There are different types of connections for internet, cable, and landline phone service. The most popular one out of these is cable and fiber. These are more reliable and provide better quality in terms of speed, video, and voice. Therefore, there is a growing trend towards subscribing to these services. The cable and fiber providers want consumers to get the best out of their deals. Therefore, they have tailored special plans to meet the requirement of every household.
However, most of these plans include a landline phone and customers are reluctant to pay for it. We see countless benefits of a landline phone. These features vary from provider to provider. For example, if you get Spectrum voice, there are tons of features. You can make unlimited local and long-distance calls from your phone including the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Mexico. Moreover, you get access to E911 in case of emergency, free of charge voicemail, Caller ID, and crystal clear voice quality.
These features make your landline quite effective for your personal use. Now that you have made up your mind to get a landline, pick up your cellphone and subscribe to the service. Usually, all internet service providers charge an installation fee if you summon a technician. This installation fee is a one-time charge. However, we don’t recommend getting a professional installation for something as simple as a landline. Therefore, we have created a comprehensive guide on all the steps required in connecting your landline phone to a Wi-Fi router.
1. Power off the router
This is the first and the most important step in connecting your landline phone to a Wi-Fi router. You need to power off the router. Don’t unplug any wires before powering off your router. This creates problems for you to recognize the ports.
2. Connect the Ethernet wire
You’ll need an Ethernet wire. This comes with our landline phone and you can even purchase it separately. Connect the Ethernet wire to the ports located at the back of your router. The other end should be connected to the corresponding port in the cable modem.
3. Connect your router to PC
You will require an additional Ethernet cable. Tether it to the LAN port on the backside of your router. The other end should be connected to the Ethernet outlet on your PC.
4. Connect the phone to your router
The next step is simple and requires you to connect the analog home phone to the back of your router through a cable. You will have to look for a phone adapter port at the back of your router and sometimes it is labeled as “Phone 1”. Congratulations your landline is now connected to your Wi-Fi and ready to use.
5. Turn On the modem and PC
TNow that you have set everything up, it is time to turn on the modem and PC. Check the indicators light. They will start blinking and become stable. When the indicator lights are steady, you are good to go.
6. Power on the router
When the modem is stable, connect the router to an outlet and turn it on. You have to wait until the lights on your router are steady.
7. Test your landline
1. Power off your device
2. Find the port at the back of your device
3. Connect the cable
4. Power the device
5. Test Call
1. Connection Type
Wi-Fi routers get internet access through DSL or cable connection. Companies like AT&T and CenturyLink have DSL networks. Meanwhile, companies like Charter Spectrum and Cox have cable networks. Moreover, fiber connections are slowly taking over. The reason behind a delay is that the infrastructure cost is high to install these networks. Primarily, all these services have a Voice over IP (VOIP) landline phone.
2. Network speeds
The quality of your landline entirely depends on your network speed. A high-speed internet guarantees crystal clear voice with no dropped calls. While DSL connections are a bit slow, cable connections have a high-speed connection. DSL connections have a speed of up to 30 Mbps. Conversely, cable connections go as high as 940 Mbps. Many internet providers have jumped into the 940 Mbps bandwagon. For example, Spectrum has 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps, and 940 Mbps. Cox Communications have similar network speeds. The internet speeds vary from location to location. There are many factors involved such as network traffic.
3. Wi-Fi Standards
There are different standards of Wi-Fi technology including 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. All these standards are capable of transferring data at different rates. Out of all these standards, 802.11n protocol is the most advanced standard and transfers data at speeds up to 940 Mbps. So, these standards determine how fast data is transferred using your connection. If you have a connection with a higher download speed but your Wi-Fi router doesn’t have the highest standard, you are more likely to experience slower internet and distortion in voice quality.
Can I get standalone phone service?
If you don’t want to bundle the internet and cable TV with the home phone, you can have standalone phone service. However, your house must have a cable outlet to connect the landline. This option varies from provider to provider. You can get Spectrum phone plans separately. These plans are quite affordable. On top, you get crystal clear voice, no dropped calls, voicemail, and all the other essential features.