Tired of Wireless, Back to Ma Bell Classic

[runco]

I don’t know about you, but I am very tired of all of this wireless stuff. For many weeks now, with our home phone, we cannot answer our phone because one of the kids has lost the wireless handset, I think it was my wife. We can hear the base ring, and the answering machine will answer, we just cannot answer. In fact just the other day, Ed McMann called, I believe he is dead, but wow that must have been $10,000,000 call, I couldn't answer it!!! Anyway, we have not owned a wired phone in probably 8 years, and the last ones we bought were cheap Wal-Mart/Kmart junk. We have young children, if one of them had to call 911, we would be in trouble. Yes, we have cell phones, smart phones, etc., but the smart phones are not so smart when the battery dies which is a daily occurrence. The kids can find games on the phones, but not the key pad to call 911. So not so smart.

So this past week, I found on eBay just a simple Bell South princess phone, new in a box, probably late 80s or early 90s vintage. Yea, I could have bought a new wired phone from Wal-Mart, but I just wanted a simple reliable phone that is basically indestructible. It arrived today, and my kids didn't know what to think. What’s the wire for dad? Now I am afraid they will jerk the wire out to the wall. At least when the phone rings, I know exactly where to go in my house to answer the phone. The kids will know how to call 911 without being distracted by Angry Birds while the house burns down or dad croaks from a heart attack. The ringer is just like what I remember, just the classic sound. Remember when all phone ringers sounded the same? Not the sounds of "...I'm sexy and I know it.."

BTW Have you seen on eBay prices for old used rotary and princess phones. I am talking about phones that were common in the 70s and 80s.

[mj12]

We recently did away with our landline, not needed if each of us has a cell phone. But the wirelss phone we were using had a button on the charger that would ring the handset when pushed.

[10-Ring]

I know what you mean Runco, technology is great but sometimes it gets overwhelming. Kids don't know how to function without it. Our 3 year old can not function without her mother's phone and her portable DVD player. Well she will function but she is cranky and throws a constant tantrum. If it was up to me I would be getting her over that but her mother objects. I'm the opposite of most folks, I have a landline but no cell. No reception at the house, no reception at work, no reception in between, therefore it doesn't do me a whole lot of good. I did buy a phone with a cord the other day though, I figured if the power is ever out and I need to make a phone call then that cordless isn't going to do me a whole lot of good. I'm not completely ignorant of technology, but I don't embrace it all either. I guess you would say that I'm the kind of guy that can appreciate a phone without a cord but I have to draw the line there, I don't care much for those phones that you can drive down the road talking on. Believe it or not I like the fact that I do not have a cell phone, it gives me a sense of freedom that future generations will never know.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

We have a bit of both. The "anchor" Ma Bell was getting very expensive at over 100 bucks each line.

We have four Iphones with At&T and have just about decided to cut the line on the "anchor". I don't

see benefits any more and if the power goes out, either one is useless to my knowledge.

[Murgatroy]

Three cells and a VOIP through our ISP for a home phone.

I pay ~$175 for 30Meg internet, 300+ channels, unlimited phone services on the home and nearly unlimited on my cells. Granted, one of them is paid for by work.

As for the phone, old school phones didn't require external power. They get their power through the phone lines. Old pushbutton and rotary dial phones work when the power is out.

[Oh Shoot]

... I don't see benefits any more and if the power goes out, either one is useless to my knowledge.

As for the phone, old school phones didn't require external power. They get their power through the phone lines. Old pushbutton and rotary dial phones work when the power is out.

Yup, long as the phone line into home is still viable, good to go even with no juice.

When the tornadoes hit in N.Bama/SE TN last year, I was at Mom's, no power for two weeks. My dialup puter account saved the day, though I had to charge puter over at nearby house that had juice.

- OS

Edited September 25, 2012 by OhShoot

[Hershmeister]

But who will you call when the power goes out? No one else has a land line anymore

[Motasyco]

Old school. I love it. Wired. The way it ought to be.

[Mike.357]

a lot of people have landlines, most importantly 911 has a landline.

I have debated for a while getting rid of my land phone. But I just can't pull that plug. I guess it is a symptom of old age.

We do have one corded phone that does not depend on electricity to work. I ain't getting rid of it.,

I did lose my cordless handset once. Set it on the toolbox of the truck then later that day drove off. Never saw it again, LOL. Using the finder feature was useless.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

But who will you call when the power goes out? No one else has a land line anymore

You took care of that one, thanks.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Mac, you're right about the current through the old landlines, but have you ever tried to use one when the

lights are out? Ma Bell has to draw juice to supply more than those phones, and they don't have enough

back up juice to accomplish much. The digital age has really changed what we assumed.

It used to be the case about the old juiced up phones, but I wouldn't expect more than static when the lights

go out.

[Oh Shoot]

Mac, you're right about the current through the old landlines, but have you ever tried to use one when the

lights are out? Ma Bell has to draw juice to supply more than those phones, and they don't have enough

back up juice to accomplish much. The digital age has really changed what we assumed.

It used to be the case about the old juiced up phones, but I wouldn't expect more than static when the lights

go out.

Nothing has changed with current corded landlines, or the phone line supply to them. They all still work when the power goes out. Last experience was with Mom's, with a current cheapo corded phone, with half of Hamilton County powerless. And dialup internet worked fine, too.

Perhaps you've overdosed?

- OS

Edited September 25, 2012 by OhShoot

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Yeh, smartass

No, I haven't tried to use one in a while, but I remember measuring up to something like 60 volts DC and

couldn't believe it.

That is definitely good news though. I just remember once a long time ago during one of the Clarksville

storms, tornado, I think, phones didn't work like everything else. Of course there weren't too many poles

standing near my house, either.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

And speaking of overdose, My right arm has improved to the point of holding a small cup of coffee.

I'm so glad to be a lefty.

[Oh Shoot]

And speaking of overdose, My right arm has improved to the point of holding a small cup of coffee.

I'm so glad to be a lefty.

Good to hear that, certainly hope the hassle and pain turn out to be worth it.

Seems specs call for 48 volt DC when not in use, probably varies, though, just like actual AC voltage.

But anyway, unless the telco's back up generators and battery banks fail, the old standard phone system still works fine.

But yeah, you do have to have an actual intact line all the way into your abode, too. Certainly, lots of folks lost that during the tornadoes as trees took down phone lines too.

- OS

Edited September 25, 2012 by OhShoot

[TMF]

The last time I had a landline phone caller ID was revolutionary and cost me 10 bucks extra a month.

[mikegideon]

The 48 volts is called battery, and is backed up by batteries. Still works as well as it always did.

[10-Ring]

But who will you call when the power goes out? No one else has a land line anymore

The first place I would call would be the power company to tell them to come get the power back on. Pretty sure they still have corded phones over there.

[Jonnin]

I have always stayed wired. Wireless internet has never worked for me --- as a gamer, it just is not reliable enough 100% of the time. A few dropouts are fine for web browsing but when that disconnects you in the middle of a tough boss fight in a game, that is not good.

I have never gotten into the cell phone thing either. I had one for about 3 months once with all the goodies, web and email and more, but it was an expensive toy of zero practical value. I now have a prepaid walmart phone that cost like $10 a month or so, and a landline. The cell is for emergencies or travel and just stays in my car.

The only other thing I have wireless is my kindle and they broke the web browser for it because amazon is lame. It worked great for a while but right about the time they announced no more free wireless on the new devices, the web mysteriously stopped working but their store is still accessible 24-7. At least I can still get books on it without buying a wireless router.

[glowdotGlock]

Corded phones do work when the power is out. They will not, however work if an entire pole or something has collapsed or the line has been broken but just during a power outage, they work the same.

[Hershmeister]

Not many corded phones in the new tv show Revolution or The Walking Dead

[Oh Shoot]

Not many corded phones in the new tv show Revolution or The Walking Dead

The zombies don't know how to refuel the phone company's generators, or they could have phone service. But the conversations between zombies are pretty boring anyway, just lots of mmmmmm and aaaarrrgggh and so forth.

- OS

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Good to hear that, certainly hope the hassle and pain turn out to be worth it.

Seems specs call for 48 volt DC when not in use, probably varies, though, just like actual AC voltage.

But anyway, unless the telco's back up generators and battery banks fail, the old standard phone system still works fine.

But yeah, you do have to have an actual intact line all the way into your abode, too. Certainly, lots of folks lost that during the tornadoes as trees took down phone lines too.

- OS

I didn't know that. I recall a lineman telling me years ago that the farther away from the central switching office,

the lower the voltage tended to be. I've toyed with getting rid of both landlines, but every time I do, wife and I put it off.

Damned things are expensive, nowadays, with all the zombie taxes added.

[10-Ring]

Not many corded phones in the new tv show Revolution or The Walking Dead

Not too concerned with what's on TV, I live in the real world over here. No zombies!

[Mark@Sea]

I have a 1921 model on the telephone stand, and a late '30's on the wall in the kitchen. The '21 has a separate ringer box.

Both worked fine up until a week ago; when the logger did a bit of grading he took my buried phone line out. The wife complained a little about my 'antiques', until the first time she lost power and was still able to use them, while the fancy cordless rig was useless.

Nominal phone voltage is 48VDC. Caution, if the phone line is on the same pole as your power, you may pick up some induced current. Can get right lively.

Sometime next week, if I can get a trench dug from the new shop building to the house, I'm running (in addition to power) a line for the sound-powered phone in the shop to one in the house.