Vodaphone Home Phone Wireless

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tims

118 posts

Master Geek

#196182 22-May-2016 09:50

I'm trying to save some money for our local bowling club. We only make the occasional local call (none in winter, 2-3 times per week in bowling season) and paying almost $60 per month for the Spark landline is crazy IMO.

The best alternative I've found is Vodafone's Home Phone Wireless service (Wireless home phone) at $25.99 per month. They supply the phone (Huawei F688 - Huawei F688) and local outgoing calls are free with incoming local calls also free for the caller. Vodafone are getting back to me to see if I can port over our phone number and if it's possible to get an 2nd phone in the office which I presume I can do both of these.

One question I did ask which they couldn't answer so perhaps someone here can help. We require an external ringer for incoming calls for when we aren't in the club rooms. Any idea's how to achieve this? I've looked at the phone manual (above) and can't see any connections on the phone that will enable this. Any other gadgets available that will make this happen?

Thanks for all replies.

froob

692 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1557167 22-May-2016 10:21

I haven't used Home Phone Wireless at all, but agree that there doesn't look like there is any connection on the phone which would allow a separate ringer to be hookup up easily. If the second office phone can be on the same number, maybe Vodafone could set up a third device to be used as a ringer?

I'm assuming that there is no Internet connection to the premises, which would allow cheap VOIP options?

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idle

175 posts

Master Geek

#1557190 22-May-2016 11:25

We have had Home Phone wireless, from Vodafone, for years. It works well, and we use a pair of portable phones, Panasonic, with frequency of 1.8 Ghz, which avoids complicating a Wifi environment ( KX-TG1611 model number). As far as your need to hear a ring outside the clubhouse is concerned, I presume you will be playing outside, and I would doubt that it will be a major problem. Check with Vodafone reps, but, at the very least, a fully charged portable phone should work outside, and will last, on battery, for several hours. Note that the unit should not be left in the sun, and that neither unit will work during a power cut.

tims

118 posts

Master Geek

#1557191 22-May-2016 11:29

Yes, no internet connection so couldn't use voip.

Still waiting for Vodafone to ring me back about the phone etc but I did ring Spark to see if they had anything similar and they offered to drop our monthly bill by $10 - so better than nothing if we don't go ahead with the Vodafone service.

froob:

I haven't used Home Phone Wireless at all, but agree that there doesn't look like there is any connection on the phone which would allow a separate ringer to be hookup up easily. If the second office phone can be on the same number, maybe Vodafone could set up a third device to be used as a ringer?

I'm assuming that there is no Internet connection to the premises, which would allow cheap VOIP options?

idle

175 posts

Master Geek

#1557195 22-May-2016 11:38

On reflection, your usage is so minimal, I wonder whether you might be better to consider porting your landline number to a prepay cellphone? I cannot see any justification for paying any monthly fee for a phone you are not using, eg in the winter. I think 2degrees might have a scheme that suits.

tims

118 posts

Master Geek

#1557254 22-May-2016 13:20

Thanks

I could be wrong but it looks like the Panasonic KX-TG1611 is just a standard cordless phone that connects to a landline? If so, how do you connect to Vodafone's mobile network with this?

Update: I rang Spark to see if they had a similar product to Vodafone's Home Phone Wireless service - they don't but I was offered a $10 reduction on our monthly bill to keep us with Spark. Good to have a bit of competition around!

idle:

We have had Home Phone wireless, from Vodafone, for years. It works well, and we use a pair of portable phones, Panasonic, with frequency of 1.8 Ghz, which avoids complicating a Wifi environment ( KX-TG1611 model number). As far as your need to hear a ring outside the clubhouse is concerned, I presume you will be playing outside, and I would doubt that it will be a major problem. Check with Vodafone reps, but, at the very least, a fully charged portable phone should work outside, and will last, on battery, for several hours. Note that the unit should not be left in the sun, and that neither unit will work during a power cut.

idle

175 posts

Master Geek

#1557330 22-May-2016 15:25

Having had a look at Vodafones website, I can see that the modern set up is quite different to our old one, so I cannot offer advice on Home Wireless, but I still suspect that a cellphone is going to be your cheapest option. You will not need a cellphone for internet, data or camera, so you should be able to get a good simple cellphone for less than your present monthly fee. My experience suggests, whatever you do, someone at the club will whinge and complain about the change!

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1557455 22-May-2016 17:22

A 2D cellphone on a monthly $19 prepay would rollover massive minutes and could be used from anywhere on the property (or anywhere else!)

Also, as suggested by Idle above, you could just stop the credit anytime you stopped needing the phone and pay nothing at all for those months.

Seems a definite plus to me. Only small concerns would be charging and security of the phone, though if it was a cheap one it wouldn't really be much issue anyway...

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coffeebaron

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#1557526 22-May-2016 20:08

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ajw

1932 posts

Uber Geek

#1557535 22-May-2016 20:18

PhantomNVD: A 2D cellphone on a monthly $19 prepay would rollover massive minutes and could be used from anywhere on the property (or anywhere else!)

Also, as suggested by Idle above, you could just stop the credit anytime you stopped needing the phone and pay nothing at all for those months.

Seems a definite plus to me. Only small concerns would be charging and security of the phone, though if it was a cheap one it wouldn't really be much issue anyway...

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phantomdb

583 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1557581 22-May-2016 21:23

Maybe a product like this would work http://www.powertec.co.nz/matrix-gfx11-gsm-gateway then all you would do is chop the copper line from the street and feed it into this unit allowing the two phones you want working to continue working. and then just pop in a cheep plan sim card and port your number over, as for your external ringer you may want a unit that detects the ring signal from the line but is powered from mains.

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tims

118 posts

Master Geek

#1557645 23-May-2016 06:57

Had the bowling club meeting last night and we are going to trial the Vodaphone home phone wireless service to see how it works as the mobile coverage in that part of town can be spotty.
If it works OK then we'll disconnect the landline.

Thanks again for all your replies.

quickymart

13951 posts

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#1557713 23-May-2016 09:23

You mean Vodafone, right?

sbiddle

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#1557764 23-May-2016 10:03

tims:

Thanks

I could be wrong but it looks like the Panasonic KX-TG1611 is just a standard cordless phone that connects to a landline? If so, how do you connect to Vodafone's mobile network with this?

Update: I rang Spark to see if they had a similar product to Vodafone's Home Phone Wireless service - they don't but I was offered a $10 reduction on our monthly bill to keep us with Spark. Good to have a bit of competition around!

The original home phone wireless units were simply a CTU with RJ11 ports to connect any phone you wanted. The newer units (probably last 3 years or so) are an actual Panasonic phone base unit with the CTU built in.

DaveB

1139 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1558456 24-May-2016 09:32

We purchased one of these for the mother in law after she had a stroke and had to go into residential care. The major advantage for older people is that she can actually see and use the dialling buttons.

The major downside is that she often gets it mixed up with the TV remote and can often be seen pointing it at the TV or holding the TV remote to her ear!