Murray3
join:2001-03-06
Texas
| [Vonage] Vonage and Land Line
I hope to soon be using Vonage and have a question concerning how it works with the existing phone line.
I use DSL and wonder if my POTS phone number/line will continue to operate if I get Vonage?
If it makes a difference (I'm not sure it does in this scenario), I have my DSL split at the NID, therefore having one line coming into the house for the DSL and a second physical line coming into the house for the POTS voice line.
I'm asking this question because I read alot on here and elsewhere about having a cellphone as a backup to VoIP/Vonage. I can understand this if in the event the Broadband goes out of action, then the VoIP would not work. However, would that not leave the POTS number operational? I agree it's necessary to have a backup to VoIP (in case of emergency etc). I'm keen to know if my POTS voice line would work for 911 in the event of my Vonage or DSL being down.
This also leads me to ask, that it's my understanding that if you have a POTS line to your house, then it should be enabled for 911 irrespective of what account you have, correct?
Are those that mention having a cellphone as a backup, simply on naked DSL or Cable (thereby not having a POTS phone number)?
Thanks... |
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prestonlewis
Premium,MVM
join:2003-04-13
Sacramento, CA
 ·VoiceStick
| Your VOIP service is complete separate and independent of your POTS land line. Usually, if you have DSL, you must also have a POTS line working. A few telco's allow what's called "dry DSL" lines without a POTS line but it's rare.
So your POTS line will be on and working and completely separate from your VOIP line. Whatever phones are plugged into the back of your VOIP adapter will work with VOIP only. You don't want to plug the VOIP phone outlet into your wall either. The voltages in your POTS line will fry most any VOIP adapter. The 2 phones lines must be kept separate. Some people disconnect the telco line at the NID and plug their VOIP adapter into a wall outlet connecting all wall outlets to the VOIP adapter but you must mark the NID indicating this but then your telco line would be unused.
You can get creative with how much of your home you want to have your VOIP phone line working out of as far as your house wiring. Personally, I keep my telco POTS line working on all wall outlets and my VOIP line uses a base cordless with recorder plugged into the VOIP adapter and 4 external handsets with chargers in various rooms around the house, mainly my kids bedrooms. Uniden makes this product and it works well for me.
As for 911, it will always work normally if using your POTS line and will never work "normally" using your VOIP line. |
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LBDSL
Lightning Bolt
VIP
join:2002-01-07
Auburn Hills, MI
| If you have ADSL line share (Which it sounds like you do), then you MUST keep your voice line. If you have dry ADSL, SDSL, IDSL, etc. then your DSL is on a dedicated line, and not connected with your voice service.
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Lightning Bolt Technologies |
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Murray3
join:2001-03-06
Texas
| said by LBDSL  :If you have ADSL line share (Which it sounds like you do), then you MUST keep your voice line. If you have dry ADSL, SDSL, IDSL, etc. then your DSL is on a dedicated line, and not connected with your voice service. Spot on. My DSL account is ADSL which is simply split at the NID on the outside of my house to branch to two Lines. ie: Using Splitter instead of in-house jack filters.
Thanks a bunch prestonlewis. Very helpful info and confirmed what I thought. Thanks for going the extra stretch by giving your example. |
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