How to use real vintage phones on your cell phone line

[Homer Hudson]

....in the case of a couple sharing a household, do both persons get a cell phone, or just one? If just one, who gets it? If both, whose number do you give out as your official home number? Or do most couples these days each have their own cell? [huh]

My wife and I have a cell phone each, but for us it's much more than a cell phone. We each keep our appointments in the phone, use the built in camera to capture the off the cuff antics of our 3 year old, I even use the camera to sometimes photograph a billboard or sign with a phone number or website on it if I want to contact them at a later stage (far quicker than hunting for pen and paper as you walk or drive past). I often also record business meetings (with others' permission of course) because I have a bad memory, and it also allows me to concentrate on the discussion rather than note taking.

Having one each also means we can call each other when we are out shopping but want to go different ways (hardware/shoe store )

So for us, it's definitely a phone each. We do still have a landline (rarely used now), but we use our mobiles as our "official" numbers for most things.

Cheers...

 

[Bustercat]

Did you have any of the "duplex" issues that I have read about in some of the customer reviews? It sounds like you are very pleased with your unit. Is there anything you would list as a con in deciding to purchase this item? Also, did you buy the Radio Shack or XLINK version?
Thanks, Dan

I am pleased. There have been some hiccups, like last week after an update I couldn't receive calls (straight to voicemail.) Re pairing the bluetooth seemed to fix it.
Cons are a slight hiss on the line sometimes, and a crackle if its farther away from the unit.. but could just be some interference from something else in my house. Often its totally quiet. Also, if you come home during a call and it connects, you seem to lose the call, but it isn't much of a problem. There used to be a problem where my phone wouldn't connect automatically to the unit when I came home, but that's been fixed by the latest hardware update. Be warned, you need a pc or paralells on mac to run the update program.

Also, after the other party picks up or you pick up on them, there's about a 1 second delay before they can hear you, so just pause before speaking. Of course, YMMV — I hooked the thing up to the comp and fiddled with the "Expert only" settings that allow you to tweak the way it operates and may have mucked something up.
Minor quibbles, in any case.

landlines

The landline has become obsolete for us personally.
I think most people are moving towards their own cell phone lines instead of one main one, now that even kids have their own cellphones. When you think about it, it basically takes away the step of the person calling your house having to say "may I speak to ___ please?"
Plus no telemarketers.

But this unit can connect 3 different cellphones AND your landline, so basically everything rings off the same line.
You can program a different ring for each phone, so you know who's incoming call is who.
When you pick up a receiver and get a dialtone, it defaults to the landline if present. To use any of the attached cellphones instead, pick up the handset, dial a number (1,2, or 3) and push the plunger to switch to that line (like using call waiting).

Bottom line, it has some issues, but there are regular firmware updates and hopefully all will be ironed out in time.

 

[DStuttgen]

Well, I ponied up the klink and got myself one of these units. I got the Gigaset from RadioShack. It's nice seeing my old AE40 sitting on the desk. One day soon, I will send a photo of my desk area for all to see.
Dan

 

[Bustercat]

I hope you like it as much as I do!

It is exactly the same as the xlink. You can download the update software from their site and it will do the rest automatically.
Besides being cheaper from radioshack, you can easily return it if it gives you problems.

BTW, solved my static issue by moving it to a different room away from my router and microcell tower. Works even better now.

 

[Brinybay]

I have the XLink hooked up as a line in to a PBX. That turns the PBX into a bluetooth, then I can plug in 8 phones if I wanted to. (But I only have two because all the phones plugged in will ring in numerical order, starting with the cell phone). Works fine. Cons on the XLink - You'll get bad audio if the cell phone is more than a couple feet away from the XLink. Other con is there is a hesitation when you answer the phone. Overall, it's a great device, they just need to improve on the reception quality.

 

[PoohBang]

I have the xlink also but get feedback on the line.... not a huge fan of it.

 

[TSWebster]

Since I don't have a landline I have never seen the need to own one of these magnificent vintage phones, whilst I love the style I am something of a minimalist I like to have things I actually use. The X-Link changes that since now I can use one. I found a site that had it listed for $68.32 and international postage of $46.10, whilst the postage is very high its not the highest I've paid and given that the manufacturers site lists the XLink for $99.99 and the company I went with comes in at about $114.50 I don't think I did to badly.

Heres a pic of the phone I just bought and am currently awaiting.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

This is a great thing you've found here! I've been mulling over the idea of getting a landline, which is just an unnecessary expense since I'm rarely home, and have a cell phone. I essentially wanted it to test rotary phones when I'm done refurbishing them. This would let me use my rotaries (which, nobody's going to call my land line if I did get one) I am probably going to go to radio shack tomorrow and look into one of these. Thank you for posting this!

 

[Bingles]

I bought the Radioshak one, but it won't work when actually connected to my land line. I can't even dial out from my phone regularly when it's connected to this... it only works when not connected to my landline.. not sure what I'm doing wrong. :eusa_doh:

 

[TSWebster]

My XLink arrived on Friday, a short shopping trip later to buy some phone lines and a new DC Adapter that fits Australian power points and it is up and running. I have my Motorola Milestone paired to my with my North Electric Model 7H6 “Galion” and couldn't be happier. Currently its all in the one room so it is a little strange having them both ring at the same time, I must move the mobile phone further away or remember to put it on silent.

 

[Brinybay]

I bought the Radioshak one, but it won't work when actually connected to my land line. I can't even dial out from my phone regularly when it's connected to this... it only works when not connected to my landline.. not sure what I'm doing wrong. :eusa_doh:

Are you sure you got the right one? There are two types, BTTN for use with landlines, BTN for use w/o one.

 

[Bingles]

Are you sure you got the right one? There are two types, BTTN for use with landlines, BTN for use w/o one.

Yep.. this one does work with landlines. It allows a touch tone phone to dial out on the landline, but not a rotary. Odd.. it accepts rotary dialing for the mobile phone, but not to use over the actual landline itself. [huh]

I'm not really concerned anymore. I hooked up a WE 500 and WE 302 to the unit and they work great. The majority of my phone calls come to my cell anyway. The reception is amazing! I just leave my cell by the bluetooth router and forget it -- using only the rotary phones while home.

This really is an amazing invention!

 

[willyk57]

My XLink router is up and running with out any problems. my wife and I each run our cell line through the router to our Western Electric rotary phone.

After eight years with out a land line it is nice to have a receiver that i can tuck between my ear and shoulder. The only issue we have had is that our Western Electric is sluggish on numbers one and two and the router doesn't always pick them up.

This is one piece of technology that gets my vote.

Regards,
Willyk57

 

[Bingles]

I tried running the updates for the x-link on the Radioshack version and it didn't turn out so well. Once the unit updated, my WE 500 would no longer ringer.. but my WE 302 would. Sadly, I could not uninstall the configuration.

I went through two units before I decided to simply NOT update the programming. :eusa_doh:

 

[Brinybay]

I tried running the updates for the x-link on the Radioshack version and it didn't turn out so well. Once the unit updated, my WE 500 would no longer ringer.. but my WE 302 would. Sadly, I could not uninstall the configuration.

I went through two units before I decided to simply NOT update the programming. :eusa_doh:

Thanks for the heads up. I was too lazy to find the USB cord for the unit to update it, so I never bothered. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

 

[DStuttgen]

My "new" telephone. Any idea on how to get the kinks out of the cloth wrapped cord?

 

[Mr_D.]

They're bluetooth, right?

The only down fall I can see.

Sorry I don't trust blue tooth.

 

[DStuttgen]

I really like being able to have an authentic operative rotary telephone on my desk...now if someone would just ring me.
Anyone know where I can get a center ring for this model of phone?

[/QUOTE]

 

[ScionPI2005]

I must say I am thinking of getting one of these. One question though: can you connect a Caller ID box to the landline phone in some way, or do you always have to go check your cell phone to see who is calling you?

 

[Bustercat]

messing around around with the programs advance settings, there are options for adjusting the delay of incoming calls so that they work with calller id. So I'm guessing yes, but I don't know.

The intent of these devices is to integrate cell phones with people's existing cordless/base unit telephone systems, which often have caller id built in... rotaries are an added bonus (and frankly the only one im interested in.)

Bingles, Didn't know about rotaries not being able to call out on the land line... is it possible you have VOIP?
I'd call the xlink number and ask them.