Device on line that allows PCs and Phone together

[BillG_in_TX]

Re: Device on line that allows PCs and Phone toget

I solved the problem I think you are trying to address by adding "Busy Call Forwarding" to my line. This automatically forwards calls to my cell phone only when the computer is on-line (or we're talking). Doesn't require Call Waiting (which I won't use) and does pass through the Caller ID.

This has worked very well for us, and allowed us to cancel the second line we had for a while. No missed calls, no dropped connections, Caller ID still works, and it only costs about $2/mo. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[rlk]

Re: Device on line that allows PCs and Phone toget

Bill, that is an excellent idea. Unfortunately, my cell phone does not work well at home. I can walk about 100 yards down the road and it works well, but at home, for some reason it rarely works. Even the old analog 3 watt ones would not work at home. Must be something in the air

Sounds like you have the right idea for others though. Thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[chrisjbell]

Re: Device on line that allows PCs and Phone toget

Definately get DSL if it is available in your area...but if you are too far from the telco switch it won't be (and I expect that many of us on the "Rural" forum are). I've had ISDN, and it beats dialup but has drawbacks. First of all, 128Kb isn't really that fast. Sure, better than dialup (which for those of us with "dirty" phone lines means 14Kb - or less), but nothing near what network engineers consider to be "real throughput".

DSL does much better - 384Kb, I think. Something like that. Plus, you can use voice and data at the same time - no hangups, no worrying about busy signals.

BUT - I had an "issue" with my ISDN line, involving a former employer's policy about re-releasing the line to me. I tried dialup and just could NOT do it. So I just got the DirecWay satellite connection.

I must say, it simply rocks /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif! I'm getting nearly 1Mb "down", which is really what most of us care about. (It drops when it rains, but hasn't cut out on me yet.) "Up" speed is in the 50Kb-100Kb range, but I don't send a whole lot up (this is still quite a bit faster than dialup).

The only problem with it is the cost. Equipment runs nearly $600, and monthly connection is $59. The monthly fee is about what I was paying for ISDN - but I'm in California, which doesn't have the lowest rates for anything /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. They do a no-interest finance deal where you pay $99 / mo. for the first year and that covers everything, which is what I did.

The only way I'm able to justify it is that I use it for my business. I really have to have internet connectivity (doing buisiness without it - especially e-mail - is really not an option any more), dialup is worthless (and would still cost me $50 / mo. for a second phone line - I need to be able to be online and on the phone at the same time), and ISDN is really kind of a pain (it is hard for the phone company to support - it is an odd networking niche).

Anyway, if you can justify the cost it is really easy to set up. They require you to buy installation so all you've got to do is call 'em and they'll be out in a week and you're running.

Ah, 'net access for the country... That's one of the problems with living where there isn't much of an infrastructure, but also one of the benefits - it's worth it...Chris