Posted on 04/19/2018 5:53:56 AM PDT by killermosquito
Well, since we both need cell phones, we just use those. It would cost more to ADD a home phone. Interestingly, even though we live in the sticks, we get good coverage. The only challenge is that we can drop calls in the second story sometimes because we have a sheet metal roof.
There is some kind of a ‘thing’ going on where a robo-computer actually places the call. There is a hesitation before anybody starts talking. I was told that’s a sign of a computer call. They are using numbers that are just like a common number that you know and the name will be a business that you know. The number might be one or two numbers off but it’s enough to trick you into answering the phone. I signed up on all of the Do Not Call lists and that is a joke. The calls never even slowed down. I bought a really good call blocker and it works great. The phone might ring one time and then it’s cut off. They try to get around that by calling from a slightly different number. I keep blocking.
My husband and I have been talking about having the land line disconnected. We rarely use it and pay $63 a month to be harassed by robo-calls.
If a recording, hang up.
If a live voice, I say, “EHHH hold on sonny, let me get my hearing aid”.
Tow minutes later, “EHHHH, you there sonny?”
Every time they speak, I say some variant of, “Who’s this?”, “What did you say your name is?”. “How do I know you?”, or, “Hold on, my hearing aid slipped out”.
If they say, “Social Security” or some such, I make them spell it. My hearing aid slips, of course, so we have to start over two or theww times. Then I get the name wrong. “Sowisha Sixternity?”
I say in for the duration, until they politely say bye and sorry for bothering. I actually look forward to the calls. Especially from Dell Computer and Microsoft.
We keep our landline. It’s $50/month, but we rely on it during long power failures. Our security system is connected to it. When I need tech assistance on our cells, I use the landline so I can work on the cell. We’re very (too) close where two interstates meet and when there’s a backup, accident, or similar, cell service must be overloaded or something because we can’t connect.
I figure when the SHTF, it’ll be easier for Uncle Sugar to jam cell service than landlines. I’m probably wrong, but I like to believe that.
there are apps titled to the effect of 10-21 which is a police code for a phone call. It allows the caller to designate a particular phone number as a call back (even your number) or a random local number.
my home answering machine message is from Futurama (the Amazon Women in the Mood) when Fry tries to call to check up on the girls it says: (disconnected tone) “This number has crashed into a planet, Please make note of it”
I’ve had people call several times to hear the message and all that you hear after that is laughter...
They don’t have to jam landlines - aside from the digital control of every phone company central office and switch, all they have to do is unplug the power source for the network or simply kill the power to a neighborhood. Landlines don’t work without power supplied **from the phone company offices and equipment**.
Cutting power to an area has no immediate effect on cell systems as cell sites usually have battery backup and a high percentage have automatic diesel generator backup that will keep them running for hours to days or even weeks.
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