land line

[Dagny]

We live in a rural area and are somewhat use to trees falling on power lines. this spring and summer however our phone service keeps quitting it is all underground so it cant be trees. It will sometimes work for two weeks. they always fix it within a couple days. This line is also our internet service. The problem is getting to talk to someone higher up in the phone company it seems they want to keep patching it. I feel helpless here if I dont pay the bill they will simply unhook us. We have no power to change things.

 

[tjdux]

Is there a different company you could go through? Thats a bargining chip possibly.

Sadly to replace old damaged phone line underground is a big investment with a very long return time. So a full replacement or upgrade in a low population area is not likely from what I've seen.



Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Dagny]

When you call for service a machine asks you about twenty questions then a very nice human comes on and tells you a tech. will come out in 2 to 3 days. I'm not sure I want to spend half hour a week on the cell phone just to have a part time land line. What happened to all those billions of dollars the Gov. threw at this problem.

 

[The Cobbler]

had same experience, 60plus yr old overhead cable. every repair guy said this cable is used up. they sent cable repair guys for years fixing it.
one night with heavy rains , at 12am I had a knock on the door . cops at the door asking why I called 911. my line had shorted and the frequency was what called 911 not me.
next day I called and flipped out on phone company. within 6 months there was a new cable installed.

 

[Stadger]

Copper cable is a thing of the past. AT&T is shedding landlines as fast as they can in order to get rid of a money-losing technology. Landline service is no longer a mandated entitlement. If it doesn't make money, why maintain it?

 

[Chaznsc]

Is there a Public Service Commission in Wi?

 

[ducksface]

Federal Legislation is happening allowing phone companies to abandon land lines in a wholesale manner.
Much like the old colored glass insulators, this will all end up in a
What is this?
Thread
before the end of of many of our lives.

Within a very short time they will tell you they aren't going g to repair it again.

 

[ard]

1. Keep notes.

2. They are a utility. They answer to the state. Create a ruckus.

I will be the last person with a land line.....

 

[58Yeoman]

Centurylink replaced all the main underground lines last year with fiber, so now we are getting the full 10mbps dsl that we've been paying for for the last 8 years. Of course, all the offshoots are still the old copper cable. We were getting 3 to 4 mbps before.

They are the only game in town for us (phone and 'net), as we don't have cable in the country. If I could get the net w/o phone, the landline would probably be gone. A lot of money for telemarketer calls.

 

[cheechi]

what part of WI are you in that the ground doesn't get too cold for buried cables to last more than 3-5 years?

how many times have you called within what timeframe? the flip side of that question is how many times have they paid to put gas in the truck and send someone there over the same issue? 3 in a month is typically the magic number. It's worth your time to show them there's a pattern of them not fixing things.

The best way to get results after doing the above is to call talk to someone to cancel the service, they will inevitably try to convince you not to cancel and you tell them the terms of keeping you as a customer.

Your local government can also be helpful, whether you have a utilities commission, BBB, etc. look on your bill, do you pay city/county taxes on it or just state? That is a good starting point also. In a lot of places, utility locators are set up through the city/county anyway so if you start with that, have paint on the ground already and save them a step, they basically have no excuse not to run a new line for you unless they just simply aren't going to. Then you can have the best answer you're going to get.

 

[SARG]

What Stadger said above applies to all the companies. Landlines are slowly becoming obsolete ...... soon secure phone lines will be a thing of the past.

 

[Firebrick43]

Here they won't repair them in the rural areas anymore. They give you a cordless phone and base that is actually a cell phone. So many people have canceled their landlines that the income drone remaining customers can't support the cost to maintain.

 

[kwschumm]

If CenturyLink would supply decent DSL service more than 1.5mbps I'd keep the land line. I'm not paying $100/month for slow internet and a land line. Verizon ***** here but AT&T has a great signal. When my Verizon contract ends I'll be installing AT&T 4G for phone and internet and dumping CenturyLink entirely. I'd like to keep a CHEAP land line for the monitored security system but these days you can buy a cell phone dialer for them for less than $150.

 

[DCarr2]

While land lines are going the way of the dinosaur, its often a very reliable network that is also very robust.

For instance, in 2006, the WNY area was hit with 8 feet of heavy wet snow, in the moddle of october, with leaves still on all the trees. the damage to trees was catastrophic. People were with out power for weeks... 2-3 weeks was the norm, to be with out power.

And it wasnt out in the sticks, first ring suburbs around the city of buffalo were with out power for weeks...

the trees fell took out the power lines. no power = no cell service as people quickly realised that cell towers didnt work, so cell phones dont work.

So while you can charge your phone in your car, it doesnt matter as 90% of all cell towers had no power.

Do you know, what DID work?

Land line telephones. Infact, most people who still had a land line, had a working telephone even though they had no power, no internet, and no cable tv.

So, while land lines may be a loser, they shouldnt be entirely abandoned, because its a technology that is more reliable, than cell phones.

 

[kwschumm]

While land lines are going the way of the dinosaur, its often a very reliable network that is also very robust.

For instance, in 2006, the WNY area was hit with 8 feet of heavy wet snow, in the moddle of october, with leaves still on all the trees. the damage to trees was catastrophic. People were with out power for weeks... 2-3 weeks was the norm, to be with out power.

And it wasnt out in the sticks, first ring suburbs around the city of buffalo were with out power for weeks...

the trees fell took out the power lines. no power = no cell service as people quickly realised that cell towers didnt work, so cell phones dont work.

So while you can charge your phone in your car, it doesnt matter as 90% of all cell towers had no power.

Do you know, what DID work?

Land line telephones. Infact, most people who still had a land line, had a working telephone even though they had no power, no internet, and no cable tv.

So, while land lines may be a loser, they shouldnt be entirely abandoned, because its a technology that is more reliable, than cell phones.

In rural areas seems that when trees fall on power lines they take the land lines down too. When I lived in the boonies phone service went down more than power. The security system seemed to announce "Phone Line Down" every few weeks.

 

[ezover]

What Stadger said above applies to all the companies. Landlines are slowly becoming obsolete ...... soon secure phone lines will be a thing of the past.

they are allowing company's in mich. to not replace or fix land lines in some rural areas of the state. I have not had a land line in my house in close to 15 years. I mistakenly cut the line several years back while digging and never called them to fix it.

 

[manwithtools]

While land lines are going the way of the dinosaur, its often a very reliable network that is also very robust.

For instance, in 2006, the WNY area was hit with 8 feet of heavy wet snow, in the moddle of october, with leaves still on all the trees. the damage to trees was catastrophic. People were with out power for weeks... 2-3 weeks was the norm, to be with out power.

And it wasnt out in the sticks, first ring suburbs around the city of buffalo were with out power for weeks...

the trees fell took out the power lines. no power = no cell service as people quickly realised that cell towers didnt work, so cell phones dont work.

So while you can charge your phone in your car, it doesnt matter as 90% of all cell towers had no power.

Do you know, what DID work?

Land line telephones. Infact, most people who still had a land line, had a working telephone even though they had no power, no internet, and no cable tv.

So, while land lines may be a loser, they shouldnt be entirely abandoned, because its a technology that is more reliable, than cell phones.

You do realize that most land lines today don't go very far before they are tied into VOIP based centralized systems? The POTS days' are long gone. If land lines continue to work in a catastrophic situation, it will be strictly by chance these days.

 

[Wanna Ride]

I also live in a rural area, and gave up a landline about fifteen years ago. Internet is provided through Mediacom (a small cable company), works pretty good most of the time. Had the same cell service for over twenty years... also works pretty good, most of the time.

None of them are perfect, but I hear a lot of horror stories from companies like Comcast, etc.

Anyways, some people are insistent to live in 1975 technology, and pissed because the rest of the world is progressing. I guess another communication alternative would be smoke signals, and jungle drums. I'm fifty years old and even I know that the world is progressing daily. I mean... we have a little magic box in our pocket that we can press a few buttons on, and hot food can be brought to us, usually in under thirty minutes. Or we can request a car and driver that will show up and take us wherever we want to go. And that same box can tell us what the weather will be like next week, we can watch movies on it, listen to hundreds of hours of music with it, find out how to drive a direct path to any specific destination, thousands of miles away, we can buy anything imaginable and have it sent to us anywhere in the world... and some old fogies insist on actually using an ink pen and these little strips of paper in a pocket ledger, to pay for groceries. WTF?

Sorry for my rant...

 

[Dagny]

The nearest cell tower is 16 miles using a hot spot right now with a booster. It's slower than the land line when it's working. I have relatives with satellite internet they say they can't watch a netflix movie without it stopping.

 

[dbabicky]

I can understand the OP's dilemma completely. I also live in Northern Wisconsin. I don't have much trouble with the land line, except sometimes when it's really wet out. Now, my cell service leaves a lot to be desired out here in the boonies where I live so I keep the frickin Century Link land line. I despise paying the $100.00 every month just for the priviledge of receiving unwanted calls from assholes trying to sell me ****. I rarely answer the thing, (I have caller ID, and if I don't recognize the number, I don't answer), but I keep it for emergency's in case my cell won't work.

 

[58Yeoman]

I live in a rural area that has only the phone lines for dsl, and that one is Centurylink. There is no cable for the net or tv. We all know how well satellite works, so I'm not paying Hughes or anyone else for that. Cell phones just make it if I don't move around too much. What does that leave me? Centurylink dsl for land line and tv.

 

[JackTheTank]

Just realized that I haven't used my land line this year.. Think it's time to cancel!

 

[wssix99]

Next time it happens, find the lineman who comes to fix the problem. Ask them why it keeps failing and that will give you ammunition to get the problem fixed permanently. (You will then have something specific to complain to the company about.)

If you can get things go to a point where they issue a work order to replace a specific piece of equipment or infrastructure, the lineman will come out prepared with the right parts and they will be less likely to put duct tape on the problem each time.

 

[theoldwizard1]

First, document all of your issues. Keep a diary of when it failed and when it was fixed.

After, you have acquired a dozen or so, contact your states public service commission. These are the folks who approve, or not, any rate increases or expansion plans.

Government moves slow, but when kicked in the right spot, it does move. I had a friend who did this and even though it took almost 2 years, the utility in question made some major upgrade in his area.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Next time it happens, find the lineman who comes to fix the problem. Ask them why it keeps failing and that will give you ammunition to get the problem fixed permanently. (You will then have something specific to complain to the company about.)

^^^ This... Without knowing the cause, it's all speculation on your part... Could be a gopher chewing on the line... Could be some faulty equipment between you and the CO... Could be something in the CO itself... A million different things can go wrong...

If you can catch a repair man, I'm sure they would be more than happy to give you the direct number to the supervisor that is in charge of your area. I've had more luck talking to them as they know the area and what's going on and can help address your issues (including re-running a line if necessary) vs. corporate that is clueless...

 

[kbuhagiar]

First, document all of your issues. Keep a diary of when it failed and when it was fixed.

After, you have acquired a dozen or so, contact your states public service commission. These are the folks who approve, or not, any rate increases or expansion plans.

Government moves slow, but when kicked in the right spot, it does move. I had a friend who did this and even though it took almost 2 years, the utility in question made some major upgrade in his area.

Completely agree.

In California, the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) holds sway over whether a utility can justify a rate increase. I used to work as a Cable Maintenance Tech for Pacific Telephone, and anytime a customer threatened to make a CPUC complaint we went code red and dropped everything to make sure the fault in question was promptly repaired.

I would contact the local Public Utilities Commission sooner, not later, and then advise the Telco that a complaint was filed. That may give the repair a higher priority.

Good luck!

 

[Casey69]

Is there a Public Service Commission in Wi?

as others mentioned, contact the PUC & file a complaint. you've done as much as you can with the company.

i ditched my landline years ago. it was $50/month with a call package & taxes. & i'm not paying $600/year to have a landline phone during a doomsday scenario, as there'd probably be other things i'd need to attend to.

 

[theoldwizard1]

i ditched my landline years ago. it was $50/month with a call package & taxes. & i'm not paying $600/year to have a landline phone during a doomsday scenario, ...

I got a buddy that does ! He swear the old copper phone lines are still powered by giant lead acid batteries. Not sure where those batteries are kept no a days as most switch stations are closed.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I got a buddy that does ! He swear the old copper phone lines are still powered by giant lead acid batteries. Not sure where those batteries are kept no a days as most switch stations are closed.

Every central office (CO) has large battery backups and a giant generator to handle power outages. They have to because phone service is considered critical / essential. So if you happen to have POTS then as long as the lines aren't damaged yeah you will always have service.

If you have a VOIP (like uverse) then the RTs/VRADs also need power. I *think* they have a battery in them but I've also seen during extended outages (after a hurricane) where they hooked up a portable generator to a mil-style connector on the side.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

I ditched the land line about 5-6 years ago. There was times you could barely have a conversation with all the static and noise. Another company ran fiber-optic cable in my rural area a couple years ago, I have basic cable TV and internet from them now. The TV is good but I really like that fiber-optic internet service.

 

[denis4x4]

Like most here, I live in a rural area with crappy AT&T cell service. Since we have an elevator in the house, a land line is almost mandatory as there is a hand set inside the car. Absolutely no cell service in the elevator, even with an AT&T micro-cell. When power outages occur, I can use an old fashioned wired phone to call the power company!

 

[Two Speed]

In rural areas seems that when trees fall on power lines they take the land lines down too. When I lived in the boonies phone service went down more than power. The security system seemed to announce "Phone Line Down" every few weeks.

Telephone line usually shares the same poles as the power lines, strung below on the pole itself. In rural areas, usually taken out by ag equipment entering/exit fields and snagging the line (happened a lot where my grandparents had a farm. line just high enough to clear most things, but quite often an errant sway over a rock or getting the cultivater in the ditch with one wheel kicking up the high side higher yet) . Which is why you get both power+phone outtage if a tree falls across, and why you get randomn phone outages when somebody snags the line.

 

[Slednut]

I've worked for a phone company for 26 years, a big problem in rural areas are people and their shot guns.

All our main cables are underground but aerial drops and C wire are constantly failing because of shot imbedded it them.

A lot of the time people kill their own service.

 

[jeremylyric]

There should be like a better business bureau where you can report about this.
__________________________________
movers in baltimore

 

[theoldwizard1]

Every central office (CO) has large battery backups and a giant generator to handle power outages.

There are very few (if any) CO in major metropolitan areas.

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

The copper phone lines here were put in around 40 years ago.

 

[EOC_Jason]

There are very few (if any) CO in major metropolitan areas.

Every exchange has at least one CO, and most big cities have dozens. They are very plain buildings that most people drive by daily and never even know exist.

In some larger cities they can consume several floors of high-rise buildings (like in NYC).

There are websites where you can do a search for COs.

The wires from your home don't just magically mesh into a giant bundle that crosses the country. Everything phone company related (voice & data) all terminate in COs...

 

[kbuhagiar]

There are very few (if any) CO in major metropolitan areas.

Hello Mr. Wizard,

I beg to differ - there are eight COs in San Francisco alone....

Steiner
Folsom
McCoppin
Bush/Pine
9th Avenue
Onondaga
Plaza
25th Street

Cheers, Ken

 

[engineer2]

We had phone line problems with AT&T. Noise on the phone line after a heavy rain made it unusable.
AT&T would send guys out. No problem found, because the line would dry out by the time they got there. I could see the noise on my oscilliscope after it rained.
During the 5th visit I suggested he pick a another pair of lines from the bundle to connect to our house. They thought that was a good idea and eventually found a bad cable farther down the block.
I realized AT&T repair techs were creating work for themselve to keep busy and keep the overtime coming.

 

[Fueler]

I had hughesnet for a few years. It works fine as long as you learn how it works. Rule 1: need help, go to the internet. Rule 2: Do not call support. It's in India. Rule 3: See rule 1.

I had to use this for biz. As is well known you will not be watching movies, short vids maybe, but for browsing, downloading and biz it works fine. The latest versions are supposedly faster and better but no way for me to test now.

A local line of sight company opened up and had a tower near me. WISP I think they call that kind of service. Tried it out and it was great. So much so that we can watch vids, live TV, do biz, and run our Voip phones off of it. Now that they have oversold the service it gets a bit wonky from time to time but they keep promising to run cable out this way. Here is hoping.

If Hughesnet is all there is then I would give it a try since mine as well as others experience is dated.

At one time I had 4 dishes hanging off of the shop. 1 little one now for the WISP.