Author Topic: Home phone through high-speed internet (Read 5521 times)

MariaCatherine · « **on:** March 03, 2014, 03:56:06 PM »

Good idea or no?

Thanks.

Mabel · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2014, 04:05:10 PM »

Great idea, especially if you love to save money.

I have MagicJack, works great and costs about $30 per year.

We were spending $50 per month on phone before that.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2014, 04:12:06 PM »

Ever have dropped calls, like on a cell phone? About once a week or so my computer loses its connection, for some reason. I could put up with one dropped call a week, since, as you say, it's ridiculously inexpensive.

Mabel · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2014, 06:33:57 PM »

I had some trouble with the earlier model and when I ran that earlier model through my computer. We didn't get dropped calls so much as it would sound like I was underwater and we would have to hang up and call back.

I think with the newer device that you set it up by plugging it into your USB port and then you can unplug it and just run it directly through your router, without a desktop computer? This is how mine is set up currently. I haven't had a problem with the newer model yet.

I don't know much about what else is out there but there are other options.

One of the best things about it over the years is that we have never had a telemarketer call in the last four years. The only calls other than people we have given the number to, I think, have been from legitimate services we have used to check up on a problem or an order. We don't really even get wrong number more than once or twice a year.

JohnAnthonyMarie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2014, 09:27:55 AM »

I can concur with Mabel; I've been using the second generation magicjack device as my house phone for a year and a half now.

SenzaDubbio · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2014, 01:44:30 PM »

I recommend the OBi. I've been using it for a couple months and it's been great. Voicemails can be sent to your email (gmail). You can also text with it. You get a free # through google, and sync it with the OBi. If you use gmail you can also make calls from your computer. There is a cheaper version that doesn't have the line out to make a 911 call.

Even if you didn't buy this, you can get a free # through google and make calls from your PC/tablet.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0045RMEPI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0045RMEPI&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2014, 06:20:36 PM »

I have my phone through Skype. It's under $90 a year: $30 for the phone number per year, and then $54.00 for the 12 months of Skype premium. It runs right through my computer, and I can call whoever I want, whenever I want.

I'd thought of Magic Jack, but this was just more convenient for me since my computer is almost always running.

Also, of course I have internet, which is needed for it too, so I guess that would increase the expense... except that I would have already gotten internet service, so it's really not adding anything anyway.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2014, 04:30:47 PM »

Thanks everyone. It's finally set up (through a local provider). I spent at least 9 hours on my cell phone with 'technical support' over the last few days getting it to work and it finally does! Had to reset the adapter, configure the computer, and whatnot. I might be their only customer with such an old computer and phone - not to mention brain! They seemed to be learning as they were going. What a trial! My cell phone kept dropping calls and every time I called back I got a different person so it was like starting from the beginning. Grrr!

ggreg · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2014, 05:57:10 PM »

I use Skype for all my calls as it is VERY efficient for business calls. Unfortunately there is no economic way to get internet here in the UK without renting a phone line too, since the internet comes into your house on the twisted copper pair.

You can get fibre internet but then they sell you TV and phone and internet which is even more expensive.

So we have a house phone we hardly use.

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2014, 08:11:43 PM »

Question: can the phone connection make the computer slower? If so, can this happen even when the phone isn't in use?

shin · « **Reply #10 on:** March 16, 2014, 09:31:51 AM »

If the computer phone program is running in the background, it's possible.

It's tough having an older computer at times!

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:25:10 PM »

Yesterday I bought a new phone so I could have a caller list and not only did it not work, but now my old phone doesn't either. I've been trying to get 'customer service' to help over the last 24 hours and no one can seem to figure out what happened.

There's a webpage I used to configure the adapter and I can't access that page anymore. After the phone was finally working I thought I'd try Panda Cloud instead of AVG (both free versions). Could that have something to do with why I can't access that page anymore? I can't think of anything else I've changed. I don't have access to another phone to talk with 'support', and it takes ages to get a reply from them by email.

SenzaDubbio · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:48:18 PM »

What kind of phone service to you go with?

MariaCatherine · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:54:09 PM »

It's through high-speed internet (DSL). There's a modem for the internet, and an adapter for the phone.

SenzaDubbio · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:58:30 PM »

You could temporarily disable the antivirus to see if that is blocking you.