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RV Lifestyle 101: How can I use a normal telephone in my RV?
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In this day and age, many of us have cell phones that we can use whenever we want, as long as there is coverage. But sometimes, we long for the convenience of a regular telephone, with big buttons, a normal “ring” and a nice sized handset.
There are a couple of ways this can be accomplished. Many RV parks offer a telephone line at your camp site, which can be plugged into your coach. Most RVs have at least one phone jack, usually by the cable TV jack. This might give you the ability to make local and toll-free calls with or without a fee. Check with your park.
Another alternative is a device called a magicJack. It requires a computer with an open USB port and a constant Internet connection. The technology is called Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VOIP. Purchasing a magicJack costs about $20 plus tax, and gets you the first year of service. Once purchased, installed, and registered, you will get your own phone number and will have the ability to make phone call to anywhere in the USA for no additional cost. A standard phone plugs into the magicJack and it functions the same as a land-line. You can also receive phone calls, since you do have an assigned phone number.
There are advantages to magicJack. First is the ability to take your phone number with you, wherever you go. The device itself is very compact – about 3 inches long by 1 inch wide and less than an inch thick. VOIP technology has come a very long way since it was first used in the early 21st century. The call quality is typically as good as that of a land line. The other advantage is the cost. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for.
Some disadvantages of magicJack include the program that installs to your computer. It is a proprietary program that sometimes conflicts with other programs and firewalls. For example, iTunes and magicJack don’t get along so well. MagicJack requires a constant Internet connection. If your RV park offers free WiFi, this might not be an issue, although it’s certainly not ideal to leave your computer running 24/7. If you do, it’s important to reboot the computer every day to restart everything.
If you use a wireless card to access the Internet, you’ll want to be aware of data usage, since most plans have limits on data use. You don’t want to exceed your monthly allotted data just by leaving your magicJack turned on. You’ll also want to be sure to ‘register’ the RV park where you use magicJack when you arrive in the rare event that you need to call 911.
Overall, magicJack is a viable alternative. It does not work well to send faxes, but works well enough at home or in the RV. While it may save you some money in long distance charges, it is still young technology and isn’t perfect. Good luck, and Happy Trails!
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