Home phones
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,733
Yikes. I just realized our "land line" phone is actually provided by our cable company. With a real landline phone, you can make calls out even when the power is off. With a "digital" home phone like ours (provided by the cable company), the service is dependent on the internet. When we have lost power here we have not been able to use the "land line" phone; however, we could still call out on our cell phones. The real land line is most valuable in a natural disaster type situation. Some interesting info here about the differences between these two types of phones:
http://gizmodo.com/5947158/why-cable...get-a-landline
Both types of home phones offer the address advantage for 911, I think. This is probably because the phones are associated with an exact location. If a call is made from that phone, the location of the phone is known because it is stationary. The wired land line is better in a natural disaster because it is not dependent on internet service.
Cell phones use an entirely different communication system (radio waves, I think) and it is well known that these systems become overloaded in disaster situations.
http://gizmodo.com/5947158/why-cable...get-a-landline
Both types of home phones offer the address advantage for 911, I think. This is probably because the phones are associated with an exact location. If a call is made from that phone, the location of the phone is known because it is stationary. The wired land line is better in a natural disaster because it is not dependent on internet service.
Cell phones use an entirely different communication system (radio waves, I think) and it is well known that these systems become overloaded in disaster situations.
We still have our land line though we rarely use it. We've had it's number since the early 80's and it's the number that everyone knows. Plus we have our internet packaged with it thru AT&T so we just hang on to it.
#52
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 9,733
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,525
#54
We just moved back up in the mountains northwest of Denver. We're in a valley that has absolutely no cell coverage from any carrier. And being in the mountains and next to a creek, we need access to the county's reverse 911 system. We just had to get a landline for all those reasons. We haven't had one since the 1900's!
#55
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 1,310
I too would like to get rid of my land line - BUT I live in an area where a lot of the time my cell phone is either "searching" for a signal or shows "no signal", so if I had an emergency I'd be out of luck. Lucky are those who have great cell phone signals.
#56
My mother still has her old Princess Phone for use when the power goes off and she has no desire to own a cell phone at 89. While I have a cell phone, I seldom use it. After working in an office for 50+ years, I have very little desire to chat on a phone and have even less desire for texting.
I still have my old Princess phone too. We have a cell phone and cordless phones in several rooms. I like having the landline for use when the power goes out( then I just haul out the old princess!!
#57
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,421
We dropped our land line. And I haven't missed it one bit. Our internet and cable are from the same company, no phone line needed. I was told police and rescue could pin point by cell phones if the phone has the locate my position turned on and if the dept. knows how to do it.
#58
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,421
DH and I turned down a nice home with everything we wanted because it had no cell phone and no internet reception at all and unlikely to get it. The real estate agent didn't provide that information until I asked what carriers the area had. She knew the sale was gone when she had to say none at all. If you are moving ask about the coverage. You could be stuck in a dead zone or a no carrier zone.
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Muscatine, Iowa
Posts: 781
I'll try to make a short story. I had the land line phone, and I got the wife a cell phone. The bill each month was roughly up to $150.00/cell phone-land line. I went to Verizon, I now have a cell phone now. INFACT, I have the family plan - the program-free texting, unlimitied minutes, and so on. It's only costing me $85.00--$95.00 a month. drop YOUR LAND LINE PHONE SERVICE
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