Do you use Cablevision for phone service?

[frannn]

I just added their phone service to my internet and tv, and my bill is supposed to go down about $15 per month. Only problem is I'm not sure how to set it up. We have the Cablevision modem in our basement, but want to use the phone on the main floor. If we buy a multi-handset cordless phone, can we just plug the main unit into the modem and then use the other handsets/chargers by plugging them in on the other floors? We don't want to pay to have them come in to get their service to work through the regular jacks. Do I also need a separate answering machine?

 

[POOHsie]

The way my cable phone system is set up, my phone service continues to run through phone jacks. I have a phone line from the wall plugged into the modem. The main portable phone has to be plugged into a phone jack, too. The rest of the phones only need to be plugged into an electric outlet.

I'm not sure (so long ago) but maybe the Cable Co. had to do something in my basement to connect their cable service with my house phone line. I'm real fuzzy about that.

I have multiple handset phones, too. My Panasonic phone system will block 250 callers, and keeps running on battery if the power is out (something other portable phones won't do). My Cable Co phone set-up would only block 12 callers.

The Cable Co. should have answering machine service, call waiting, etc. (ours does). Read about it on their website. However, my Panasonic main phone unit has an answering machine, and I can pick up messages from any of my phones. The Panasonic Owner's Book is very easy to understand and follow. If you'd like to look this product over, here's a blurb from Amazon. You can get from 2 to 6 handsets: http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-KXTG6844B-1-Handset-Single-Line-Telephone/dp/B00BP7SDCY

 

[MillauFr]

I got OOMA 3 years ago which basically is a device that routes your phone calls over your internet connection. They charge $4+ per month. I called Century Link which is the land line provider in our area, canceled our service, and then disconnected the phone line wires coming from outside of my house. I then connected my OOMA device to a phone jack and back fed the rest of the phone jacks in our house. Works great.