topic Re: VOIP phone in Electronics

VOIP phone

hick — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 11:34:41 GMT

Spectrum is the only game in the town I live in. They increase their rates every few months.

I didn't want to give up my land line but in an effort to decrease my monthly bill, I decided to get a VOIP phone by OOMA.

This has been a very good decision. It was easy to install and I was able to keep my landline number.

I happily walked into the Spectrum store and returned their modem. Saved myself almost $25 every month.

With OOMA, you just pay the tax every month. No extra charges.

Re: VOIP phone

Teddixat — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:05:35 GMT

@hick who is your wireless carrier? You still need wireless service, right?

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:55:42 GMT

I've been an Ooma customer since 2016. One of the best decisions I ever made. The only thing extra I had to buy was a backup power supply for my router, phone and Ooma box so in the event of a power outage I can still have phone service.

If you have a power outage then your Ooma phone will not work nor will your router which is connected to it. Get a backup power supply!

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 13:33:39 GMT

@Teddixat wrote:
@hick who is your wireless carrier? You still need wireless service, right?

@Teddixat

Why would you need a cell phone? I have one but I never use it unless there's an emergency away from home.

Re: VOIP phone

millieshops — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:22:38 GMT

@Teddixat I use my cell phone often, but the primary use is for texting, next most frequent use for its GPS, with phone calls and data fighting for 3rd and 4th. My texts have more to do with safety and convenience than for the kinds of topics I always think those texting while they drive are doing. It's a neighborhood thing because we have so many people nearby living alone. We tend to talk more in person than via calls.

Re: VOIP phone

Kachina624 — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 16:43:34 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Teddixat wrote:
@hick who is your wireless carrier? You still need wireless service, right?

@Teddixat
Why would you need a cell phone? I have one but I never use it unless there's an emergency away from home.

@SilleeMee My cell serves one primary purpose. When I arrive at Wal-Mart to pick up griceries, I can tell them I'm there waiting and which numbered place I'm in.

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:34:27 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:

@SilleeMee wrote:
@Teddixat wrote:
@hick who is your wireless carrier? You still need wireless service, right?

@Teddixat
Why would you need a cell phone? I have one but I never use it unless there's an emergency away from home.
@SilleeMee My cell serves one primary purpose. When I arrive at Wal-Mart to pick up griceries, I can tell them I'm there waiting and which numbered place I'm in.

@Kachina624

Me, too. I consider getting groceries an emergency. Wouldn't live long w/o food.

Re: VOIP phone

persiflage — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:49:43 GMT

@SilleeMee do you consider the voip line secure? I am wondering about situations where you divulge sensitive information, like a scenario where you may need to give your ss number or banking information. There are differences about the way the information is transmitted with fiber optics versus plain old telephone service (copper wire). Just curious about your thoughts on voip not pots.

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 17:58:26 GMT

@persiflage wrote:
@SilleeMee do you consider the voip line secure? I am wondering about situations where you divulge sensitive information, like a scenario where you may need to give your ss number or banking information. There are differences about the way the information is transmitted with fiber optics versus plain old telephone service (copper wire). Just curious about your thoughts on voip not pots.

@persiflage

Every online network can be hacked. Ooma says voip phone networks are as vulnerable as any other. I've never had any problems.

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:04:34 GMT

@persiflage

I never give out personal ID numbers over any kind of phone, voip or other.

Re: VOIP phone

lizzys — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 11:24:43 GMT

We have had Ooma for more years than I can count. I have it set up to have my home phone number calls also ring on my cell phone. That way I can pick up calls when I am out and I also get calls on my cell phone when we have a power outage.

Re: VOIP phone

drizzellla — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:02:15 GMT

@hick Does the VOIP phone have the "caller ID" option?

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 16:25:03 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
@hick Does the VOIP phone have the "caller ID" option?

Yes.

Re: VOIP phone

deedledeedeedle — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 05:17:01 GMT

@hick ,

I'm seriously considering getting OOMA. I am tired of paying over $70 monthly just to have a land line. Those that use a device for use during storms what brand did you go for?

Dee🙎

Re: VOIP phone

hick — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 11:37:38 GMT

I bought an OOMA. Purchased from Costco. It came with 3 hand sets.

The OOMA web site often has sales or has the same price as Costco.

Very pleased with everything.

Re: VOIP phone

gadgetgal613 — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:03:00 GMT

@deedledeedeedle wrote:
@hick ,
I'm seriously considering getting OOMA. I am tired of paying over $70 monthly just to have a land line. Those that use a device for use during storms what brand did you go for?

Dee🙎

Be careful what you buy. A true VOIP is not a landline and will go out if you lose power or internet service. Unlike a cell phone, which connects using the cellular system, this using a special modem connected with your internet service. So, if you lose power during a storm, you are SOL.

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:45:21 GMT

@gadgetgal613 wrote:
@deedledeedeedle wrote:
@hick ,
I'm seriously considering getting OOMA. I am tired of paying over $70 monthly just to have a land line. Those that use a device for use during storms what brand did you go for?

Dee🙎
Be careful what you buy. A true VOIP is not a landline and will go out if you lose power or internet service. Unlike a cell phone, which connects using the cellular system, this using a special modem connected with your internet service. So, if you lose power during a storm, you are SOL.

I have a Ooma voip phone. I bought a separate battery backup just to keep my router, voip box and phone powered up during a power outage. My battery will keep things powered up for 72 straight operating hours. It's also what is called a UPS...stands for uninterrupted power supply. What that means is the UPS automatically switches over to battery mode during an outage and then back to regular power when the electricity comes back on. I never have have to touch the UPS. Just sits there with all my devices plugged into the back of it. Sort of like a mini Generac.

If my internet service goes down, for whatever reason beyond my control, I have a cell phone as backup for phone service.

Re: VOIP phone

Venezia — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:45:30 GMT

@SilleeMee - I understand that your battery backup would keep your phone charged, but how would that make your phone useable?

If the internet is down (no electricity) how do you use a phone that is VOIP?

We have our phone and internet through Spectrum (and are very pleased with it), but we have cellphones that we use during power outages. Even with our generator running, the regular phones won't work, since they depend on the electrical lines.

The only situation where I can think the phones would work, is if someone has their internet via satellite.

Re: VOIP phone

SilleeMee — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:50:25 GMT

@Venezia wrote:
@SilleeMee - I understand that your battery backup would keep your phone charged, but how would that make your phone useable?

If the internet is down (no electricity) how do you use a phone that is VOIP?

We have our phone and internet through Spectrum (and are very pleased with it), but we have cellphones that we use during power outages. Even with our generator running, the regular phones won't work, since they depend on the electrical lines.

The only situation where I can think the phones would work, is if someone has their internet via satellite.

@Venezia

My battery backup device provides power for my router, voip box and the phone itself as well as my laptop if I need that, too. As long as the internet has not gone down, from things beyond my control, then I have power to my electronics for 72 operating hours.

Re: VOIP phone

Venezia — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 13:18:08 GMT

@SilleeMee - I guess I just don't understand how the phone would work in those circumstances. Our generator powers our home during outages but, if the mainline power is out, the phone doesn't actually work. (Yes, it does stay charged though.)