Is it just me or is this product one of those "just because you can doesn't mean you should" situations? I don't know if there are any regs that actually outlaw something like this, but even if there aren't, seems like if too many people tapped into the phone lines to draw power with all kinds of phone line-powered gadgets, it could be a rather widespread nuisance or even a real problem for the phone system. Granted, many corded phones are lit by phone line power, but they're not running 8 LED's either. Maybe one day it'll be "Buy my phone line powered alarm clock! Here's a phone line powered air freshener!" <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't have home phone service either....just cell. But locally you can plug an phone in and still call 911 or the phone company (to setup service). I assume this is the standard nationally. I keep a regular (non-powered/non-cordless) phone plugged in at all times.....just in case.

Sooo... Let me get this straight. You don't think that a landline is worth any amount of money (and I think in my case I could knock my bill down to around $13/mo. for just a dial tone), but you'd like for the phone company to send you some free power?

<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ...now I'm just being nasty. Peace.

LOL! Actually, just the opposite. I was hoping it wouldn't work so there'd be one less thing I should buy!

Seriously, I saw it mentioned on a different survival thread, one where the folks seem less technical than here, so I was just looking for some edumacation.

Well, to get back to your original question:

Will it work if you have service? Certainly.

Will it work if you don't have service? Don't know. Plug in a phone, if you get a dial-tone, it will work. What 308holes said about having a "default" service sounds like a really good idea, but I don't think it's universal.

In any event, I agree with what's already been said. It's kinda' gimmicky, doesn't seem to be that particularly useful, and has the potential to cause problems with existing phones. I really hope these devices don't proliferate. The phone system wasn't designed as an alternative power grid. I can see SBC/ATT mailing out letter bombs to people they find doing this sort of thing. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thread-jack? Maybe, but there was a story in the news some months back about a couple that lost their daughter when they discovered the hard way that their inexpensive VOIP phone service didn't have 911 capability. Since then laws have been passed to make it mandatory.

Thought it might be worth a mention that redundant means of communication "can't hoyt' ".

Dominos pizza!! If it ain't here in 30 minutes, I get it for free right? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Um, yeah. O.k. -mark

It would definantly reduce your line quality. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to the results of trying it on a VOIP based system. And harrkev raises a good point about peak voltage, but putting in a regulator circuit wouldn't be too terribly difficult.

My big question is, how bright is it really?

It is. The ability to contact the phone company is a simple marketting thing on thier part, and I think that the 911 part is one of the few times that the FCC was willing to play hardball. But even then, it's good marketting- dead customers don't pay.