Severing the Home Phone Line

Seahawk · 09-18-2016, 04:30 AM

How many of you have done it?

Any regrets?

My wife and I are running through the pros and cons of cancelling our home phone. I frankly can't think of a reason not to: We live in a very rural area and the hard phone lines are as vulnerable in a big storm as the electric lines; we have back up gens for charging cells phone; the cell towers in the area are part of a much larger network with redundant power and we seldom use the land line, etc.

No brainer, I know...but there is the old guy tendency to not part with the known.

So, experiences? I did a few searches but I thought I'd go through the P&C's here as well.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-18-2016, 04:32 AM

Haven't had one for years. We went VOIP for a few years because it was way cheaper, then cut the cord entirely. We bought a cheapo re-loadable cell phone for the kids when they were home alone, but now that my oldest has his own phone it makes that a non-issue. Don't miss it one bit, we never used it.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Got rid of mine years ago. Only real problem I had was, well, let's just say it happened right after NYE and I couldn't find my cell phone for a few days.... No Comment. Saves me money not to have a landline. Virtually no solicitations this way either.

stomachmonkey · 09-18-2016, 04:43 AM

Were not for the alarm system I would not have one.

Chocaholic · 09-18-2016, 04:47 AM

We haven't had a land line in almost 10 years. Haven't missed it for a second. All 5 of us (3kids) have cell phones and good cell coverage.

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

Cut the cord over 10 years ago.

bri450sl · 09-18-2016, 04:52 AM

Only have cell phones here. Cut the cord long ago. Never missed it.

A930Rocket · 09-18-2016, 04:52 AM

We haven't had one for 10-12 years. Never missed it or the telemarketers.

vonsmog · 09-18-2016, 04:59 AM

Did it about three years ago, and the only thing I miss is we can't get or send Faxes any longer. Some places want a Fax and will not take documents by Email.

Oh Haha · 09-18-2016, 05:01 AM

Been without one for about 10 years and haven't had any issues.

We use my cell number as the primary contact for emergencies and such. We got the kids phones last year and my wife has a work cell.

Baz · Baz's Garage

For me....I'm not a phone person. I really do not like to talk on the phone.

Having my landline with an answering machine allows me to provide a phone number when necessary to a device I am not "tethered" to.

I use my cell phone selectively and most days do not get any calls...which is very nice.

The landline is also my # for my business, so there's that. Most of my communication is done via email anyway.

Otherwise...I would eliminate the landline. One day in the near future when I drop off the grid....

masraum · 09-18-2016, 05:10 AM

My wife had wanted to get rid of the line at the house for years. I pushed to keep it for a few reasons. We used DSL for Internet, and while you can get DSL without a land line, it's more expensive. Also, when you dial 911, a land line is a bit better WRT them having your location, and in the event of a hurricane, having cell and landline offered more possible options for communications. We had run into times when the cell network was down but the land line was operational.

We sold the house and moved and no longer have a land line. We don't miss it at all. We are now in an apt living near downtown.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

I still have a "land line" because it's cheaper than another cell connection for the alarm by about $10 a month. It's actually provided by my cable company. I'm thinking of switching it back to an actual phone line because the cable is the least reliable of the three (cell, land, cable). I do have a phone connected to it, but I haven't touched it in over a year.

stomachmonkey · 09-18-2016, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I still have a "land line" because it's cheaper than another cell connection for the alarm by about $10 a month. It's actually provided by my cable company. I'm thinking of switching it back to an actual phone line because the cable is the least reliable of the three (cell, land, cable). I do have a phone connected to it, but I haven't touched it in over a year.

Sidebar.

Hi Patrick, sent you a PM yesterday.

stomachmonkey · 09-18-2016, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baz

...
Having my landline with an answering machine allows me to provide a phone number when necessary to a device I am not "tethered" to...

...The landline is also my # for my business, so there's that...

I use google voice for that.

Have had the same cell number nearly 25 years now.

I'm very protective of it.

No one gets my real cell number.

jyl · jyl's Garage

Our house phone is an internet phone (dongle plugged into router, wireless phone base station plugs into that, extension phones all over house). Fairly pointless as we use our cellphones 99% of the time, but wife insisted on having a "landline".

Seahawk · 09-18-2016, 05:27 AM

Interesting point on the alarm system.

We will be installing one soon: More homework!

Jandrews · 09-18-2016, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Were not for the alarm system I would not have one.

Same here. And I am glad to see you posting that. You are one of the most technical guys on the forum, and if you have not found an alternative to a land line for the alarm, I assume there isn't one?

Thanks,

JA

stomachmonkey · 09-18-2016, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Interesting point on the alarm system.

We will be installing one soon: More homework!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jandrews

Same here. And I am glad to see you posting that. You are one of the most technical guys on the forum, and if you have not found an alternative to a land line for the alarm, I assume there isn't one?

Thanks,

JA

You can get a module for cell instead of landline.

IIRC you are looking at $100-150 on average to convert.

Adding a line to a cell plan is probably $10 a month, on average, YMMV.

Certainly cheap enough but my landline is essentially free with my TV bundle.

I certainly don't save anything by dropping the landline so while I'd like to drop it, logically it does not make sense, for my situation.

mreid · 09-18-2016, 05:41 AM

Got rid of ours a few months ago there is now quiet in the house from 6:00 to 10:00 in the evening. All we ever got were pollsters, sales bs, and some clown who didn't pay his bills and was in collection.

For the alarm, it is monitored through the Internet and notifies me also. I can then call up cameras for real time viewing. I tried connecting the motion detectors to my cell with cameras on auto, but I think the dog figured it out and would trip them just to annoy me. In our new home, we are considering a full "connected home" package, but I'm not convinced the IoT is sofisticated enough yet for reliability and lower cost. Anyway, no home landline.