Just to toss in another home-phone-over-internet option, I am an Ooma user. It does require Internet, but ... like, I've already got internet and, with the occasional outage, will continue to have internet access. It's similar to other phone-over-internet services that have been mentioned already.
-- Russell Senior [email protected] On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM Michael Ewan <[email protected]> wrote: > > This sounds like the way to go for me. I have Centurylink POTS, but > they have had a "cable break" so no phone for weeks. We also have > Xfinity Internet which has been fairly reliable, but Vonage at $10 and > a T-Mobile home Internet box for $30, I am still cheaper than > Centurylink. My main concern with going VoIP was during a power outage > we would have no phone service, but a whole house generator made that > academic, > > On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM Ted Mittelstaedt <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > Yes. > > > > Hand's down the easiest way to preserve a "residential landline" is to go to > > https://www.vonageforhome.com/ > > > > You can see the box here: > > > > https://www.vonageforhome.com/why-vonage/ > > > > And on the description: > > > > "Simply plug the device into your router, then into your phone." > > > > When you sign up with them they will ask you if you want to do a "number > > port" you put in your Ziply land-line telephone number, and they will port > > that number to your service with them. Once all that's working, then you > > contact Ziply and tell them you want to turn off your telephone service and > > just keep the Internet service only. The number port may have already > > triggered that. > > > > There ARE cheaper VoIP providers and if you want to get fancy you can setup > > a FreePBX Asterisk based server and register a SIP trunk right into it. Or > > just buy a VoIP phone, and find a SIP provider on the Internet you can pay > > to register your phone into. > > > > But to use any of your "old school" POTs phones you would still need a FXO > > device (which is what the Vonage box is) > > > > The reason I recommend Vonage to newbies to VoIP is that they are the > > largest, have a technical support number, and are sort of like Consumer > > Cellular in that they cater to the KISS crowd. > > > > As for getting rid of the $15 a month Ziply charge you need to find out if > > they are charging you "rent" on the "ONT" (Optical Network Terminal) since > > that device is mandatory for Ziply, in order to keep Ziply fiber you would > > need to continue paying for this even if you cancel phone service with them. > > > > Please post your results to the list! It's been a while since I've checked > > up on what Ziply does on the Residential accounts. > > > > Ted > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: PLUG <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Rich Shepard > > Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 9:02 AM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: [PLUG] VoIP question > > > > I just discovered that the ZiplyFiber router/modem installed (separate from > > my Ubiquti Edge router and LAN switch) when the phone was converted from > > copper to VoIP costs me $15/month rent for what the company calls "Business > > Network Services". That's more than the taxes on copper phone lines. > > > > Knowing nothing about VoIP I ask if there's an analog voice (land line > > phone) to digital converter that I can connect to my switch (or directly to > > the router) to replace this rented unit? The Ziply installer told me he > > turned off the WiFi capability of their modem because I already have a > > working WAP. > > > > Advice appreciated, > > > > Rich > >
