On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:

> Response to the real Bruce.
>
> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>
> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> with enough minutes to carry on normally.

You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).

-sw

On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>
>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>
>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>
>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>
> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).

Worse than that. Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
The internet access ended 5 months ago.
Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 10:32:37 -0400, Gary wrote:

> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>
>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>>
>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>
>> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
>> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
>> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).
>
> Worse than that. Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."

Cox cable internet at your complex is 25Mbps is $30/mo (50Mbps is
$10 more). And you can do VoIP ("landline") for an extra $10 or
less.

-sw

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>
> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> > On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
> >
> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>
I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
get long distance included in that price?

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>
>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>
>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>
> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> get long distance included in that price?

If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
already hooked up in Gary's place.

He's been getting ripped off for an extra $35/mo x 15+ years. It
costs less to transmit 30 minutes of long distance phone
conversation than it does to stream your local 6:PM newscast over
your Internet connection (and both of those costs are $0). They use
the same conduits, except for Gary's copper phone lines the first
600 yards - which is already installed and working. Then it just
connects to the same SS7 networks as any other cell phone, VoIP, or
landline and whoosh! - off it goes at the same $0 price. The $10
pays for infrastructure only, and Gary's physical infrastructure is
literally 50-60 years old. That $80 worth of copper lines have more
than paid off in that time, and have made for $billions of profits.
You should at most only be paying $2 just for the "privilege" of
just billing you for that $2 and the maintenance of the copper
infrastructure.

But seeing as how it's hurricane territory, $3 would be fair enough.

-sw

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> >>
> >> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
> >>>
> >> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> >> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> >>
> > I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> > But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> > get long distance included in that price?
> >
> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>
Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
wiring is no longer installed or even maintained. The downside to
digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
and no internet service, either.

A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.

On 4/16/2021 6:52 PM, wrote:
> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
>> wrote:
>>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>>
>>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>>>
>>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>>> get long distance included in that price?
>>>
>> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
>> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
>> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
>> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
>> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>>
> Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> wiring is no longer installed or even maintained. The downside to
> digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
> and no internet service, either.

That is not necessarily true. And you need to have your phone and modem
on a UPS.

>
> A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
> for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
> or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.
>

Buy and keep charged a suitable battery, such as for jumping cars. A
cell phone will last a LONG time on that baby.

Plan ahead. Use your head.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 3:56:07 PM UTC-10, Taxed and Spent wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 6:52 PM, wrote:
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
> >> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
> >> wrote:
> >>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> >>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> >>>>
> >>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> >>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> >>> get long distance included in that price?
> >>>
> >> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> >> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> >> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> >> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> >> already hooked up in Gary's place.
> >>
> > Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> > wiring is no longer installed or even maintained. The downside to
> > digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
> > and no internet service, either.
> That is not necessarily true. And you need to have your phone and modem
> on a UPS.
> >
> > A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
> > for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
> > or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> > restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.
> >
> Buy and keep charged a suitable battery, such as for jumping cars. A
> cell phone will last a LONG time on that baby.
>
> Plan ahead. Use your head.

We had our power go out in my little town - the aftermath of a hurricane. The cell phones were useful for a few hours. After that, the batteries on the cell towers fizzled out. Then you can use the cell phones as a flashlight or take pictures of the devastation. What you won't be able to do is make a call.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 8:56:07 PM UTC-5, Taxed and Spent wrote:
>
> On 4/16/2021 6:52 PM, wrote:
> >
> > Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> > wiring is no longer installed or even maintained. The downside to
> > digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
> > and no internet service, either.
> >
> That is not necessarily true. And you need to have your phone and modem
> on a UPS.
>
That's quite possible but I'd rather have ALL my power back instead of just
the phone and modem powered by a $150 and up.
> >
> > A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
> > for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
> > or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> > restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.
> >
> Buy and keep charged a suitable battery, such as for jumping cars. A
> cell phone will last a LONG time on that baby.
>
> Plan ahead. Use your head.
>
When I lose power I just go to my car and charge the phone which is not
used that much. I don't need an extra battery when the ports in the car
are available. I use my head by not buying unnecessary items.

On 4/16/2021 9:52 PM, wrote:
> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
>> wrote:
>>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>>
>>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>>>
>>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>>> get long distance included in that price?
>>>
>> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
>> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
>> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
>> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
>> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>>
> Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> wiring is no longer installed or even maintained. The downside to
> digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
> and no internet service, either.
>
> A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
> for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
> or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.
>
I have a UPS unit so will at least have internet and wifi for a time. I
have a small generator but I don't want to have to run it for hours just
for internet. Originally bought it for medical devices and the
refrigerator. Under normal use my phone is good for 3 days.

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:52:47 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:

>> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
>> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
>> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
>> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
>> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>>
> Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> wiring is no longer installed or even maintained.

The Bells (and AT&T) have not shut down their copper services yet
and are still required to maintain them for grandfathered
neighborhoods in areas where they have no yet converted to fiber.
Which is why Gary was paying $45/mo for phone. He doesn't have
AT&T/Bell fiber options.

> The downside to
> digital service is when electrical power is lost so is the phone service
> and no internet service, either.

I have a battery backup from the DSL router which SBCglobal gave me
for free and didn't require my returning it when I cut the service
It's never been plugged in until recently during the "Big Texas
Freeze" exactly 2 months ago. I charged it and converted the output
polarity to match my current router and it holds a charge and powers
the router for almost 6 hours. So I would have still had landline
through my Google fiber VoIP service when I chose to use it. It also
has a USB jack, but I'm not sure why or even if it ouputs the
optional .5A of power.

But I was somehow in the 8% of the city that still had power, heat,
phone, Internet, and food the whole 4-6 days (**** you Ted Cruz!).
But I did run out of booze for 3 days.

And my cellphones have plenty of extra batteries since I have
several of the same phone with pre-charged batteries. When I start
to leave the house and see I'm below 30%, I just swap out the
batteries. They each last almost a week with my usage.

And while there is a car in the driveway with a charged battery, I
don't have a USB cigarette butt plug for it. Don't need the damned
car to charge a phone. Hrmpf.

> Gary says he no longer
> or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.

I can. But they may not have broccoli pizza or Swanson TV dinners,
is the real problem.

Not having a car is not a problem for those of us without cars (or
vans).

-sw

On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 12:35:12 AM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:52:47 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
> >
> > Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and copper
> > wiring is no longer installed or even maintained.
> >
> The Bells (and AT&T) have not shut down their copper services yet
> and are still required to maintain them for grandfathered
> neighborhoods in areas where they have no yet converted to fiber.
> Which is why Gary was paying $45/mo for phone. He doesn't have
> AT&T/Bell fiber options.
>
About 5 years ago I was noticing I was not receiving any phone calls which
was kind of nice. But then people were complaining "I've called you a dozen
times but you never answer." My reply was the phone didn't ring. I was able
to make calls and internet was chugging right along with no problem. So,
I made the service call and it was my copper wiring. Could they have fixed
it? Probably, but I converted to digital and went wireless with my laptop.
> >
> I have a battery backup from the DSL router which SBCglobal gave me
> for free and didn't require my returning it when I cut the service
> It's never been plugged in until recently during the "Big Texas
> Freeze" exactly 2 months ago. I charged it and converted the output
> polarity to match my current router and it holds a charge and powers
> the router for almost 6 hours. So I would have still had landline
> through my Google fiber VoIP service when I chose to use it. It also
> has a USB jack, but I'm not sure why or even if it ouputs the
> optional .5A of power.
>
When the Christmas Day bombing occurred here in front of the AT&T
building everybody had phone and cell phone service until about noon.
That was that for about a week.
>
> And while there is a car in the driveway with a charged battery, I
> don't have a USB cigarette butt plug for it. Don't need the damned
> car to charge a phone. Hrmpf.
>
Oh well. It is a nice feature on newer cars and did come in handy
last year when the tornado roared through here and no phone service
for 5 days.
> >
> > Gary says he no longer
> > or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> > restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.
> >
> I can. But they may not have broccoli pizza or Swanson TV dinners,
> is the real problem.
>
Hahahahahahahaaaa!
>
> Not having a car is not a problem for those of us without cars (or
> vans).
>
> -sw
>
Ok.

Sqwertz wrote:

> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 18:52:47 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
> > On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 7:28:32 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> >> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> >> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> >> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> >> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> >> already hooked up in Gary's place.
> >>
> > Here, copper wiring is no more. Everything now is digital and
> > copper wiring is no longer installed or even maintained.
>
> The Bells (and AT&T) have not shut down their copper services yet
> and are still required to maintain them for grandfathered
> neighborhoods in areas where they have no yet converted to fiber.
> Which is why Gary was paying $45/mo for phone. He doesn't have
> AT&T/Bell fiber options.
>

Pretty sure I don't either.

On 17/04/2021 02:52, wrote:

> A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
> for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
> or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.
>
He could spend a few dollars on a solar-powered charger. I have one, and
it works well.

wrote:
> A cell phone is useful for emergencies but if power is not available
> for days then a car charging port is needed. Gary says he no longer
> or soon will no longer have a vehicle. I can't see him sitting in a
> restaurant for a few hours charging his phone.

In real life, I've only lost power for 3 days at most. Even with my land
line that always works, I've never called anyone even then.

For that reason, I would never have to charge a cell phone.

On 4/16/2021 8:28 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> already hooked up in Gary's place.

Trouble is call quality and VoIP reliability. You get what you pay for.
AT&T bills me about $40/mo after taxes for my land line, and TCI long
distance +1 calling is 5 cents per minute domestic and Canada. Overseas
rates are very reasonable. For about an hour of long distance per
month, including tax/fees, it costs me maybe $5 for long distance.
That's well worth the added cost for peace of mind and reliability.

On 4/16/2021 8:28 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:49:10 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>
>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>> get long distance included in that price?
>
> If anybody is still charging for long distance, they need to be
> dumped. All companies are offering the same VoIP which includes
> unlimited local and long distance for $10/mo or less(*). The only
> thing that might be extra is any NEW copper phone lines which are
> already hooked up in Gary's place.
>
> He's been getting ripped off for an extra $35/mo x 15+ years. It
> costs less to transmit 30 minutes of long distance phone
> conversation than it does to stream your local 6:PM newscast over
> your Internet connection (and both of those costs are $0). They use
> the same conduits, except for Gary's copper phone lines the first
> 600 yards - which is already installed and working. Then it just
> connects to the same SS7 networks as any other cell phone, VoIP, or
> landline and whoosh! - off it goes at the same $0 price. The $10
> pays for infrastructure only, and Gary's physical infrastructure is
> literally 50-60 years old. That $80 worth of copper lines have more
> than paid off in that time, and have made for $billions of profits.
> You should at most only be paying $2 just for the "privilege" of
> just billing you for that $2 and the maintenance of the copper
> infrastructure.
>
> But seeing as how it's hurricane territory, $3 would be fair enough.
>
> -sw

Thanks Steve (and all others) for your input. I'll figure out what is
best soonly.

On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>
>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>
>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>
> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> get long distance included in that price?

Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.

My mom has unlimited LD calls like normal people do so she calls me each
Saturday morning and we talk for a couple of hours. No charge for me
since it's an incoming call and no charge for her since she has unlimited.

The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought her
cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).

On 4/17/2021 8:16 AM, Gary wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>
>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>> get long distance included in that price?
>
> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
> area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.
>
> My mom has unlimited LD calls like normal people do so she calls me each
> Saturday morning and we talk for a couple of hours. No charge for me
> since it's an incoming call and no charge for her since she has unlimited.
>
> The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought her
> cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

If you have long distance through Verizon, they are ripping you off.
The carriers like Verizon, AT&T, etc change a boat-load for long
distance. Usually a $5 monthly fee, and tons of taxes to boot. If you
keep your land line, let me know, and I can recommend you to a much
cheaper long distance company that only charges $5 total if you use an
hour of outbound long distance, down to maybe a buck if you use nothing.

When I call long distance, I also ask people to call me back so I make
the call free... lol

On 2021-04-17 8:16 a.m., Gary wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>
>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>
>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>> get long distance included in that price?
>
> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
> area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.


I get 500 minutes a month anywhere in Canada on my cell phone. My
landline is good for anywhere in Canads and IIRC 300 minutes to the US.
I am not a telephone chatter so I will never have to worry about going
over my time.


> The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought her
> cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).

The only long distance calls I make regularly are to my son. He lived in
Toronto for a few years and he never bothered to change his number when
he moved back this way.

On 4/17/2021 10:36 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2021-04-17 8:16 a.m., Gary wrote:
>> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
>>> On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:32:49 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>>>>
>>>> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>>>>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>>>>
>>>> Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
>>>> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
>>>> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>>>>
>>> I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
>>> But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
>>> get long distance included in that price?
>>
>> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for
>> my area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
>> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
>> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.
>
>
> I get 500 minutes a month anywhere in Canada on my cell phone. My
> landline is good for anywhere in Canads and IIRC 300 minutes to the US.
> I am not a telephone chatter so I will never have to worry about going
> over my time.
>
>
>> The only long distance person I can call is my daughter. She bought
>> her cell phone here years ago so she has the local area code (757).
>
> The only long distance calls I make regularly are to my son. He lived in
> Toronto for a few years and he never bothered to change his number when
> he moved back this way.
>

Unfortunately, in today's world, many calls are long distance thanks to
cell phones. My mom has an out of state cell phone number, as do all of
my siblings. Of course, it doesn't matter that that phone is sitting
next to me or not, it's all dependent on the number based on where the
phone was purchased.

On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 7:17:00 AM UTC-5, Gary wrote:
>
> On 4/16/2021 4:49 PM, wrote:
> >
> > I didn't know any companies still offered dial-up access.
> > But with the $45 per month wired phone, don't you also
> > get long distance included in that price?
> >
> Not like any cell phone does. My land line is unlimited but only for my
> area code. Long distance is a separate thing...pay so much a month
> whether you use it or not, then so much per minute when you do use it.
> Total ripoff. My landline is Verizon.
>
Oooooooh.

I have AT&T (American Thieves & Thugs) for phone and internet.
Long distance to most anywhere is included in that charge.
>
> My mom has unlimited LD calls like normal people do so she calls me each
> Saturday morning and we talk for a couple of hours. No charge for me
> since it's an incoming call and no charge for her since she has unlimited.
>
Well, that's good. Then neither of you are worried about a super LARGE phone
bill the next month.

On 4/16/2021 10:32 AM, Gary wrote:
> On 4/16/2021 10:25 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>>
>>> Response to the real Bruce.
>>>
>>> Of course the phone will cost money. duh
>>> My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
>>>
>>> If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
>>> with enough minutes to carry on normally.
>>
>> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
>> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
>> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).
>
> Worse than that. Landline phone $45 PLUS $25 internet dialup access.
> The internet access ended 5 months ago.
> Free neighborhood wifi for now but it's not "secure."
>
>
>
>
>
>

I have a back-up dial up plan that costs $4.85/mo in case the DSL goes
out. There is far cheaper than what you pay out there. Even MSN
unlimited is $15/mo when paid annually.

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 23:00:28 -0400, Michael Trew wrote:

> I have a back-up dial up plan that costs $4.85/mo in case the DSL goes
> out.

Wait a second.....

You pay $45/mo for a land line ON TOP of what you pay already pay
for DSL over that same copper. PLUS a $5/mo extra for "backup
dial-up internet" - that also goes out through the same copper, plus
$5 for long distance - also copper?

And 5 minutes later you say that you enjoy "peace of mind and
reliability copper gives you">

You do know that if one goes out, THEY ALL GO OUT, right? When your
DSL goes out you also have no phone line to use your $5/mo "backup
dialup plan" either. No Phone. No Internet, No dialup. And no cell
phone (because cell phones don't charge $05/minute for domestic).
You could just to landline VoIP over your DSL and have the EXACT
SAME RELIABLITY! OMG! Dude, just get Vonage or something and screw
that $40/mo and the $5/backup plan.

DSL does not go out while phone service remains active - they both
go out at the same time! Your phone may have a dialtone, but it will
not dial out if DSL is also out.

-sw

On 4/17/2021 5:17 AM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 23:00:28 -0400, Michael Trew wrote:
>
>> I have a back-up dial up plan that costs $4.85/mo in case the DSL goes
>> out.
>
> Wait a second.....
>
> You pay $45/mo for a land line ON TOP of what you pay already pay
> for DSL over that same copper. PLUS a $5/mo extra for "backup
> dial-up internet" - that also goes out through the same copper, plus
> $5 for long distance - also copper?
>
> And 5 minutes later you say that you enjoy "peace of mind and
> reliability copper gives you">
>
> You do know that if one goes out, THEY ALL GO OUT, right? When your
> DSL goes out you also have no phone line to use your $5/mo "backup
> dialup plan" either. No Phone. No Internet, No dialup. And no cell
> phone (because cell phones don't charge $05/minute for domestic).
> You could just to landline VoIP over your DSL and have the EXACT
> SAME RELIABLITY! OMG! Dude, just get Vonage or something and screw
> that $40/mo and the $5/backup plan.
>
> DSL does not go out while phone service remains active - they both
> go out at the same time! Your phone may have a dialtone, but it will
> not dial out if DSL is also out.
>
> -sw


Well, there's more to it than that. My DSL was actually out for 2 weeks
- first time I've ever had an outage - through this February. The
Internet icon was out. I spoke with people that work for AT&T off the
record and they said a piece of legacy equipment upstream from the DSLAM
failed, and they had to scrounge for parts to repair it, since the parts
are no longer made.

Anyway, the crappy dial up plan did work, and I've never been without a
dial tone. Also, to be fair, I use the dial up plan a few hours a month
to toy around with old computers. I have a 1994 Gateway2K sitting on my
desk, hooked up next to the computer that I'm currently using. It has
DOS 6.2/Windows 3.11 on it, and it's fun to fire it up from time to
time. I don't know any other way to get it on-line aside from that dial
up plan and the internal 28K modem. Again, it's for my amusement
purposes when I'm bored.

I do have a cell phone, and they also charge me 5 cents/min for calls.
The nice thing is that I'm only charged 5 cents/min - nothing more. I
use maybe $5/mo on that prepaid plan... good luck finding cheaper cell
service than that. It's a legacy plan through T-Mobile. Yes, I'm aware
that I could dump the long distance and just call long distance through
my cell, but I hate to use my cell. I like the quality and feel of the
old Western Electric handsets. My cell only goes on when I'm leaving my
house.

On Friday, April 16, 2021 at 9:25:59 AM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:21:34 -0400, Gary wrote:
>
> > Response to the real Bruce.
> >
> > Of course the phone will cost money. duh
> > My goal is to find one to replace the land line and not add a 2nd phone.
> >
> > If I can ditch the land line, that's $45 a month towards a smart phone
> > with enough minutes to carry on normally.
> You pay $45 for a landline and dialup?!?!?! I pay $45/mo for Google
> fiber 500mb plan and about $7/mo for the Tracfone as my personal
> phone (somebody else pays for my second Smartphone).
>
> -sw

Or just Tracfone for about $120 for a full year with about 2G of data, for web browsing. LG is ending its cellphone business so smartphones should be cheap.