Cheap VoIP but without the expensive fibre plan

Forums › VoIP › Cheap VoIP but without the expensive fibre plan

mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 910

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#278434 15-Oct-2020 13:13

So my elderly neighbour has a landline (well fibre and a VoiP since it is a new house ) for which se pays about $80 a month through Vodafone. The thing is she doesn't own a computer so this seems like a bit of a waste of money (she got a $160 bill last month because of toll calls)

So what I'm looking for is the cheapest way to give her a "landline" experience. I could possibly set up an access point on my system near to her house and get her a VoIP phone and have her number ported to 2talk but I was hoping for a self contained idea that doesn't rely on me.

any ideas?

Matthew

elpenguino

3576 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2938

#2585912 15-Oct-2020 13:18

Both spark and Vodafone offer a cordless phone which uses cellular services for around $25 / month.

Mother in law uses that no problem.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2585919 15-Oct-2020 13:38

If she would be happy to move to Spark, they have their Gold Talker plans for over 65s. A quite reasonable $23/m for unlimited calling compared to the $50 for their "Home wireless landline" with local calls only. https://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile-plans/gold-plans.html

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

ID Verified

#2585920 15-Oct-2020 13:40

Or otherwise she could be eligible for Skinny Jump with a $22 month voip plan from Hero for the 'landline' experience and familiarity she is after

mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 910

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2585932 15-Oct-2020 14:09

A few options and ideas there. lets she what she might like

thanks all

Matthew

davidcole

6099 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1465

Trusted

#2585935 15-Oct-2020 14:15

2talk? $6.90 for a number and put in an ata? If you're really keep you can set up remote access to it so you can reboot it.

Else put them cellphone only....wont affect her, but some of her mates might have an issue with it (costs me too much to call you). Mum did the latter when she moved.

Previously known as psycik

Home Assistant: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, Home Assistant with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Shelly Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Server Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using MergerFS, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Proxmox Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 22.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com fastmail.com Sharesies Trakt.TV Sharesight

deadlyllama

1283 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 476

Trusted

#2585936 15-Oct-2020 14:16

Check that the cellular "landline experience" options don't require dialing an area code. I put my mum on one of those years ago and she hated that part.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

ghettomaster

387 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 130

#2585938 15-Oct-2020 14:23

Would she go for a mobile with unlimited calling? They start at 40 a month or so and would have unlimited national calling.

It would be a problem with friends calling her as the old “I’ll call you back” is a big hassle. What about one of those mobile plans where you can add a local number. Not sure what they cost these days.

As I say just trying to think outside the box and see if there’s a way around toll bills for her.

mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 910

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2585940 15-Oct-2020 14:30

I think the options are, in order of the amount of change she would experience

cheap fibre plan (skinny Jump) + a voip account, (2talk or Hero) $22 +$6.50

Vodafone home phone wireless $50

Spark mobile gold plans $12

Matthew

Stu1

1892 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 489

ID Verified

Subscriber

#2585957 15-Oct-2020 15:58

deadlyllama:
Check that the cellular "landline experience" options don't require dialing an area code. I put my mum on one of those years ago and she hated that part.

Its a nightmare voda still does it gold card plan wireless4g modem , spark offered the same but at least didn’t have to dial 04 to ring the neighbours

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#2588008 19-Oct-2020 21:11

Stu1:
deadlyllama:

Check that the cellular "landline experience" options don't require dialing an area code. I put my mum on one of those years ago and she hated that part.

Its a nightmare voda still does it gold card plan wireless4g modem , spark offered the same but at least didn’t have to dial 04 to ring the neighbours

Assuming you live close enough Buy a Hero VOIP account for <$20 and a Yealink W60P DECT kit and put the base station at your house and the handset at hers

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.