Verizon Landlines
I got a letter from Verizon today that they are getting rid of landlines. Now I'm upset. I get NO cell service of any kind at my house. Dead zone. My landline is my contact with the outside world. When the power goes off, which is way too often around here, my phone always works. I have an I Phone, it is connected to my WiFi, but again, my WiFi doesn't work when the power goes off. I'm 77 and not in the best of health. What am I supposed to do?
Lonesome Dove This has been many years in the making. All over the US, POTS lines are being decommissioned. Verizon is removing copper all over NJ and recycling it. The simplest solution for you is to get a battery backup for your internet router. That will keep your WIFI up during a power outage.
not sackWe are in the same situation. When the power goes out the only way to call in an outage is our landline.
Robert Get a battery powered backup for your modem and router . They come in various sizes for however long you want it to work and what you want it to power . Keep in mind if you rely on the cable for internet the cable must still work for the internet .
https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-ST425-Standby-Outlets-Compact/dp/B07GZR981Y/ref=sr_1_4?crid=37ECWS4FCS38S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.52ct4gG4fiaaD27hn_zwFgnTXc16VnmTUbjC9J7fLDg-PPUa10ORcr9U4Xu3v-yvqvceaECqFVzmtqky-8VBtfRJnHPDAhyNQvv9nsTkDW-mT5cD0mu97vRtHzUo-bm8GQ9pVnhFKmkY5STbLz30gYldqaKJurgBXVLns0ZdDTPDKS8j-7zPyyPozsIZd5ep0n02UXkqgIoX4Qur103iA7z94_bblhTAO9BsGuGUtQA.Wtm8bMQiSiz2nChiZRp4yFg5wJK-icOi8nw2tzOfn6w&dib_tag=se&keywords=battery%2Bbackup%2Bfor%2Bmodems%2Band%2Brouters&qid=1786649757&sprefix=%2Caps%2C290&sr=8-4&th=1
https://www.homedepot.com/s/battery%20backup%20for%20modem%20and%20router?NCNI-5
97XBAM Robert is right. I also use my landline to report a power outage.
97X: Thanks for trying to help. I didn't understand one word of that. My internet is Xfinity. My TV is Directv satellite. All of it goes off when the power goes off. I can't afford a Generac thing. Even my battery radios don't receive a signal down in my valley. I am left without any information or news. I need that landline connection to JCP&L.
How is it legal to leave people without a telephone to communicate with the outside world in an emergency. This world is getting more dangerous every day, with awful rain storms & heavy snows, tornados, earthquakes, shootings, etc. Constant power outages, sometimes for days.
Like many people in New Jersey I used to work for AT&T. While there I learned that there is a PUC mandate that the local phone companies like Verizon provide landline services. Perhaps it has expired but if not, you can complain to them. .
Wendy Federal government allowed end of landlines in 2019 action under that guy but face it, had rising maintenance costs with hardly any customers. Was not going your way.
Cell phone via wifi over internet; sky, only solution but I think you can buy stuff to make landline phone work over cell too but sounds stupid. Xfinity can go out too but most often will work for 45 minutes or more. But Cham is right, you need to keep your Xfinity router in your house up via generator or battery backup. And, same for phone. And once batteries gone, they gone too.
Even with a generator; the cable goes sometimes in 45 minutes, other times a few hours. But generator can keep phone alive.
One other way is Xfinity has “hot spots,” these are neighbors that allow you to get to internet through theirs. The hotspots near you should be identifiable ahead of time. I don’t use but have set up from my phone a couple of times to use my pc through the air when cable goes down. I would suggest looking for a close one where you know they have a generator.
Hopefully someone here can help in that going to Xfinity to figure out is much worse that reading what we wrote. But if a hot spot is close, might be easiest way and shorter distance than Panera to get service!
You can also call your representatives, tell em your age, etc. and scream: get me power or get me cell service or get voted out if you can’t protect seniors. There is no reason not to have cell service.
Babbit The Xfinity internet goes off because your modem/router is plugged into a wall outlet . With a power strip that has a battery backup the internet will stay on because the modem/router will stay on as long as the Xfinity cable doesn't go out as well .
Just think of it as a power strip that has a battery backup . They sell them everywhere . In fact there were 3 in stock at the Hackettstown Home Depot .
https://www.homedepot.com/p/CyberPower-650VA-8-Outlet-UPS-Battery-Backup-with-USB-SX650U/307498992
Google “find Xfinity hotspots,” my closest on is next door and there’s only ten houses on one side of road for a mile. Twas closer than I thought.
Babbit - the “find Xfinity hotspots” is not accurate. My address shows 5G and 4G LTG — but Verizon was here a few months ago to set up wireless phone connection, but he only got 1-2 bars, so said I could not have a wireless phone connection, that the phone would not work with it.
Ouch, no cell service. I have two bars and can get voice and data from iPhone. They have an extender/booster for that; connects to router. When I complained about two bars, they offered for free. I didn’t ask. Try explaining your age, health, loss of landline, two bars and be nice, keep them talking, say I don’t understand why they doing this a lot, be nice knowing they have the power to help for free.
If lucky, get a youngster to set up. Tell them to call vz when stuck. Don’t do this yourself. That’s the easiest.
Otherwise right now u get data via WiFi and Xfinity cable internet to either pc or iPhone. You make cell calls in the air but service is no good so not from home.
You can program phone to make calls across Xfinity internet via your Xfinity WiFi which would allow calls via your WiFi router with your new power strip battery support. Again, get youngster to set up with special attention to training you how to switch from internet calls to Verizon calls so you can be “normal” when not at home. You can use WiFi calls through the hotspots too.
The extender would be easiest potential fix and least tricky to use when set up. but I think it needs power so same strip !!!
Good luck, and why didn’t that service guy tell you about the extender? Think it’s a niche product.
They are not getting rid landlines...they are moving customers from copper to fiber...if they dont agree to move they will be shut off...verizon will always have landlines
Nobody — not exactly, according to the letter they have sent customers. It says “you will have at least one fiber, cable, or mobile wireless voice option”. To see your option, go to https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home and put in your address.
All day long whenever I put in my address, it said “not available at this time”.
Now, finally, there is a list of providers, some of which I have never heard of.
To add to the confusion, for Verizon, it says “Licensed Fixed Wireless” - Down (mbps) 25, Up (mbps) 6.
In comparison, for Xfinity, it says “Cable” - Down (mbps) 2000, Up (mbps) 250.
I have no idea what this all means, it’s Greek to me.
HG; I can never understand their letters and I was in the business.
Call Verizon, have something to do to suffer the hold; when you get a person, they are very helpful, just like the old phone company. They can help. These are the folks that got me the extender for free. They are accommodating when you say “I am old and I don’t have service.”
If it’s a bars problem to get cell service; the extender may be the best bet. A bitch to set up, but easy to use and you don’t change how you make calls.
If cell service not available due to bars, can’t use extender; first battery backup router to get internet. Solves getting info and alerting Jcpl. Then you can program phone to make WiFi calls. Unfortunately ultimately the internet will go down, perhaps in 45 minutes but sometimes not art all. But, if down, you can use neighbors Xfinity hotspots to jump onto internet for data and your WiFi telephone calls. Find a generator supported hotspot. That’s a neighbor with a hotspot where the house rumbles!! Like I said; if you have youngsters program phone for WiFi/internet calls; you need to know how to turn on and off so you can switch back to normal calls. Kind of a pain. The extender when set up will just work like normal calls. It’s the lowest pain. Once installed, you won’t know it’s there and you won’t change how you make calls. I think it needs power so it needs to have the same battery backup as your router. But they gave me one for free and they are pricey. In any event; get the battery support and at least you will have internet for as long as Xfinity is up and you can charge your cell phone.
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