blackberry. And that doesn't even count the "spam" text messages.

If you think you'll be spam - er telemarketer - free on a cellphone, I have a bridge to sell you.
 
When I built the new house ten years ago way back in the woods the phone company wanted to fortune to run lines so I said, heck no... We have used cell phones since day one... Having internet at the office I didn't need it at home... Recently I sold my business so we had a company (speednet) put in high speed internet at the house using microwave antennas... I have not missed Ma Bell, for even one second...

denny-o
 
Been without a land line phone for 3 yrs now, and I don't miss it at all. I use my cellphone and sprint card for internet.
 
9 times out of ten, a telemarketer on a cell phone will show up as restricted. If it says that on your phones screen then just don't answer it. If it shows a call back number that you don't recognise, don't answer it. If you do answer it and a sales pitch begins, hang up. Problem solved. No different than a land line
 
We still have our land line but it is only hooked up to a fax machine.
I started to get rid of it totally, but with my "package" with embarq, my DSL would have went up in price to the same amount I am paying so just kept the land line.
We strictly use our cell phones. Figure anyone we want to talk to has that number and our cell plan is from AT&T so we can talk to anyone else on AT&T and not use our "anytime" minutes. Between 3 of us, we never go over the 700 we have on our plan.
 
markb5900 said:
We still have our land line but it is only hooked up to a fax machine.
I started to get rid of it totally, but with my "package" with embarq, my DSL would have went up in price to the same amount I am paying so just kept the land line.
We strictly use our cell phones. Figure anyone we want to talk to has that number and our cell plan is from AT&T so we can talk to anyone else on AT&T and not use our "anytime" minutes. Between 3 of us, we never go over the 700 we have on our plan.
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Similar deal on Verizon. My wife and I share 700 minutes a month and never come close. Kids are on Verizon, as well, so those calls don't count.

Now if I could just get my World Phone to work in Milan. "Emergency only" on the display. Heck, it worked here last year.
 
Now that there's this, you don't even need to have reception in your house to be able to use your cell phone. All you need need is internet and you'll be able to use your cell phone and get 5 bars.

With that, I really see no reason for a landline anymore.
 
I have not had a home phone since my first apartment in 1999. I have not missed not having one either.

You'll love it, Diana.
 
sba55 said:
Now that there's this, you don't even need to have reception in your house to be able to use your cell phone. All you need need is internet and you'll be able to use your cell phone and get 5 bars.

With that, I really see no reason for a landline anymore.
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One of the IT guys here installed that at home - he loves it.
 
Thanks for your input, y'all. :) We've decided to pull the plug. First we have to un-bundle our Dish Network satellite TV since they were bundled together.
 
jlwilson said:
Heck, when I changed my residence with the FAA I had to send them a map :wink2:.
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That's funny! :D Being in the boonies has it's advantages and it's share of interesting stories. :D

jlwilson said:
I would love to dump hugesnet!
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Yea, no kidding! I still have to get up in the middle of the night if I want to download anything larger than 50 MB. When our latest version of a POS Hughes receiver outside breaks, we're going to go with a Verizon air card.
 
Matthew said:
. . . . . . . Haven't checked yet to see if canceling the land-line would have any effect on our DSL service.
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I'm in the same boat: minimal land line(local only) and with DSL. Kindly post results of your research on canceling land line re DSL.

HR
 
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