General Discussion

csziggy

(34,189 posts)

68. Our landline is part of the package with our DSL and TV service

Reply to jodymarie aimee (Original post)

Wed Jun 6, 2018, 02:03 PM

Jun 2018

CenturyLink DSL, you have to have a landline, too. PrismTV basic costs the same amount as Sling and gives us local channels so we kept PrismTV.

We could put in a digital antenna but until we can put in one that will also get all the local PBS/educational channels it's not worth it. Those channels are too far away and across our ridge to get with a low cost digital antenna. We'd have to put one on our roof to get those signals and we're not ready to set that up just yet.

I would not be without our landline - after Irma cellphone did not work in our neighborhood since the closest tower had no power. With the landline I could call for help and to let relatives know we were OK - that is until the phones, internet and everything went out. Centurylink lost all service for several days - really bad news for everyone!

ETA - I get no cell signal in my house so I have to have a landline at home. I guess when we put up that digital antenna I need to put up a thing to receive a cell signal and boost it inside the house, too!

If I walk out my front door and to the top of the hill, I am line of sight to a cell tower and get a great signal. But in my ICF house with a metal roof, no signal.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

137 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

AT&T will obsolete landlines by 2020 [View all] jodymarie aimee Jun 2018 OP

Our security system uses the landline. That's the only reason we still have it. unblock Jun 2018 #1

Same here. meadowlander Jun 2018 #79

Cells rely on batteries which can die. Duppers Jun 2018 #121

But the alarm system itself is plugged in meadowlander Jun 2018 #124

Good points. Duppers Jun 2018 #125

Why would they depend on a technology Soxfan58 Jun 2018 #131

Haven't had one myself for at least a decade Blue_Adept Jun 2018 #2

How much do landlines cost a month? temporary311 Jun 2018 #3

$50 minimum GeorgeGist Jun 2018 #4

Just to have one in Albuquerque ... left-of-center2012 Jun 2018 #6

That's right. I'm south of Albuquerque & pay $44.00 a month - no long distance included womanofthehills Jun 2018 #108

$25. I have one as well as cell. NutmegYankee Jun 2018 #22

The one I dumped about a year ago was AT&T and was about $60 per month... Bengus81 Jun 2018 #24

Ours is $25/mo. with unlimited long distance calls. MineralMan Jun 2018 #60

There are a lot of little electronic projects and a few commercial devices... hunter Jun 2018 #74

I managed my elderly grandmother's finances crazycatlady Jun 2018 #61

I'm actually for this. Initech Jun 2018 #5

Same happened to me.... CatMor Jun 2018 #28

Ditto. Switched to a voip bundled with internet. Saved spooky3 Jun 2018 #64

You Might Feel Different RobinA Jun 2018 #80

That does suck. Initech Jun 2018 #98

Nice if it's in your area. We have poor cell service, satellite TV phylny Jun 2018 #100

You are aware that the very places that do not have cell service Ms. Toad Jun 2018 #110

There are still some places where there is no phone lines or cell signals. tymorial Jun 2018 #114

When the power goes out, voip and internet based calling doesn't work. MrsCoffee Jun 2018 #112

A small UPS battery back-up will last for 24 or more hours depending on the size of the UPS... madinmaryland Jun 2018 #137

If you get their digital/VOIP service, they have a scam blocker. GoCubsGo Jun 2018 #87

It will keep up. I love not having to put with the scammers and telemarketers. ooky Jun 2018 #97

My Galaxy S9 has that feature as well. So great! Initech Jun 2018 #99

Some medical alert systems require a landline left-of-center2012 Jun 2018 #7

I like our land line Bettie Jun 2018 #8

Cellphones allow you to program in a lot of numbers by name. Blue_true Jun 2018 #19

But it still ends up being Bettie Jun 2018 #30

How is your Internet service delivered? Blue_true Jun 2018 #51

That is bad. zanana1 Jun 2018 #9

My cell costs less than a landline. JNelson6563 Jun 2018 #13

You can get a $15-$25 per month cell service that cost less than your landline Blue_true Jun 2018 #21

Yeah you can,Cells today are cheaper than a landline..... Bengus81 Jun 2018 #27

Don't be overwhelmed RhodeIslandOne Jun 2018 #29

Check out Tracfone exboyfil Jun 2018 #34

Look at Tracfone. They are excellent and you can get ones that are cheap and work well. RKP5637 Jun 2018 #35

I also know BOOST is pretty good, for $50 unlimited data, calls, etc. Eliot Rosewater Jun 2018 #59

I use tracfone. kimbutgar Jun 2018 #102

Cellphones are cheap now and you may qualify for a free one Lee-Lee Jun 2018 #38

No land line since 2006. sarcasmo Jun 2018 #10

AT&T obsoleted my rotary telephone years ago Brother Buzz Jun 2018 #11

Voice over IP. Allows you to make calls using the Internet. nt Blue_true Jun 2018 #23

That is really odd that you can't use rotary as it is the default on land lines. TexasProgresive Jun 2018 #36

It totally flipped. There was a time when touchtone was at a premium.... Brother Buzz Jun 2018 #58

It still doesn't make sense to me. TexasProgresive Jun 2018 #73

All I know is it rings and I get to talk with old friends on a comfortable old school telephone Brother Buzz Jun 2018 #84

Do you get a dial tone when you lift the handset? TexasProgresive Jun 2018 #91

Yes, and the rotary dial makes all the appropriator ticks, then the dial tone kicks back in Brother Buzz Jun 2018 #92

I have to give up trying to understand what's going on. TexasProgresive Jun 2018 #95

Over the past years, TT has become the default Nac Mac Feegle Jun 2018 #119

I worked for Verizon fGTE in Texas. TexasProgresive Jun 2018 #129

Sounds like there's a market for classes in using a smartphone, jodymarie ! It's like everything OnDoutside Jun 2018 #12

Some of us live in areas without cell reception, or with frequent power outages uppityperson Jun 2018 #14

My home in the country too. Yonnie3 Jun 2018 #103

I'm in the same boat. Wishing I was in the majority. n/t Different Drummer Jun 2018 #109

Yes: This would require far more broadcast towers in rural areas. lindysalsagal Jun 2018 #128

I don't live very far out, but there are hills. Cable would cost $20,000+ so it's uppityperson Jun 2018 #134

That Doesn't Mean They Won't Support VOIP, I Bet ProfessorGAC Jun 2018 #15

I'm required to have a landline for work. Hugin Jun 2018 #16

Guess we'll have to move. Cell phone reception is spotty where we live and a "hot spot" Vinca Jun 2018 #17

Set up Voice Over IP (VOIP). Effective and solves the problems you just listed. Blue_true Jun 2018 #31

You can get a cheap flip cellphone for almost nothing, and buy a low bandwidth calling plan. Blue_true Jun 2018 #18

5G will make landlines obsolete. BSdetect Jun 2018 #20

I doubt that they will go through with that, sounds like a salesmanish ploy of some kind RockRaven Jun 2018 #25

That's my thinking too. Why would they throw away that income on lines they... brush Jun 2018 #39

I would not bet on your claim. Blue_true Jun 2018 #40

They already are in some areas. nt NCTraveler Jun 2018 #42

The DSL isn't on the copper network. GoCubsGo Jun 2018 #47

Excellent point. Duppers Jun 2018 #122

Wonder how this will affect those with DSL Zorro Jun 2018 #26

Likely will go wireless. Blue_true Jun 2018 #43

It won't. GoCubsGo Jun 2018 #65

Do You Have Phone RobinA Jun 2018 #82

No, but I don't have a battery back-up. GoCubsGo Jun 2018 #86

What about rural areas? jcgoldie Jun 2018 #115

I assume they will eventually replace the copper wire with fiberopitcs in rural aeas, as well. GoCubsGo Jun 2018 #118

I am severely hearing impaired. I can't hear on a cellphone. I have a cheap tblue37 Jun 2018 #32

The volume on cells can be adjusted up to ear splitting high. nt Blue_true Jun 2018 #44

Not on my prepaid phone. It's as high as it can go already, and it's not enough. nt tblue37 Jun 2018 #48

Do you have a flip phone? Try a low level smartphone, not that much more expensive. nt Blue_true Jun 2018 #53

No--it is a basic TracFone model. nt tblue37 Jun 2018 #54

I used TracPhone years ago because they were the first no contract plan. Blue_true Jun 2018 #63

You will eventually be forced onto their digital telephone. GoCubsGo Jun 2018 #52

Then you don't have a speaker feature? Duppers Jun 2018 #123

Already happening in some places around here- and it's a good thing Lee-Lee Jun 2018 #33

What does this really mean? Renew Deal Jun 2018 #37

That sounds right. Why should they? The demand is not there and people should be better off Blue_true Jun 2018 #46

I Guess It Depends RobinA Jun 2018 #83

Help Squad: More questions, comments and answers about end of AT&T copper landlines NCTraveler Jun 2018 #41

Billons of dollars in savings Wellstone ruled Jun 2018 #49

I have a land line through sonic.com. They OEM the AT&T copper here in the San Francisco Bay still_one Jun 2018 #45

Yeah, they're good. MBS Jun 2018 #55

I know, but there are others who do it also. Still it is worth checking a pay as you go cell phone still_one Jun 2018 #56

How much did you complain when they got rid of phones where operators placed all the calls? brooklynite Jun 2018 #50

I remember when they did that in my small home town. MineralMan Jun 2018 #66

I dont think land line phones are going anywhere for quite a while. Saboburns Jun 2018 #57

You'd think so, but remember how astonishingly fast Hortensis Jun 2018 #62

Is already happening Lee-Lee Jun 2018 #77

Businesses were the first to drop landlines Kilgore Jun 2018 #132

I work at a Fortune 100 company. tammywammy Jun 2018 #136

Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2018 #67

Our landline is part of the package with our DSL and TV service csziggy Jun 2018 #68

i live 10 miles up in the mtn we dont even get cell service here samnsara Jun 2018 #69

From what I've researched it's mostly a behind-the-scenes changeover to an entirely digital network. hunter Jun 2018 #70

I suspect you are right. janx Jun 2018 #78

what will people with pace makers do? dsc Jun 2018 #71

I will not abide by this - I am sending an angry telegram to the FCC! jberryhill Jun 2018 #72

Whaaaahh...! janx Jun 2018 #75

Okay, scratch that. I'm sending a Telex jberryhill Jun 2018 #81

I have a landline ellie Jun 2018 #76

I think most businesses are landlines LeftInTX Jun 2018 #88

Most business are VOIP fescuerescue Jun 2018 #94

You're right.. LeftInTX Jun 2018 #116

Given how terrible the reception is on every model cell phone I've tried... TygrBright Jun 2018 #85

Heck, I have no hearing problems and even I have trouble hearing on cell phones. The Nay Jun 2018 #133

Jodymarie, I'm with you. I prefer my old landline phone service. FuzzyRabbit Jun 2018 #89

+ 100 MBS Jun 2018 #90

I doubt if it happens by 2020, but it's definitely on the way. fescuerescue Jun 2018 #93

Go ahead and get yourself a cheap cell phone while you still have your land line, and ooky Jun 2018 #96

I still have my landline and a cell phone number in my own home. kimbutgar Jun 2018 #101

we have cellphones but also keep a landline drray23 Jun 2018 #104

My landline phone co. is also my internet provider. Kaleva Jun 2018 #105

I spend $118 a month on 1 landline, 2 cell phones and high speed internet. Kaleva Jun 2018 #106

I have both cell phone and landline Raine Jun 2018 #107

i never had a landline in my name crazycatlady Jun 2018 #111

More Consolidation of Control over Communication echler Jun 2018 #113

Death of pots is overrated dembotoz Jun 2018 #117

Many people think they have landlines, but really don't fescuerescue Jun 2018 #120

In a power outage my Cox VOIP phone didn't work but friends with ATT land lines could make calls. Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #127

That's normal fescuerescue Jun 2018 #135

This will kill people in my area. Liberty Belle Jun 2018 #126

Is the maintenance of cyberoptic lines (e.g., FIOS) cost more than the profits of monthly service? no_hypocrisy Jun 2018 #130