US Telco Support > AT&T > AT&T Southwest > If I cancel POTS from AT&T, is that a dry loop?

If I cancel POTS from AT&T, is that a dry loop?

If you cancel the POTS it will not automatically convert to a dry loop. You would have ask that they convert you to that service.

In terms of the DSL service itself, nothing should change, you just won't have dial tone service anymore. If you are considering going with strictly with cell or VoIP for telephony, there are certainly some pro's and con's there that should be considered.

Yes, I am going VoIP / Cellphone.

Can you point me to a FAQ or something that discusses the pro's and con's?

Sorry, I don't have any links like that...but I'm sure they are out there.

A couple of thoughts on VoIP:
Power outage means no phone service.
911 service is supposed to work, but will likely not be as reliable as with POTS.

Cell...I've heard the same power outage argument, meaning the cell towers will lose power, although I've never experienced that. Although in recent memory, the only power outages I've experienced have been fairly localized.

Good luck!

Actually Cell Towers have battery backup too, BUT, if the outage goes over say 24-48 hours or so they will go down until the cell provider can get a backup generator out to the site, or may allow another tower to pick up the slack if one nearby

reply to RedMatrix
if you cancel you POTs service without converting it to a dry loop you will lose DSL service also your DSL service is based on the telephone number.. you just need to call and have it converted to dryloop will take an order to do this .. also because you may not be told by ordering once the order is complete you will need to reregister you old id to get the DSL back up and running...all of which will take some time and patience from you

Okay, thanks.

By old ID, you mean my @sbcglobal.net name?

And, here's the kicker, will they raise the price of my DSL package?

reply to RedMatrix
correct you current ID if you want to change it to get a @att.net id you can also by registering as new id.. as far as pricing not sure but maybe slightly higher

reply to RedMatrix
In my market the price difference for dry loop vs DSL w/POTS is about $10. It seems worth it to keep the POTS at the lowest level of service for the about same cost. I am considering this. But once you add any features, the difference is not much more for a bundle.

»Re: How to switch from ATT POTS/DSL to Dry Loop and CallVantage?

I have another line I'm wanting to port to VOIP - Packet8, Vonage, and Viatalk can port the number (Vonage CEO being ex-ATT concerns me re: Vonage future pricing structure). T-Mobile is not an option for me. Any recommendations?

How geeky you wanna get?

For 125 quid, a cheapo spare machine, and some effort, you can make a fully functional PBX machine that does a pretty close thing to what T-Mobile is offering.

»www.discountphonesystems.co.uk/a···ays.html

»www.trixbox.com/products/trixbox-pro

Put Trixbox on an old machine, port your number to AT&T Wireless, hook up the GSM Gateway, buy cheap VoIP service from somewhere, and you got a fully functional home phone system. No worries about service, as AT&T ain't going nowhere. If VoIP provider dies, oh well, switch to another one.

Lots of advantages there, but it does require a bit of configuration. I'm using it at home, and it's great. I have it route a lot of calls through GSM, because of free mobile to mobile minutes. Others go through the VoIP trunk, like international calls. I can even dial into it and call out from it, so I don't have to pay expensive international charges from ATTWS.

Like I said, it depends on how geeky you wanna get.

I kind of wish they would invent a way to turn regular old Cell phones into house phones. Now that would be a good idea because all the old cell phones that people toss or sell online could be a somewhat awesome house phone.

Old Cell Phones as house phones

reply to David

Re: If I cancel POTS from AT&T, is that a dry loop?

reply to RedMatrix

Re: Old Cell Phones as house phones