Recommendations for best way to get second phone line?

[OneGrassRoot]

I want a second line, a land line. I get horrible cell coverage at my home and my home phone - digital phone via TWC -- goes out too much, especially if I lose power.

But for work reasons, I need a second reliable phone line here.

There are way too many options with all this voip stuff and I'm going crazy. A second line through TWC is $30. That's ridiculous. I just want a reliable second line, not to be used as a main phone at all but more of an "overflow" that I can forward cell phone to, to have if power goes out, etc.

The voip options are tied to Internet, so that's not reliable in case of power outage.

Can anyone recommend the least expensive way to go about getting land-based phone line or reliable second line?

Thanks. :)

[hobbit709]

1. My ATT landline costs me about $25/mo

No fancy features, no long distance-I use my VOIP phone for that, and it works even if the power is out.
I believe they have cheaper plans than that.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Thanks! :) n/t

[MajorChode]

2. My VOIP and broadband is connected to a UPS

I get broadband via fiber to premise which is connected to a battery. I put the broadband router, my VOIP router, and my cordless phone transmitter on a small UPS for power outages. So even when the power goes out, I still have a phone that works.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Wow, I need to print this out....

I think this is the way to go but my pea brain just can't absorb it right now. For some reason I have a mental block about this stuff, just as I do about filling out tax forms.

:eyes:

Thank you. This seems like a good plan. :)

[hobbit709]

5. For how many hours?

I've had power outages lasting longer than my UPS can work.

[MajorChode]

9. Then you need a bigger UPS or you might need new batteries

They come in all sizes and you can get one big enough to run it for weeks if necessary. However it's best to get the smallest one that fits your needs because you have to replace the batteries every few years which can get pricey if you have a large UPS. Mine is a 450va model which works fine as power outages here usually are rarely over 2 hours.

Also you need to watch what you have plugged into it. If you have a computer and a monitor hooked up to it also, it's not going to last as long. I have my computer hooked up to mine, but I turn the computer off if it looks like an extended outage.

[hobbit709]

10. Yeah, I could get a bigger one

You know much those cost? $20 is a major expenditure on my budget/income level.
If I somehow won the lottery, I'd be off the grid but I don't see that happening.

[MajorChode]

11. A 450va model will set you back about $70 or so.

Sometimes you can find them on sale for less. I got mine for free because it needed a new battery and the guy who had it didn't want to replace them. I think the battery cost $20 or so. So it might be worth checking Craigslist, but if you find one that's not working it may or may not be the battery. It's best to find one that works, but doesn't hold a charge for long and you can pretty much be assured it needs new batteries.

It would probably be a good investment even if you had to buy one new, because if you have a broadband connection, you can get something like MagicJack VOIP and save a bundle over a traditional phone line.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. I was going to ask about MagicJack. Thanks again. :) n/t

[hobbit709]

13. I've got a 550VA. I've also had power outages lasting much longer than 2 hours.

Read up on MagicJack. You couldn't pay me to use that.
http://broadband-nation.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-problems-with-magic-jack-is-majic.html



I have a landline and VOIP. It allows me to use one for personal and one for business and official calls.

[OneGrassRoot]

14. Do you mind sharing which VOIP service/product you use?

As I said, there's so much available now that there are too many options and I just sit here with my mouth hanging open as I try to investigate which is best.

Thanks. :)

[hobbit709]

15. I started out on Packet8 which is now 8X8

http://www.8x8.com/residential_services/

[MajorChode]

16. I have used Vonage almost since they first came out

I've had no problems with it. I don't know that much about MagicJack other than it's far cheaper. PC magazine downgraded them from very good to good because their customer service apparently isn't all that great. If it's just a 2nd phone line anyway and you don't mind the potential for hassling with their customer service (assuming you'd ever need it), then it might be a good solution for some.

[pokerfan]

6. back in my dial-up days

I had a second line through Qwest. Because it had no long distance capability or caller ID (all I ever used it for was dialing the local ISP) it only cost an extra $14 per month. Of course that was ten years ago.

[Orrex]

7. Can you get your hands on a pair of soup cans and some twine?

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Can you hear me now?

:)