Posted on 01/22/2017 1:00:12 AM PST by EinNYC
I have been working on ways to economize. One glaring monthly cost is paying $100 to Verizon for my landline service, which is a ridiculous amount of money.
I don't find cell phones to be physically comfortable to talk on for long period of time, and I like the features of my cordless phone (for example, it can block 250 unwanted callers, like telemarketers, etc.). So I wanted a way to keep my comfortable feature rich cordless phone but at a much more affordable rate.
I called Verizon and found that they have a plan wherein you can use a device (Novatel T1114) to allow you to get cellular phone service WITH your cordless phone, for only $20/month in a 2 year contract. As they say on their webpage:
"You can keep your existing phone and phone number and move your home phone service to the Verizon Wireless network with Wireless Home Phone. No broadband or Internet connection is needed for Wireless Home Phone. Plug in your existing touch tone home telephone, and store the compact Wireless Home Phone unit out of the way or on the included desktop stand."
That's saving $1,000 a year and that's what I'm talking about! The Wireless Home Phone unit to which they refer costs $29 but it won't allow you to use your fax machine. The T1114 device, which costs $49 allows you to use your formerly landline cordless phone to now utilize cellular service AND it allows you to use your fax machine, too. It sounds like the best of both worlds.
Soooo, I am asking fellow FReepers if anyone has this setup at home, and how do you like it. Thanks!
I don’t have a cell phone. Don’t want one. I do have a cordless walk-around phone and another, internet phone for long distance. The walk-around is ATT and the Inet phone is because ATT wants entirely too much for long distance service and the extra phone costs 6$ and some change. I could just use the Inet phone but when the electricity goes out in a huricane so does the Inet. That wired phone has never quit. I deal with the donation seekers and “survey” marketers by simply hanging up as soon as I discern what they are, usually in less than a second. Most are robocalls and you can hear that as soon as the connection is made. Both phones have voice mail so if I don’t want to talk I don’t. My attitude toward cell phones is that when I am “out of touch” I want to BE out of touch.
I was thinking of switching back - - I hope you're wrong on this one.
I wanted to keep a landline, so I switched to Vonage light, which costs me something like 12 bucks a month. Vonage has a feature where they ring my cellphone anytime the home phone rings. I can answer the call on either phone. I never have to forward my home phone calls.
The cordless phone set in my home has a bluetooth connection to my cellphone, so that I can answer a cellphone call on any of my landline sets that are scattered around the house. Don’t have to carry around my cellphone in the house.
We’re still paying $45 or so monthly for the landline phone # we’ve had for 22 years.
Tried VOIP and it didnt’ work; took over 6 months to get our number back.
We have skimpy cell coverage at the house - 15 miles from the center of DC in “suburban Maryland” we’ve tried T-mobile, Sprint, Cellular one, ATT in the past and the one which sucked LEAST was Verizon.
There’s been talk of putting in another cell tower hereabouts but the NIMBY types have blocked it/them. Local middle school was to get one of those 100 foot flag pole/repeaters but the flapping flag noise from other such flags elsewhere were a major sticking point. Never mind that there are only about a half dozen homes facing the school ground directly. But jet noise overhead isn’t an issue.
It’s been a struggle. Retirement home property in TN - way off the beaten path - has 4-bar Verizon cell coverage. A five year target date to build and move makes paying for a ground like (and FIOS) manageable.
If you see a local phone guy ask him if you are “straight” out of the CO on copper or go through an “RT” (remote terminal) somewhere in the neighborhood.
CO batteries last forever because they are huge plus they probably have a gen.RT batteries maybe 36 hrs depending on how many people go off hook and for how long.
We us a device for a flip-phone cellphone similar to that mentioned in post #11, it’s called an X-10. It’s useful as it connects to one of our handsets/answering machine.
Aside from that we have two cell phones and five VIOP numbers (two dedicated fax#) through PhonePower.
Having eight total lines switching to VIOP has reduced our costs tremendously.
PhonePower has an app (iPhone and Android) which allows a VIOP phone number to ring to your smart phone. It’s sometimes nice having two numbers on the same phone...
Best!
Had it for 5 years. Quality service and support. Dozens of features for $20.
I use it for my office phone.
This sounds similar to a system by Panasonic. They have a cordless phone, a base and 4 handsets, that pairs with your cellphone’s Bluetooth. The base receives the BT signal then uses its own wireless channels to establish the cordless connections. Very easy to use. I use it on an iPhone with Verizon. There is also a way to feed your hard wired system if you want.
I haven’t had a land line in years. I think they’re a waste of money. I don’t talk on the phone much, though.
Ooma. Works great. Free long distance.
Do not use Verizon for anything. If Hillary Clinton’s grifter machine ran a phone company, it would look like Verizon.
Walmart sells an att phone with a cordless base that can blue tooth into your cell phone and make calls through it. No
Extra monthly fees ...
My attitude toward cell phones is that when I am “out of touch” I want to BE out of touch.
**************
Cell phones do have an ‘OFF’ button.......
Definitely look into Ooma. It is excellent voice quality, works with your existing handsets, and if the power goes out or Internet goes down, you can set it to forward calls to your cell phone. If I am expecting a landline call, I unplug my Ooma and then I can get all my calls on my cell if I need to go out.
Also you can listen to your voicemails online, which I find very convenient.
I was loving the $3 monthly bill, but then I opted for the $10/mo premium service to get the call blocking services. The whole thing is just outstanding.
Don’t give Verizon any more business than you have to.
I’ve had the verizon wireless at another location for about two years. The cost is about $25.00/m. I think the initial start up price was close to $200. It included the wireless gizmo and insurance for it.
I also am considering changing my home phone to the verison wireless because my landline bill is now $90/month. ouch.
But they are not off as far as wives and others are concerned. “Whyncha answer your phone?! I was calling you!!!”
We’ve had a magic jack for years. no problems. $35 a year and you can keep your phone number.
magicjack.com
I have Ooma as well, with a pretty decent Internet connection. People can hardly understand a thing I say.
People can almost understand me on my Ooma connection. I have pretty good Internet service, yet the outgoing packets are dropped more often than delivered.
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