You can now reduce your communication costs by installing DryLoopDSL and Transferring your current phone number to TalkBroadband (TBB).

•Available since April 1st, 2005, in Ontario/Quebec, for Bell customers that request it.
•Available with Telus. Pricing is comparable if you bundle a Cell phone.

Note that Telcos do not advertise this service - and you have to find out about it through FAQs like this one!

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DryLoopDSL is standard DSL without the associated phone service (dialtone). Hence, you simply pay for your DSL service and do not pay for a regular PSTN/POTS phone line ($23+). As for regular DSL, there is no battery backup, hence the term "dry loop" - as opposed to "wet loop" when a battery backup phone service is provided.

DryLoopDSL MAY also be offered with a competitor's (Primus, etc) DSL service, but you will have to be query your DSL provider for further information. There is currently a surcharge of about $10 when DryLoop is provided through a Competitive phone company (CLEC: Primus, Sprint). This is to pay the rental fee for the copper wire connection (line) generally owned by the Incumbent phone company (ILEC: Bell, Telus).

The Bell Sympatico DryLoopDSL Service direct number is 1-866-404-5744. You can also ask specifically for the DryLoop Dept through the general Sympatico line at 1-888-590-2375.

NOTE: If you do decide to sign up, we can get Primus Residential TBB Online Signup Referral $$ Credits $$ (before clicking, hold your mouse here to get my name & number to enter on the form). You can EMAIL ME to confirm that you have done so!

Some Details
For EXISTING DSL installations, when you request DryLoopDSL, your POTS (PSTN) number will be disconnected within 3 business days, at no charge. Your POTS number becomes a virtual telephone number that gets assigned as an account number for your DryLoopDSL service. You can no longer make or receive phone calls from this number.

For NEW DryLoopDSL installations (new homes or when moving), there is no installation charge if there are phone jacks already present in your home. There will be a charge if Bell has to install the minimum of one jack in the house - unless you or your contractor does this. A new ten (10) digit phone number will be assigned to use as an account number for DryLoopDSL. This too is a virtual telephone number; you cannot make or receive phone calls from this number.

In all cases, once DryLoopDSL is installed, you only pay your current monthly Sympatico DSL (contract) rate - there are no surcharges, except $10 for DSL-lite users.

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SUMMARY: Requesting DryLoopDSL and Porting your POTS number to TBB

There are 2 options to get DryLoopDSL and LocalNumberPorting (I used option 1):

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• Request Primus to port the POTS number to TBB (as a Primary or Alternate #).
  
  
• The day the POTS line goes out of service (OOS), call Bell (on your cell or another phone) to switch your DSL line to DryLoopDSL. The switch to DryDSL is not automatic - although the Bell Technician may "prep" your line in advance.

This provides less phone service downtime, since POTS service is available until the day Primus takes over - and then after you call Bell for DryLoopDSL, you have to wait 2-3 days until DSL gets restored - and your TBB phone service active.

In my case, I lost primary TBB phone service for only 6 hours (DSL downtime); although I could not get incoming calls to my Alternate # (old POTS) for 3 days.

I have to give Bell kudos for this one - a "side-effect" of the process. It turns out that when the POTS # port was done, the Bell Tech did not disconnect my DSL too, but rather put it on DryLoopDSL right away ! So when I called Bell to setup DryLoopDSL, it was already done... they just had to provide me with my new DryLoopDSL virtual 10digit phone number !


1. • Request Bell to provide DryLoopDSL first.
     
     
   • Once DryLoopDSL is installed, request Primus to port your old POTS number (now the DryLoopDSL virtual number) to TBB.
   
   In this case, you will have no phone service from the time your DryLoop is activated to the day Primus ports the number ! This can be lengthy - perhaps 2 - 4 weeks.
   
   Upon a request, it can take 2-3 days for Bell to switch your account to DryLoopDSL. Your phone line will no longer have dial-tone. Once this is done, you can get Primus to Port the DryLoopDSL virtual POTS number to TBB. Bell will assign a new virtual 10digit number to your DryLoopDSL account.
   

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by canoe
last modified: 2006-04-08 14:09:30