Land line use

[dubnutty]

Hello all. I have a question for you. I haven't had a land line at home for quite some time. I was thinking what else can this be used for? I installed computer line awhile ago so I don't need that. So what do you use it for?

 

[Hpozzuoli]

I need a land line at home so I can use my fax machine.

 

[Kevin54]

I have a landline all for the fact that if the electricity goes out, I still have a phone that works.

 

[Zeke]

I have one because I can hear the other person and there's no irritating delay. I refuse to accommodate the delay and speak when I feel like speaking. Usually not much conversing gets done on the cell. I use it for email sending pics and for texting, amongst its other features.

 

[APEowner]

I almost never actually use mine but it's the number I give out to anyone other than friends and family.

 

[ABSTIFFGS]

Mine is a direct line to my father-in-law. Really though, he is about the only one that calls us on it. I use it to fax once in awhile. I would get rid of it, but the price of my internet tv and phone package goes up just enough to not make it worth getting rid of.

 

[Jim B]

Mine's a direct line to telemarketers. The line ends at the wall and the phone that used to be attached to it is in a box in a closet somewhere.

 

[aandpdan]

Phone and fax. I hate talking on a cell phone.

 

[rsanter]

I need a land line at home so I can use my fax machine.

Try EFAX
The fax ends up in your email box and you get it where ever you are in the world.
If you have a scanner you can scan and send things fax too otherwise you can just send computer generated documents

Bob

 

[Zeke]

Try EFAX
The fax ends up in your email box and you get it where ever you are in the world.
If you have a scanner you can scan and send things fax too otherwise you can just send computer generated documents

Bob

True, but there is nothing faster than and old fashioned FAX. They are becoming dinosaurs.

 

[Bronson]

I have a landline all for the fact that if the electricity goes out, I still have a phone that works.

This.
And the delay that the cell phone has drives Me NUTS, and It is not a long drive.

 

[MScott]

Being entirely off grid I have no choice. Seriously, though, I got rid of my land line a couple of years before I went off grid and have never missed it.

 

[Beemer533]

What's a land line again?


Seriously though, the only reason I have had one until recently was for an alarm system.. Never even had a phone connected.

I did finally cancel it though when I decided I didn't need to pay someone $35 a month to call the police for me if needed.

Now I just monitor it myself through the Internet connection...

 

[Beemer533]

I have a landline all for the fact that if the electricity goes out, I still have a phone that works.

Doesn't your cell phone work if the power is out?

 

[ambenz]

We have it for emergencies as 911 gives our location to dispatch. I have a company cell phone but as soon as I retire, I am not going to get a cell for myself.
I will have the land line exclusively. If you want to talk, leave me a message and when it is convenient for me, I will call you back.

 

[Matt_C]

I've not had a land line for 7 years. There's one connected to my house, but when I moved in I never bothered to ring up and get it activated, and I don't actually own a house phone anyway. I just see no point in having it.

Dunno how it works for you guys in the states, but over here it's about £11 (I think) line rental - about $19 - per month, just to have the thing connected - plus calls!

My cell phone plan gives me all the free calls (and texts, and internet etc) that I need, for £12.50 per month, so I don't see the point in having it?

 

[jomobco]

We have it for emergencies as 911 gives our location to dispatch. I have a company cell phone but as soon as I retire, I am not going to get a cell for myself.
I will have the land line exclusively. If you want to talk, leave me a message and when it is convenient for me, I will call you back.

Can you even buy an answering machine anymore?

 

[softailgarage]

Fax & 911, Here in Ca. if you call 911 on a cell phone it goes to Ca. Highway Patrol with no gps location. If you call 911 from a land line, the call goes right to your local P.D. or Fire Dept. and they have your location instantly. It's a time saver when every second could count.

 

[Slednut]

Ever see the pictures of the long lines at the pay phones after Sandy hit?

My daughter had no cell phone service for weeks following an ice storm. She had to walk 1/4 mile to one of the neighbors to make a call on the land line.

It's why it's called Life Line POTS.

 

[slob]

Can you even buy an answering machine anymore?

Yes. It's called a Cell Phone.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Lots of answering devices still sold. Go to Wal-Mart of an Office Depot/Staples, etc. Corded and cordless.

I have two corded phones, cordless ones don't work when the power goes out, and also have a cordless system with three handsets and answering machine in the base. Never ran a line to the shop, just keep a handset and charger base out there.

No cell service from any provider here at the house until about two years ago. Now Verizon works, nothing else.

Cable also goes out when the local EMC goes out because their booster boxes are on EMC poles. I have GA Power, and so I might not lose power, but can lose cable, thus would lose internet phone If I were using that.

Land line is a good thing to have, but certainly costs to keep it.

Charles

 

[jeffmoss26]

We have phone through the cable company. Works perfectly unless the power goes out.
All of my phone systems and burglar alarm are connected to it without issue.
Even my old rotary phones work just fine!