OT: DSL without a Home Phone Acct?, is it possible???? Options

[Scott Carlberg]

I rarely use my home phone anymore and would like to cancel it all-together, using just my cell phone for communication.
However, I've been thinking about getting DSL at the house, and was wondering IF anyone knows if it's possible to have DSL withOut having a home phone account?

[dlo914]

could just go with cable internet; that doesnt require an existing phone line, but then again DSL performs a lot better.

[Aaron Cox]

roadrunner cable (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Scott Carlberg]

could just go with cable internet; that doesnt require an existing phone line, but then again DSL performs a lot better.

Umm, let's see...

I'm a DirectTV customer, so no cable into the house
AND
comcast is the local cable co...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

and they SUCK! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif)


I do keep hearing that DSL typically performs better; and more people seem to complain about cable than dsl.

[SirAndy]

use your cell-phone ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Andy

[GTeener]

We're in the same situation. To my knowledge it is not possible to have DSL without a land-based phone line.

There are of course alternative high-speed Internet technologies out there, like cable and satellite.

[dlo914]

roadrunner cable (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) ive heard good comments on them.

[aircooledboy]

I too have DirecTV, and we got the 2 way satelite high speed set up a few months back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) I have been very happy with it.

[ninefourteener]

Yea.. thats what I do..... It works well.

I have a rediculously high-minute cell phone plan, that actually alllows me to have a secondary cell phone at no extra charge, and just share minutes. Not to promote them, but I use sprint:

2000 daytime minutes
Unlimited nights + weekends
Unlimited internet (on phone)
Unlimited picture taking/sending
Secondary phone, unlimited sharing of all features

$120.00 per month (including taxes)

My cable Internet in my home is SUPER fast, and I pay $35 a month for it.

$155 a month for 2 phones that I can use anywhere in the country, more than I will ever need, and super fast internet acces in my home.

Not too bad I don't think

[GTeener]

I too have DirecTV, and we got the 2 way satelite high speed set up a few months back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) I have been very happy with it.

Wait until it really gets stormy....

I lived in a place with Direct TV and when it got really windy or stormy or reception sucked (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[GTeener]

use your cell-phone ...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Andy

I think that's what he's saying. He uses his cell phone more than his house phone.

OR are you saying just use a cell phone for everything, including Web access?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

I'd think that could be expensive and limiting visually.

[Scott Carlberg]

Yeah I didn't quite get SirAndy's reply either.

I do use my cell phone, I use it for calls even when I'm at home.

I just wonder if it's possible to Use the land-line phone, but Not have an account, not stealing mind you, just be UNable to make or receive calls with it.

[GTeener]

I just wonder if it's possible to Use the land-line phone, but Not have an account, not stealing mind you, just be UNable to make or receive calls with it.

Well since you have a landline number assignment, I doubt they'd let you keep it for free, but you could reduce your service to the bare minimum. That's what we are going to do. No long-distance, no caller id, no call waiting, no voicemail etc... You can't escape the taxes though.

[lapuwali]

It may vary depending on location and which Baby Bell serves your area. However, it IS possible to have DSL w/o paying for voice phone service. You can order the DSL through Covad, who *may* sub-contract with your local Baby Bell for the physical line, which may not have any voice service on it.

I have IDSL (DSL over ISDN, longer distance to the CO than DSL, but much slower and a lot more expensive), and while I have a voice line, it doesn't have a dial tone on it half the time, and I'm regularly tussling with the phone company over it. The ISDN line, however, is mostly flawless. I also use my cell as my "only" phone, and only have a voice land-line because my wife is paranoid about not having one (despite that fact that we both have cell phones from different providers). We live at the very edge of the DSL distance limit, and simply couldn't get DSL to work. Tried the local cable system, and they sucked big rocks (hours of downtime every month, and I use my Net connection for work).

As for DirecTV and storms, I get a great signal even when it's pouring with rain. It's lower when it's raining, but it's still good enough to transmit the signal (digital is all or nothing, you get it or you don't). If you're having a signal problem at any time, check the mounting of the dish (should not move much when windy), and make sure it's aimed well. Some of the receivers have a signal strength meter page. On the Hughes and Sony model receivers, it's a percentage, and if you can get 80% in good weather (no wind), and the dish is well mounted, you should get at least 50% in terrible weather, which is enough. Below 45%, and you get some signal breakup.

I've had DirecTV for nearly 10 years now (got it to pick up what was then Speedvision, as my cable company didn't carry it), and I'm still using the same dish and LNB I started with then. I've mounted it myself three times as I moved. I now live in a place where I have to peek "over" my house and there are VERY strong winds regularly (San Mateo, near the bay), yet I can still get good signal after I took the effort to aim it properly. We're starting our fourth winter in this house with no problems. Neighbors with cable have had the service go out 2-3 times per year, often in storms (above ground cable).

[SirAndy]

Yeah I didn't quite get SirAndy's reply either

use your Cell-Phone ...

for Internet-Access ...

no Landline needed ...



can you hear me now?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Andy

[scruz914]

Yeah I didn't quite get SirAndy's reply either

use your Cell-Phone ...

for Internet-Access ...

no Landline needed ...



can you hear me now?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Andy

I use my cell phone as a modem at my cabin in Tahoe where I have no land line. Works, but it is slow. Something like 28.8. I also use a planar antenna to insure a strong signal.

-Jeff

[datapace]

You may qualify for Verizon FTTP (Fiber To the Premises)! $39.95 for 5MB/2MB, $49.95 for 15MB/2MB, and $199.95 for 30MB/5MB

I would wet my pants for that sort of bandwidth (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

You can check here.

Wouldn't recommend the cellular wireless to the net, I've used it for business and it's painfully slow. Fine if there are no other options, but it's like back in dialup days.

-bryan

[Red-Beard]

In San Diego, I had, for a short while, Road Runner and DSL from SBC running at the same time. The Cable was 4 times the speed in download and 8 times the speed in upload. It took me over a month to get DSL hooked up, I had to pay for equipment, and was required to sign a contract for a year. After 3 days, I could see that the DSL wasn't going to cut it. I called SBC and was charged $180 to close the account.

I never had problems with Road Runner or cable being down (except when I didn't pay my bill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )

In 2001, Time Warner/Roar Runner was twice the Speed of COX. But that is now not true. And COX had a killer deal:

Basic Digital Cable
Cable Phone
High Speed Cable access
$89/month

[Scott Carlberg]

can I get some more/contact info on this
Road Runner company?

Links etc?

[morph]

I too have DirecTV, and we got the 2 way satelite high speed set up a few months back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) I have been very happy with it.

Wait until it really gets stormy....

I lived in a place with Direct TV and when it got really windy or stormy or reception sucked (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

I agree, go sattelite, although when it rains too hard we loose sattelite reception and this happens here 3 or 4 times a year for an hour or so.