Intercom using phone line?

[zip95864]

We dont use the phone line in our house ---- but I was thinking it'd be cool to rig up an intercom to the garage using the phone line. Found this is which is my skill level of wiring: http://www.schoolholidayprojects.com/telephoneintercom_project.html

The older phones had actual bells in them, couldn't I install a push button switch on the phones to activate the bell to signal the other person to pick up?

My garage shares a wall with the kitchen but there is no door connecting.

I did a search and saw people recommend the Radio Shack intercom, just curious if anyone has done what I'm asking? If not why not?

Thanks
Jeremy

 

[jeffmoss26]

A bell in an old phone is looking for ringing voltage to trigger it, which is 90 volts AC ad 20 hz. Talk battery on the phone line is -48 volts DC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_and_ring

 

[mrb]

properly configured this http://www.vikingelectronics.com/products/view_product.php?pid=38 will let you have two phones connected to it, pick one up and the other rings (and when they answer you can talk to eachother) its around $100 maybe look on ebay.

 

[madmikeee]

just use skype