Subj : landlines and offgrid
To   : Rob Mccart
From : August Abolins
Date : Mon Feb 03 2025 13:01:00

Hello Rob Mccart!

** On Sunday 02.02.25 - 00:59, Rob Mccart wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS:

 RM> Every year when I was wintering in town I put the phone on
 RM> 'Vacation' over the winter, which saved me a little money,
 RM> and every spring I wondered if I shouldn't go to just a
 RM> cell phone. Probably the only reason I haven't done that
 RM> yet is because the land line here is so cheap ($29.75) and
 RM> my cell phone is pretty old so I worry about it suddenly
 RM> having a problem and having no other sourse of
 RM> communication since my cell phone is also my internet
 RM> connection. I just got used to using them for different
 RM> things and didn't change over..

So... you use the cellphone in mobile hotspot mode?

$29.75 for landline is pretty low, but that's probably because  
it's still part of a [lower tier] party-line system.


 RM> party line system where they've changed over from 4
 RM> customers on a line to 2 customers who can share the line
 RM> without ever knowing someone else could also using it at
 RM> the same time.

That's interesting.  So.. when the phone rings. it's always for  
you and not anyone else on the party-line?  I wonder how they  
accomplish that.  Our initial phone line was a partyline too  
but it was always a distinctive ring pattern that everyone  
heard but indicated the specific recipient.  Then it converted  
to a dedicated line (and touch-tone capable) not too long  
later.


 RM> The easiest way to see this was back when I was on dial-up
 RM> internet and the fastest speed I could get was 26k instead
 RM> of 56k..

Yep.. DSL does not appear to be a future option with those  
lines.  Infact, DSL is being phased out.  The great Ontario  
initiative seems to be fiber installations now, I think.

See: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-connects-making-high- 
speed-internet-accessible-in-every-community   ..on your DT  
browser [the map doesn't render on a phone].


 AA>> I use a ZTE mobile router that houses the SIM card. [...]

 RM> My sister has something like that where they use their old
 RM> land line phones through a cell phone, although I don't
 RM> think they had to have a SIM card in anything but one of
 RM> their cell phones. It just is set to share the signal
 RM> somehow.

That's another type of unit where you just cradle your  
cellphone on its base and "link" it to any cordless phones you  
may have elsewhere.  But I think they require Bluetooth  
handsets.   I don't think they offer wifi/internet though.

With my system, I can continue to use existing cordless  
handsets or the RJ11 house wiring.  One of mine is specifically  
the MF279T (unlocked), ..and it was only $8 at a thrift shop.

I have a couple of other older units, (originally intended for  
people who wanted to try that solution) ..but they are still  
locked to a specific carrier.

What cell company are you using? I have a unit that is locked  
to Rogers and another locked to Bell.  I want to unlock them so  
that cheaper consumer-grade carriers like Chatr, NoFrills, or  
Luckymobile could be used with them.


 RM> I think they both have Blood Pressure problems, my sister
 RM> had cancer (in remission now) and she broke her neck being
 RM> thrown

[...]


 RM> My brother has severe 'brittle' diabetes which mainly
 RM> affected the nerves in his feet to the point where he
 RM> can't drive anymore

All the more critical to avoid any kind of illness or injury  
yourself!

-- 
  ../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.58
 * Origin: Age Doesn't Matter Unless You're a Cheese (1:396/45.29)

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