Ditching your landline phone?

[lxskllr]

If I were to get something other than a cell, I'd likely get MagicJack. I like the price and convenience. It isn't a big expense if it doesn't work well.

 

[MedicBob]

I use Ooma as well. Very little problems, no more then with the landline.

As far as 911, not too concerned about it. Register your address with Ooma and they pas the info along with the 911 call from my understanding. I would be more likely to call 911 on my phone. Most counties I run around in have no problem with gathering GPS data from it.

 

[PsiStar]

Do you need one for handhelds?

That depends on the band & the power out. CB & the low power license free radios have their place. The low power radios do have limited range so I think they might be most useful at planned events when you just want to stay in touch with someone going off in a different direction ... maybe big flea market?

CB radios will work over miles but those channels are limited with lots of users & might get jammed up in a crisis. Ham radio, tho might be considered passe, but is regulated by government but mostly licensees. In times of crisis it is often the only means of communication out of affected areas.

Just to answer your question. Yes, handhelds for the ham radio bands need to be licensed.

 

[GeekDrew]

actually according to police reports it doesn't.

Which police reports?

There are magnitudes of difference between those scales and being down here in the Hurricane Belt, there have been several times cell phones were incapable of calls yet land lines never did not work.

Heck there have been busy holiday times where I got the error message on my cell phone the first couple attempts to make a call.

I didn't dispute that, but that (of course) varies based on the region you're in. My cell phone has never been waived off (when calling in my home area), but my land-line has been.

 

[alent1234]

going to dump the land line next year only because i have to have cable for one more year. at&t already has unlimited mobile to mobile minutes if you add the $30 unlimited family texting option

 

[Eli]

Haven't had a land line since like 2004.

I know, I know, I was late to the cell phone game.

 

[PsiStar]

Bump for more VONAGE vs. OOMA comments?

Good question, and looking at those 2 web sites I challenge you to work out the spread sheet. Add in Skype while you are at it.

 

[alkemyst]

Which police reports?

Sigh...this is as simple as researching alarms. Most companies will sell you a cell backup, most reputable ones will tell you all the myths of burgulars cutting the phone lines, running in and picking up the extenstion to dial a place with long hold time, etc don't normally happen and are very rare.

It's like bump keying. Yeah it can happen, but most aren't going in your front door and once in the back yard are just going to break a window for the quickest way in.

Like many here I work in the IT field. We do so much to make sure we use HTTPS and fear our SS#'s in an email...yet most of us just spit them out to the chick on the other end of the phone, along with a ton of other info along lines easily hacked. Shit I was doing this in the 80's with a handset I attached two alligator clips on to just laugh and answer questions on a private conservation.

 

[alkemyst]

That depends on the band & the power out. CB & the low power license free radios have their place. The low power radios do have limited range so I think they might be most useful at planned events when you just want to stay in touch with someone going off in a different direction ... maybe big flea market?

CB radios will work over miles but those channels are limited with lots of users & might get jammed up in a crisis. Ham radio, tho might be considered passe, but is regulated by government but mostly licensees. In times of crisis it is often the only means of communication out of affected areas.

Just to answer your question. Yes, handhelds for the ham radio bands need to be licensed.

It's funny how so many 'end of world' nuts buy guns but not get their HAM license.

Shortwave will be king in those times once the dust settles.

 

[Doppel]

I use OOMA. Under $4 month for stuff. Got the box for $200 and break-even was about 6 months, now it's money in the bank and works with cordless phones in the house (much better quality than cell). 911 wouldn't bother me with cell, though. You could use a neighbor's phone if yours wasn't working and if it's a catastrophe and cell towers are blocked well 911 is too busy for you anyway so don't bother.

In 2011 paying a provider for a dedicated landline, unless you need it for a security line, is completely batsh*t crazy.