really dumb sympatico question

[needinit]

I know this is probably a dumb question but just need to make sure for myself...I am looking into getting a cell phone, but hate the fact that I would also be paying Bell for a land line.

The only reason I believe I need a land line is to continue using Bell Sympatico internet service (DSL) as is uses the modem and phone line? Or Does the internet connection work without an active land line?

Can anyone give a definitive Yes - You still need a land line, or No- You definitely don't need a land line (based on experience, preferably)

Cheers

 

[Larry_Fyne]

DSL must ride on top of a phone line (1FL in Bell-speak). I know that a business can get a 1FL without any service on it strictly for a DSL service. The cost is very low compared to a phone line for voice or fax usage. I do not know of this option is available for a residential DSL.

 

[salseroto]

Yes it is possible. They set you up with what is known as a "dry loop" which has a number associated with it but cannot be used.

 

[needinit]

Thanks for the quick answers...maybe not such a dumb question after all as I didn't know about a dry loop!

Can now move forward with getting out of paying for the landline for absolutely no benefit!

 

[Ross Eyerie]

I'm pretty sure Bell has an additional $10 fee or something like that ON TOP of their regular service.

And an additional fee for a dry loop from other providers has been my experience. Since a land line will run you almost 25 or 30 bucks... seems reasonable I guess... however it also sounds like another way of Bell to nickel and dime customers I'm sure. Since the infrastructure belongs to them, 3rd party ISP's will advise that the additional fee is charged by Bell Nexxia for the dry loop and the ISP's hand that charge down to the consumer.

My advice.... cancel Bell and go with another provider... they'll provide the exact same service for 10 to 20 dollars less that Sympatico... buncha fuckin crooks! Don't get me started on the CRTA allowing them to continue throttling their services.

 

[felixnutbar]

I went with the Yak home phone/DSL service for 69.95, which is only about ten bucks more than just high speed DSL with Bell. Yep, it's still Bell at some point as they're a reseller, which means Bell is throttling, but I get good speed, and there are no download caps, and it's nice to get a bill that doesn't skyrocket every month for whatever reason.

Maybe try Teksavvy? I've heard good things.

good luck, getting away from Bell is more painful than staying with them - simpatico indeed...

 

[SpaClient]

Bye Bye Bell - Sort of

I know this is probably a dumb question but just need to make sure for myself...I am looking into getting a cell phone, but hate the fact that I would also be paying Bell for a land line.

The only reason I believe I need a land line is to continue using Bell Sympatico internet service (DSL) as is uses the modem and phone line? Or Does the internet connection work without an active land line?

Can anyone give a definitive Yes - You still need a land line, or No- You definitely don't need a land line (based on experience, preferably)

Cheers

As others have pointed out, you can use a dry loop and purchase DSL from a different ISP. You might consider purchasing your phone from a reseller. My ISP provides both DSL and my home phone service (land line) for almost the same price as my regular phone bill used to be before I switched - effectively 200gb ud/l DSL is costing me just $6.00 per month.

The catch is that the ISP is leasing the copper from Bell line so The Mother does get some revenue from you. Interestingly, when a service call or other problem arises Ma Bell respondes MUCH faster when the request comes from my ISP then when I was a direct customer. I'm still amazed that anyone wants to buy stock in Bell.

 

[Larry_Fyne]

As others have pointed out, you can use a dry loop and purchase DSL from a different ISP. You might consider purchasing your phone from a reseller. My ISP provides both DSL and my home phone service (land line) for almost the same price as my regular phone bill used to be before I switched - effectively 200gb ud/l DSL is costing me just $6.00 per month.

The catch is that the ISP is leasing the copper from Bell line so The Mother does get some revenue from you. Interestingly, when a service call or other problem arises Ma Bell respondes MUCH faster when the request comes from my ISP then when I was a direct customer. I'm still amazed that anyone wants to buy stock in Bell.

Your last statement is somewhat misleading however. Bell may respond quicker to an outage if the customer is a reseller of their service only because the outage would be larger than one user or if they have an SLA. If you do use another ISP that remarkets Bell services though, you first have to get to and through the ISP's technical support BEFORE a ticket is opened with Bell. As a Bell customer, you can at least get to tech support directly. The primary factor in determining who get's attention from Bell is strictly in the product that you purchase. Bell will service customers that subscribe to an SLA that they have to work against. Remarketing ISPs would subscribe to an SLA (ie. 4 hour MTTR (mean time to respond) - it is not mean time to REPAIR!). Residential DSL customers of Bell or even corporate customers with DSL and no SLA are handled after the SLA customers.

 

[SpaClient]

Hi Larry,

I did not intent to misled anyone. I'm not sure about the internal details of Bell's business models. I do know that on the occassions when I contacted my ISP for service (either voice or data) my issues were resolved much, much quicker then when I was a direct customer of Bell. I used Bell for over 20 years for voice and data (anyone remember datapac?) before I when elsewhere. The primary reason I switched was the dismal sergice responses I had received, particularly from Sympatico. At this time, I have have no regrets about the change.