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.

On 2021 Apr 16, , wrote
(in >):

> 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.
> > <Snip> 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.

We all had a helluva year, but yours was extra-special ;-)

On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 3:04:59 AM UTC-5, Leo wrote:
>
> On 2021 Apr 16, , wrote
> (in >):
>
> > 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.
> > > <Snip> 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.
> >
> We all had a helluva year, but yours was extra-special ;-)
>
Ain't that the truth!! We had hail and straight-line winds about 3 weeks ago that
resulted in transformers down and no power for 12 hours. (Tornadoes farther
east of me.) The hail was large enough I thought for sure I was going to have
broken windows; it did result in some ripped-up window screens. Also lost some
roof shingles and some neighbors lost trim off their houses plus shingles as well.

((

On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 22:46:35 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

> 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.

The battery that provides the current for the phone to ring was dead
or stolen, and they didn't want to replace it. A typical technique
to get people to upgrade. They are still required to maintain post
if they don't offer at least VoIP phone, and a battery backup if you
only have phone service.

-sw

On 2021-04-17 4:44 a.m., Sqwertz wrote:
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 22:46:35 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
>
>> 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.
>
> The battery that provides the current for the phone to ring was dead
> or stolen, and they didn't want to replace it. A typical technique
> to get people to upgrade. They are still required to maintain post
> if they don't offer at least VoIP phone, and a battery backup if you
> only have phone service.
>

The Samsung phone I had last year had a mind of its own. I missed a lot
of calls because the ringer volume would be turned off despite me having
set it on high. It also liked to move my app icons around randomly. It
also ha a strange bug in it that would set off an alarm when I tried to
recharge it, telling me there was moisture in the charging port. I have
a different model of Samsung now and no longer have those problems.

On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 3:44:40 AM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> On Fri, 16 Apr 2021 22:46:35 -0700 (PDT),
> wrote:
> >
> > 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.
> >
> The battery that provides the current for the phone to ring was dead
> or stolen, and they didn't want to replace it. A typical technique
> to get people to upgrade. They are still required to maintain post
> if they don't offer at least VoIP phone, and a battery backup if you
> only have phone service.
>
> -sw
>
Well, the conversion to digital service didn't cost me anything other than no
phone and internet while they were upgrading me and putting in wireless
equipment.

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.