Death knell for landlines - RANT

[wcampbell47]

Many of you live in an area where you get some cell phone signal. If you can get at least 1 bar then look into a cell phone signal booster. I sold and installed boosters in my area until Verizon brought 4G LTE into range.

https://www.weboost.com/us/

These boosters do work. They can be self installed. Just read the directions, then re-read to pickup tips you missed the first time around.The Pro is that these boosters work with all major carriers. The weak signal outside the home can be picked up with the external antennae and carried by cable to the powered booster inside the house. The booster amplifies and sends the signal to an internal antennae which is then picked up by your phone. You can get 3 to 4 bars on your phone if properly installed and the external antennae is positioned correctly. The signal back to the tower is boosted as well.

The Con is they are not cheap - but it is a one time purchase with 2 year warranty.

https://www.weboost.com/us/

 

[MossRoad]

$4-$500.... yikes!

 

[wcampbell47]

$4-$500.... yikes!

I saved several marriages by installing the boosters. Wife could call Mom and Kids without dropping calls. They could call the Wife. E 911 could be set up and worked. Do you realize how much cheaper that is than a divorce?? LOL

 

[wcampbell47]

$4-$500.... yikes!

Seeing that you are a computer techie - a wireless network can be established using a Cradle Point wireless router that accepts a cellular modem. The booster then amplifies the modem data to the tower. The Cradle Point router can accept multiple connections and will also accept cable or satellite connection to the internet. I use an MBR 900.

 

[ultrarunner]

I keep landline for 2 reasons, 911 and to call my Dad. He is hard of hearing, and can understand me better on the wired phone than on my cell phone.

This is the same problem I have and maybe a third of the time it is near impossible to have a normal conversation...

Cell to Cell is the worst.

My boss has a habit of making calls on the road... I can never have a conversation... ever.

 

[stuckmotor]

I'm on a wireless hotspot now. The device is shirt pocket sized. My wife deals with telecommunications so all I can say is that the device has ZE in the back and we get 6GB a month. I'm not sure what it costs.

the quick and dirty way it to make a hotspot with your ATT smart phone. Then wirelessly connect your laptop to it. Just takes a few seconds. Of course it eats into your data plan, so you need to have a big enough data plan on your smartphone to accommodate that.

TBN and normal email and such would be no problem.. But watching video... eh, not so much unless your data plan is generous. 15G is 100 bucks,. and 5Gig is $50 now from ATT and you can share it with all of your devices. As for the desktop, you could put a wireless card in it too to use your phones hotspot.. Only problem is the hotspot in the smartphone drains the battery in a hurry, and when you take your smartphone with you, well there goes the hotspot down the road, and the other family members now have no internet access. give them a call, I bet they have a wireless hotspot device for the home service.

 

[CurlyDave]

Why do you have a landline?

We have a land line because DW's business requires a fax machine. I have tried long and hard to find a wireless provider that can connect to a fax -- no luck.

I know there are internet fax sites where someone can send a fax and you receive it as an email attachment, but she doesn't like that.

It is expensive, but it seems to be a necessary cost.

 

[MossRoad]

I saved several marriages by installing the boosters. Wife could call Mom and Kids without dropping calls. They could call the Wife. E 911 could be set up and worked. Do you realize how much cheaper that is than a divorce?? LOL

Never considered divorce.... never asked my spouse here thoughts on the matter, though. :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Seeing that you are a computer techie - a wireless network can be established using a Cradle Point wireless router that accepts a cellular modem. The booster then amplifies the modem data to the tower. The Cradle Point router can accept multiple connections and will also accept cable or satellite connection to the internet. I use an MBR 900.

EX-computer techie.... 28 years in I.T. made me realize I no longer enjoy computers because there are no longer moving, repairable, parts. Heck, there's not too many machines considering the proliferation of VMs. I am now a maintenance technician on moving machinery and get my hands filthy dirty every day. Ahhhh.... that feels good. :thumbsup:

 

[kcflhrc]

Yes... so how can the phone companies give up copper in areas where there is no alternative?

That absolutely makes no sense. I know my company, one of the top 3 in the country, isn't giving up any copper cable. The only thing getting fiber is some of the newer subdivisions. Also keep in mind if there is no Carrier of last resort in your state you are screwed. No one has to give you service. In my state we get additional funding to be the COLR in this state. A lot of Telco's are trying to get out of this commitment because the cost to maintain aging cable or install new is cost prohibitive. Yes, we are in the business to make money.