Consider switching to Magic Jack. You can keep you old landline phone number, call anywhere north of Guatemala any time for free. It uses VoIP, so you do need a good internet connection. You can get the adaptor for around $50 and the annual cost is about $40. That’s $40/year. We have had Magic Jack for 3 years and have no problems to report. The quality of the audio is as good as, or better than the old land line. Good luck. Tom Watson – WZ8Q From: BVARC [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Chauvin via BVARC Sent: Friday, November 25, 2016 9:08 AM To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB Cc: John Chauvin Subject: [BVARC] Off topic subject The Chauvins are thinking of dropping the land line after more than 50 years. As amateur radio operators tend to be practical people, I would like to get your opinion of the advisability of this. We have good cell service both at our home and at our lake property and feel that the $55 that we send to Ma Bell each month is a waste. We have no problem with minutes usage on the cell phones. Furthermore, about 90% of the time, the calls we get on the land line are phone solicitors or computers (we are getting more and more on the cell phones also, but C'est la vie). The usual argument against dropping the land line I hear is "I like to have a hard piece of copper between me and the outside world." I have said that for years, but am now backing away from that: Even in the worst of times, usually text messaging gets through. One concern I do have is regarding 911. Have they resolved this so if I use my cell phone, it knows where I am or are there still problems such as this or others? So you don't "entertain" the whole reflector, please reply to only me, and not the whole reflector. Tnx es 73 de John, K5IZO
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