Help! I need landline telephone service!

NapaBavarian · #1 04-15-2006, 01:56 PM

I've never had a landline before

and don't have a clue where to go

I always used a cell phone, but get no service at the new house

so what companies are good, and who is bad?

intelisevil · #2 04-15-2006, 03:26 PM

For land lines, typically only one telco is allowed to serve an area (no competition = higher prices). Thank you Uncle Sam . . .

Borrow friends cell phones to see which cell phone company has coverage at your new nome. It took me over seven years at my current home to get cell coverage.

How do you access the internet? I'm stuck with dial-up, on a good day I can connect at 28.8K, normal is 24.0K . . .

Good Luck,
Dan

Landshark · #3 04-15-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelisevil

How do you access the internet? I'm stuck with dial-up, on a good day I can connect at 28.8K, normal is 24.0K . . .

tell us how great livin' out in the country is again.

you can get DirectWay satellite high-speed internet if you have no other choice, but you'll pay out the ass for it.

RojoRocket · #4 04-15-2006, 04:44 PM

The New AT&T is probably the only company serving your residence if you're not right in town Napa. 1-800-310-2355. Anyone else offering you service is just reselling theirs. If you have CATV they might also offer service over their own network, as well as broadband.

Glenn

intelisevil · #5 04-15-2006, 05:01 PM

Napa - That's what I forgot to add when I was asking about internet access . . .

If you're lucky enough to get cable broadband out there, check into Vonage instead of a landline. If you can get DSL with a landline, you can still use Vonage for your long distance calls.

Landshark - I know about DirectWay, $OUCH$! My neighbor is talking about installing DirectWay and I may set up a wireless system to 'share' with him.

Can you go out into your backyard for legal target practice with real live ammo? I can!

Dan

Landshark · #6 04-15-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelisevil

Can you go out into your backyard for legal target practice with real live ammo? I can!

no, but more importantly, i can get to gas, groceries, and anything else within 5 minutes.

also, my choice of DSL, Cable, OR dialup.

intelisevil · #7 04-15-2006, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landshark

no, but more importantly, i can get to gas, groceries, and anything else within 5 minutes.

also, my choice of DSL, Cable, OR dialup.

OK, you've got me beat, my nearest gas, groceries, and anything else is about eight minutes away.

For any big files I need to download, I just take my laptop into work.

Damn, I need to fire up the chainsaw and cut up some more fire wood if it ever stops raining . . .

There are pros and cons no matter where you live. We (wife and I) made our choice and we love it!!!

Dan

NapaBavarian · #8 04-15-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelisevil

NapaCan you go out into your backyard for legal target practice with real live ammo? I can! : D

Dan

I think so

but I'll be checking the ordinances

Town is 10-20 minutes away, 10 if the road is empty, 20 if I get stuck behind someone, on the motorcycle I often disregard the double yellow

arround 1 in 30 people I get stuck behind will actually yield right of way

driving my big fat huge truck I am almost always the one in the back of the pack, rarely if ever to the pokey people who live up there stuck behind me

I have actually been stuck behind someone driving a tiny geo 21mph and all over the oncoming lane in the corners

where I can easily drive my 8' wide truck and trailer 30-35mph and stay in my lane... that is my only real gripe.

Internet is not at the house yet, it'll be dialup for now

faster than a snail taking a salt bath! My buddy has a phone, but with clients calling me I need my own line, and a local phone number would be very good, the cell number is located in Santa Rosa, an hours drive away, it is only 15 miles, but nobody realizes it is so close because there is a mountian between us

so they see "santa rosa" on their phone bill and freak out... I may wind up with satalite internet and split the cost with my buddy, or just use slow service as an excuse to not spend so much time online

as far as cable, I don't need an excuse to sit in front of the TV box, DVDs are the order of the day

#9 04-15-2006, 07:37 PM

Never had a land line?

Now that's what I call a generation gap

I resisted getting a cell phone for a very long time. The only reason I finally ended up getting one is because my sister-in-law got herself a new one with a built-in camera and gave me her old one. It doesn't have any contract with min monthly fees so you just buy time as you need it. The only time I ever use it is when I'm on a road trip - if I remember to bring it along

This time when we moved I was a little smarter in my "basic requirements list". Top three were an extra room for a den/office, DSL, and walls. Err.... yeah... walls actually made the list because our last place was a very nice but small apt on the top floor where most of the walls were slanted. Couldn't put up our wall unit cause the wall was only about 3-4 feet high in most places! Never again.

So now we're out in the country, with no cable, no stores in easy walking distance, not even any public transit, but gosh dang it, I got me walls!

lhopp77 · #10 04-16-2006, 03:01 PM

Well I am 20 to gas or food by P/U (15 min by SVX). I might add that I always stay on my side of the center line. Cell phones will not work where I live and there is no cable or DSL.

But.........the advantages.

I have not locked my house in over 4 years even when gone for a week or more. All of my cars have the keys in them. I do not have to tie my dogs. I can shoot my guns to include my large game rifle (Remington 300 Ultra Mag).

And I have the attached views from my living room.

Lee

NikFu S. · #11 04-16-2006, 03:22 PM

If you end up getting MCI or Verizon see if you can get my W2s from 2002.

Who do you have available for your area?

NapaBavarian · #12 04-16-2006, 05:33 PM

My cell is Verizon, but I believe ex-sbc, now at&t again, is the local landline provider.

My view

A deck and french doors are going in so we don't need to look at it through a screen from inside

#13 04-18-2006, 07:09 AM

Lee, for a view like that, I might even put up with dial-up

Napa's isn't bad, but Lee's is breathtaking.

I'm down in a little river valley, so don't have such a nice panorama. Had a beautiful morning today, with a light fog rolling along the river. It was just starting to lift when I took the shot. The photo doesn't do it justice but here it is anyway. In the foreground is the mill stream which is diverted from the main waterway down in a dip just before the trees in back.

NapaBavarian · #14 04-18-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bipa

Napa's isn't bad, but Lee's is breathtaking.

I gotta talk to the neighbor, if we cut down a few trees it'll have a view like Lees

thundering02 · #15 04-18-2006, 11:52 PM

Just promise me youll never sign up with MCI.....should customer service (indian) ever get your account right....then you have to deal with 3 other departments rules which all state something else... My rec go with SBC have yet to have a single problem other than when the bill wasn't paid for like two months but I can understand when they cut my service for that...... (just a hint I currently work for MCI)