[ale] [OT] Building a home 'landline' using the cellular network

[Byron Jeff]

E-911 typically is provided by the VOIP provider, typically at a rate of
$1.50 per month. You'll also need a DID if you want people to call you.

This whole process is easier if your cell connection out is a data one.
Essentially once you have cell data based internet it's little more than
getting a VOIP adapter (I have a Linksys PAPT2), putting it on cell
internet, configure your VOIP adapter, and plugging in a phone. I've done
this with cable/phone internet along with Google Voice to carry the home
number on several occasions.

As for power outages, my current Comcast home phone never works when the
power is out. In 2020 world where cell phone penetration is in the high 90%
range, I'm not sure it's that pressing an issue anymore. BTW, the cell
towers almost always work through power outages, so as long as there's a
UPS available, it's likely that the GSM Cell, VOIP adapter, cordless phone
system would have power and would continue to work.

BAJ

On Sun, Jan 05, 2020 at 06:58:54PM -0500, Stephen R. Blevins via Ale wrote:
> On a non-technical level, give some consideration to making sure your
> system will interface with E-911 correctly.  In a moment of "panic" one
> of your users may try to use this system to get emergency help.  Also,
> what are your expectations for the system if the power goes our.
> Typically, the POTS system works when the power is out.  Just a thought.
>  YMMV
> 
> Stephen R. Blevins
> stephen.r.blevins at gmail.com
> 
> On 1/5/20 4:03 PM, Robert Tweedy via Ale wrote:
> > Hi Ale,
> > 
> > I'm entertaining an idea (currently months/years out on implementation, should it turn out to be feasible) of trying to build a simple in-home phone system that would run over a cellular network (specifically one of the GSM networks like AT&T or T-Mobile, so that I could simply swap out the SIM card should I ever want to change providers), and I was wondering if anyone else here has tried to do this and could offer any pointers.
> > 
> >>From what I've looked at so far, it looks like I'd need a GSM gateway or similar device to ultimately make the connection to the cellular network, along with a Linux system running something like Asterisk or FusionPBX and the associated cards/hardware to interface with the POTS wiring inside the house (just looking for a simple party-line style setup at the moment; no need to handle multiple extensions/numbers and no desire to buy expensive VoIP/business-class phones). Any suggestions on where to start with something like this, or any pitfalls that you may have experienced when setting up something like this yourself?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Robert
> > 
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-- 
Byron A. Jeff
Associate Professor: Department of Computer Science and Information Technology
College of Information and Mathematical Sciences
Clayton State University
http://faculty.clayton.edu/bjeff