Quick Question On Cable/Mobile Services
 

Hey guys, two quick questions on cable and phone services.

First, anyone tried the home phone options from your cellular carrier? AT&T will sell me another line to use as a home phone, for $10/mo. The box is basically a cellphone radio with a RJ45 phone jack, costs $99. This is the cheapest option I've found for a home phone line that we can use with our existing extension phone system. Vonage is $25/mo, MagicJack doesn't seem suitable. Since our AT&T signal at home is good, and we barely use the home phone anyway, I'm tempted.

Second, anyone bought a cable modem off eBay and installed it, instead of "leasing" the same cable modem from Comcast for $8/mo? I can buy the identical model of Arris cable modem for $20-30. Is installation simply a plug-it-in job, or will Comcast have to enable the new hardware, and do they give you a hard time? (I would simply call Comcast and ask the friendly live customer service operator, but I'm trying to save myself an hour listening to music . . . )

Its easy to buy your own cable modem and install it. Then, just call customer service with the mac address so they can update on their end. Done.

Why not just get rid of your home phone? We've been on cell only for the last 3years.

My wife insists on having a home phone. I don't know why. Maybe because she is always misplacing her cellphone . . .

Check out the OOMA system. You buy their system, hook it to your router. The box is a little expensive but you only pay $3.50 per month and that is the federal taxes. Unlimited long distance and it sounds 100% normal. Any standard phone will plug into the back of it so you can use whatever portable phone system you have.

I really like my setup.

I spent a little more and have some advanced features. If someone calls the house and leaves a message it gets forwarded to my cell phone and a email. If the message is for my wife I just email it to her. If it is some BS telemarketer I can block that number or any phone number.

I ended up getting the "wireless home phone" from my wireless carrier (AT&T) because it only costs $10/mo as an extra line on our family plan and we have tons of un-used monthly voice minutes. The refurb'd hardware is $50 and is unobstrusive. I was also thinking that it might be nice to not depend on internet for the voice service.

I'll be cutting my Comcast bill by about $90/mo.

Have to have a land line to be in the phone book... impt for some.