[Hidden-tech] Phone Service Alternatives?

Reva Reck reva at revareck.com
Tue Jan 5 19:18:21 EST 2010


I don't think you're right about that. In Warwick we were without power 
for about 5 days. We lost phone service twice, both for fairly short 
periods in the middle of the power outage period. Like Wendell, we also 
have the 544 exchange out of Orange.

/Reva Reck/

/reva//@//revareck.com/



Robert Heller wrote:
> At Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:23:39 -0500 Reva Reck <reva at revareck.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> MIME-Version: 1.0
>>
>>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I think there's a lot to be said for keeping a true copper landline, 
>> especially if you live in a remote area. You can get their cheapest plan 
>> - one where you pay for every call - for very little money, and then use 
>> something like magicJack or whatever for most of your actual phone 
>> calls. I think people should think about being without power, possibly 
>> in a situation where roads are impassable, and having no way to make a 
>> phone call. For those of us who don't get cell service at our homes, 
>> that's a prettty scary scenario. Even if you do get cell service at your 
>> home, will the cell tower you get your signal from be operational if 
>> there are widespread power outages?
>>     
>
> Actually, I think Verizon no longer bothers to maintain any sort of
> long-term backup power for the copper phone system -- any long term
> power failure generally takes the phone server down too.  It might be
> delayed for 10-12 hours or something.  Last year's ice storm did NOT
> knock the main phone lines down in Wendell, but phone service was
> down until *power* was restored in Orange (the location of the CO for
> Wendell). People with generators and satelite internet were able to stay
> on-line and in communication.  Wendell's emergency planning is working
> on the assumption that phone service will be out in the event of any
> major emergency.
>
>
>   
>> /Reva Reck/
>>
>> /reva//@//revareck.com/
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert Heller wrote:
>>     
>>>    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>>>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>>>
>>>
>>> At Tue, 5 Jan 2010 12:08:47 -0500 Frank Aronson <fsaronson at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>>>> Keep in mind that both MagicJack and Phone Power are both VoIP and are not
>>>> true landlines.  The great advantage to Phone Power is that it doesn't
>>>> require a "server" (a computer to run the software) as its all contained in
>>>> the "free" adapter (a la Vonage).  I assume it also works a bit better than
>>>> MagicJack and the cost is lower than Vonage (right now you can get a
>>>> residential line for $8.33/year with a two year commitment).
>>>>
>>>> The only *true* landline you're going to find is Verizon.  We have Comcast,
>>>> but if you lose power, you're pretty much down (yes, there's a battery
>>>> backup, but it doesn't last forever).  The old copper lines will still
>>>> provide power to your wired phone even if you can't see the buttons in the
>>>> dark!
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>> It should also be noted: Verizon wants to get out of the copper landline
>>> business.  Verizon is also *barely* maintaining the copper landline
>>> infrastructure, which in rural areas can be pretty bad (there are people
>>> who lose phone service when it rains because the phone cables fill up
>>> with water).  Oh, Verizon charges something like $60/month for service
>>> that is equivalent to Vonage (eg nationwide long distance, voicemail,
>>> etc.). Not really the best deal available (probably the *worst* deal
>>> available). 
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>>>> Frank
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>>   
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
>>> Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2601 - Release Date: 01/05/10 02:35:00
>>>
>>>   
>>>       
>> MIME-Version: 1.0
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net
>> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
>>
>> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list.
>> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members   
>> page on the Hidden Tech Web site.
>> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members
>>
>>                                                               
>>     
>
>   
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
> Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2601 - Release Date: 01/05/10 02:35:00
>
>   
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20100105/53ab5fb4/attachment-0001.html 


Google

More information about the Hidden-discuss mailing list