How Do You Call Home These Days?

MyOtherOtter on 12/12/2023 - 17:51

I know the obvious answer is, get a land line, but I haven’t had one since 2002 and I somehow feel like it’s a weird backwards step to start now.

We’re a mostly Apple household, but my wife never carries her phone and it’s always on silent anyway. My son doesn’t use his iPad much, and is just on his windows machine most of the time. No phone. My daughter is usually on her iPad, but not always - and she’s often with me when I need to call home.

We do have an older Lenovo brand Google home that’s up and running, but I have no idea if I can call it. All our home computers are for work and have passwords to access.

So yeah, how do I call home?!?!

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • ihfree on 12/12/2023 - 17:55
    +35

    Hey Google broadcast "pick up your phone"

  • brendanm on 12/12/2023 - 18:17
    +45

    Tell your wife to listen for her phone? Hardly rocket surgery.

    • Muzeeb on 12/12/2023 - 19:56
      +7

      Do not disturb filters exist for a reason.

    • camr00 on 13/12/2023 - 13:59
      +3

      Buy her an Apple Watch. I did this for my wife where a similar problem existed and its mostly solved the problem.

      • OzzyOzbourne on 13/12/2023 - 22:28

        Forgets to wear or charge it 🙁

        • 1Kenobi on 15/12/2023 - 07:01

          Upgrade wife

  • ozhunter on 12/12/2023 - 18:31
    +2

    facetime or install facebook messenger/whatsapp.

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:08

      She often has no idea where her phone is, and isn't anywhere near it - frequently in the garden while the phone is in her handbag.

      • p1 ama on 14/12/2023 - 09:24
        +1

        frequently in the garden

        How would she answer a landline or a Nest device in the house whilst she's in the garden?

  • foxmulder on 12/12/2023 - 18:41
    +4

    No one is using landline anymore, they should have their own phone. If it's not available then I'm afraid it's just hard. You can try to get in touch with your son via steam chat or discord that pops up when you message him.

    • HeWhoKnows on 13/12/2023 - 07:33
      +11

      Those that still have a landline dont pick up anyway because its probably a "nuisance" call.

    • LFO on 13/12/2023 - 14:16
      +1

      No one is using landline anymore

      Still in use and rather popular as the VoIP version.

      Great to let others call and "not" leave a message, meaning it was not important at all …

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:09

      Good idea for my son, I'll sort something out there.

  • iNeed2Pee on 12/12/2023 - 18:43
    +5

    Sometimes I ring through the doorbell or another cam and yell for them to pick up.

  • Dollar General on 12/12/2023 - 18:47
    +2

    Doubt they would even answer the landline

  • nofate on 12/12/2023 - 18:54
    +13

    Buy wife apple watch for xmas. Notify when phone ringing. Profit

  • Qazxswec on 12/12/2023 - 18:57
    +2

    you can get a land line for $10 a month through your ISP, unlimited national calls and calls to 25 countries

    • geekcohen on 13/12/2023 - 08:50
      +10

      Next thread

      Wife Leaves Phone off the hook.

  • Nugs on 12/12/2023 - 19:02
    +8

    Wasnt ET a documentary on this very problem, probably the first time I'd seen a pirate copy of anything
    .

  • Ocker on 12/12/2023 - 19:09
    +16

    I don't understand how you can expect OZ'bers to help you rectify your domestic communication issues?

    • Muzeeb on 12/12/2023 - 19:58
      +8

      I agree. FFS, if you can't organise this then life must be one big struggle. FFS

      • smartazz104 on 13/12/2023 - 13:21
        -3

        These argumentative comments are just a roundabout way of saying that you don't have a clue.

    • MyOtherOtter on 13/12/2023 - 08:21
      -1

      Looking for a technical solve mate, not a social one. I want to be able to call the 'house', not one specific person, without getting a landline, if possible.

      But thanks for your condescension.

      • Geoff01 on 13/12/2023 - 10:04
        +13

        If everyone has a device esp the wife but refuses to use it properly then maybe they don't deserve to be contacted. If she misses a call and misses out on that takeout then tough lesson learnt. I think your problem is very much social not electronic. Having said that there must be some sort of wifi enabled beeper or alert you can install.

        • SlickMick on 13/12/2023 - 10:15
          -4

          I was going to say the same thing: OP is looking for a technical solution to a social problem

      • Loopholio on 13/12/2023 - 11:06
        +4

        Buy a cheap dumb phone. Leave it in the hall next to the front door, kitchen or living room, just like a landline phone.

        If no one picks up, you can be certain no one wants to talk to you.

      • p1 ama on 13/12/2023 - 11:35
        +3

        Looking for a technical solve mate, not a social one.

        You can't technically engineer your way around a social problem, though.

        If your wife doesn't want to pick up her mobile phone, then what makes you think she would want to pick up a landline? If she's putting her phone on silent, then she'll also probably put the landline on silent as well.

        But thanks for your condescension.

        I don't see how it's condescension - it is, ultimately, a domestic communication issue. Honest question, but have you tried talking to your wife and trying to find a solution?

        • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:04

          Maybe it is a social issue, I'm not really seeing it that way.

          Wifey has ADHD and leaves her phone…. wherever, and never knows where it actually is. This is compounded by spending a ton of time in the garden.

          That's why I'm not really seeing it as a social issue. She and I have great communication usually, enjoy each other's company, etc. There just isn't a discussion to be had around "you're easily distracted, please stop" ;)

          • p1 ama on 14/12/2023 - 09:31
            +4

            @MyOtherOtter:

            That's why I'm not really seeing it as a social issue. She and I have great communication usually, enjoy each other's company, etc. There just isn't a discussion to be had around "you're easily distracted, please stop" ;)

            You're still not getting the point - it's not about having a discussion on "you're easily distracted, please stop", it's having a discussion on "hey, sometimes I need to get in contact with you, and can't do so".

            At the end of the day, her picking up her phone is a "her" decision, not a "you" decision. You can only do so much, once you've raised the issue with her, it's up to her to figure out how to make sure she can get the phone. What the above few posts are trying to tell you is that the person best placed to tell you why your wife won't pick up her phone and how to fix that is your wife, not a bunch of internet randoms who do not have any further context.

            My suggestion is just to tell her that you're not able to get in contact with her and why it's important that you're able to. She's an adult, she can figure it out. You don't need to go spend hundreds of dollars on a technical solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.

            FWIW, it's not even just about you calling her. What if there's an emergency at school, and they need to call her?

          • ssfps on 15/12/2023 - 01:22

            @MyOtherOtter: So buy another mobile and leave it plugged in on the kitchen bench and tell your handicapped wife not to leave it in the garden or put it on silent?

            Wifey has ADHD and leaves her phone…. wherever, and never knows where it actually is. This is compounded by spending a ton of time in the garden.

            Actually, scrap my suggestion above, just confiscate her phone and turn it into the "home phone". If she doesn't know where it is and it's on silent, she presumably doesn't use it or need it.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/12/2023 - 19:10
    +19

    silent

    Set yourself in contact list as bypass silent mode

  • websterp on 12/12/2023 - 19:10
    +14

    Get a Tesla, leave it parked in the Garage. Beep the horn non-stop from the App and you'll get your call-back in no time.

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:10

      Now there's the answer I was looking for! Perfect excuse to get a new car :)

  • hentabara on 12/12/2023 - 19:20
    +1

    I use amazon echo show. There is an option to call it from alexa app. And you can shout 'Helloooww'.

    https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/help/customer/display.html?node…

  • BigLeviathan on 12/12/2023 - 19:20
    +3

    Use “find my phone” functionality to alert your family to pick up the phone

    • us3rnam3tak3n on 14/12/2023 - 17:35

      Works for android, I assume iPhone as well?

      • BigLeviathan on 14/12/2023 - 17:36
        +1

        With iPhone, you could use "Find my" app.
        I tried this the other day to find my kid's iPad and it works okay (as long as the iPad has Wifi/5G coverage, for obvious reasons)

  • Eeples on 12/12/2023 - 19:50
    +5

    You could make an Facebook message group called Home. Join yourself and all your home family members in to it.

    Ring the group.

    If one of them is Home… they can pick it up.

  • Porker on 12/12/2023 - 19:58

    I bought my mum a landline headset with bluetooth. We were able to connect her mobile to it such that the headset would ring with a call, and she had an extension headset so it would ring both upstairs and downstairs.

    Could get a cheap mobile phone on cheap plan and link to a similar headset.

  • takloohaivan on 12/12/2023 - 20:06

    Install google family app on your families phone and use find phone option and it will ring very loudly even if it is on silent mode.

    • SBOB on 13/12/2023 - 07:06

      Which app?
      "Family link" is the only one I can see, but that's for managing kids phones I thought.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 12/12/2023 - 20:09
    +1

    Do a viral 6 second TikTok everytime you want them to call you

    • MyOtherOtter on 13/12/2023 - 08:22

      This is probably the most likely option to work, at least for the kids!

  • Sal in SA on 12/12/2023 - 20:48
    +1

    How will having a landline make any real difference, they will just ignore it / unplug it / lower volume (silent effectively or leave it on a line.

  • kiitos on 12/12/2023 - 21:24
    +1

    We kept our landline number when we moved to NBN as it was free for incoming calls, which is all we use it for. But apart from calls from elderly relatives, we only get spam calls.

  • cashless on 12/12/2023 - 21:29
    +3

    Many broadband plans (assuming you have one?) come with option for free landline. You only get charged if you make outbound calls.
    I’ve been with ABB & now with Superloop. I have kept a landline number that is never used to make outbound calls.
    But when any member of the family travel in AU or overseas, we can simply call the landline. If no one is home it goes to voicemail.
    Simple really.

    Finally, taking above post (re spam calls) into account, just make sure you sign up with the DoNotCall register. I haven’t had a spam call in 5 years

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:11

      I just don't want to actually get a landline. Sounds silly, I know, but I somehow have an innate revulsion towards the idea. Think I've found it with broadcasting to Google nest devices however.

  • ozbargainsam on 12/12/2023 - 21:59
    +3

    Open Find My, 'Devices' tab, pick a device and hit the 'Play Sound' button.

    Or if you feel like alienating someone, 'Mark As Lost'.

  • Nutrino on 12/12/2023 - 22:03
    -4

    Were you born yesterday?

  • Bob Svargis on 13/12/2023 - 07:42
    +8

    If your wife ignores or avoids your phone calls, you've got other problems.

  • numloxx on 13/12/2023 - 08:24
    +1

    Buy a voip service

  • geekcohen on 13/12/2023 - 08:52
    +1

    it’s always on silent anyway

    Silent silent or silent with vibrate turned on?

    My wife has her phone on silent with vibrate on. Most of the time if her phone is ringing, you can hear it vibrating somewhere…… at least, that's what should be vibrating…..

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:13

      Silent, with vibrate, but usually nowhere near her! She rarely knows where her phone actually is, and spends a lot of time in the garden. And unless it's on a hard surface, she can't hear it anyway!

      Google nest broadcast looks to be the go.

      • ssfps on 15/12/2023 - 01:25

        Google nest broadcast looks to be the go.

        Just make sure to install it in the garden.

        • MyOtherOtter on 15/12/2023 - 08:26

          I've been looking for outdoor versions :)

          Better be careful what I broadcast.

  • EBC on 13/12/2023 - 11:26
    +1

    I have a smart watch that only buzzes for actual phone calls and SMS messages. People who need to contact me generally know if they need me to pick up to call my phone or send an SMS (most of my other communication is via WhatsApp which doesn't buzz my watch). My phone is also always on silent so that is the most surefire way to reach me as my watch will buzz even if my phone is on silent and across the house.

  • zathras on 13/12/2023 - 11:36

    Put a few Alexa devices in your home and use the drop-in feature, acts like an intercom from your mobile phone Alexa app.

  • CheapAddict on 13/12/2023 - 13:26
    +1

    You said you’re an Apple home?

    get some homepod minis around the home, use the intercom function on the home app which will intercom/broadcast your message.

  • pformag on 13/12/2023 - 14:33

    My wife always leaves her phone on silent, so if it is urgent, I use the Find My Phone or Ask Google to Broadcast. Otherwise, she normally calls back within a few minutues.

  • RandomDealHunter on 13/12/2023 - 14:43

    I used to have LG V50 a while ago that would set location based status. This meant whenever I got home, phone will unmute and ringer set to loud. I am in Apple Ecosystem and like it, but still haven’t found similar functionality yet.

    Also, bought wife an Apple Watch and she forget to charge it or wear it so it became pointless.

    The only way it works for us is Wife has an iPad signed in with the same AppleID as her phone. If someone calls her, the iPad also rings. Since it normally sits in the common area, she then picks up the call through the phone which is generally next to her.

  • pencilhead on 13/12/2023 - 14:51

    something like google minis in every room, then send broadcast message.
    Or security camera's with 2 way audio.

  • Never Pay RRP on 13/12/2023 - 14:52

    According to Hollywood your best option is to fly to another planet to make the call https://youtu.be/iyFijjikkeM?si=8o3s-imMYdW0Vot2

  • AustriaBargain on 13/12/2023 - 15:26

    You can set the silent mode on your wife's iPhone so your number will always ring even if it's on silent. But… maybe your wife likes being able to silence you sometimes?

    • kaleidoscope on 13/12/2023 - 15:46

      Its usually because the phone is 3-4 levels deep in their bags (phone is inside a small case, put inside a small purse, which is then placed onto inner zipper container of the bag and the bag is close), so even if it's not silent its hard to hear.

      • AustriaBargain on 13/12/2023 - 15:51

        Buy her an Apple Watch, then notifications will go to the watch.

        • kaleidoscope on 13/12/2023 - 16:08

          Did 😝. helped for a bit except its not worn or mostly out of battery because forgotten to charge 🤷‍♂️. some problems are better left alone

          • AustriaBargain on 13/12/2023 - 16:18

            @kaleidoscope: I use two Apple Watches, so if one goes dead then I swap it with the other one which is always on charge. I would have sold one but it's not worth much and it's handy having one on when sleeping, and wear the nicer/newer one in the day.

      • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 08:14

        I see you understand! :)

        Not only buried deep in the bag, but she's often forgotten where the phone is…. or even where the bag is!

  • idonotknowwhy on 13/12/2023 - 15:43

    Got a ring security camera? Just open the rig app and trigger the siren. ez.

  • kaleidoscope on 13/12/2023 - 15:44

    my wife never carries her phone and it’s always on silent anyway.

    Isn't this a global phenomenon?

    So yeah, how do I call home?!?!

    I first send a message, if no reply I call one or few times depending on the urgency. If not then I use find my phone app and ping the device. it will play the sound even if it's on silent mode. For find my phone to work, you need to have your members added as family members under the apple account family sharing. Users can of course hide their location for obvious privacy reasons, but locating the device through ping works.

  • IM-Cheap on 13/12/2023 - 16:17

    I have an Alexa echo show 5 in the kitchen so I drop in using the alexa app - there ia no need for anyone to pick up so I just yell out and they'll hear me from anywhere in rest of house. I think same can be done with google.

  • TooSerious2 on 13/12/2023 - 17:04
    +2

    I thought I was alone in my fixation on this problem. I love the idea of a "home phone".

    My current best solution is the Uniden XDECT phones.

    An old crap mobile (Umidigi) on a $15 Aldi prepaid sim is now our "home number". It's sits constantly on charge and is bluetooth linked to the Unidens. Mine and wife's phone link when we are home. If someone phones in to any phone, the Unidens ring. DIfferent tones for different mobiles.

    There's a little extra button pushing involved, in selecting which phone to use when calling out. We try to make all out calls via the personal mobiles, for costs. But Aldi sim works if kids are home alone.

    Note: We have no mobile coverage, wifi calling only through Woolies and Aldi, internet via Starlink.
    Note: Tried VOIP, couldn't make the quality work, this is OK, I'd still like copper wire quality.

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 18:05

      Thanks for understanding!

  • Shanp on 13/12/2023 - 21:22

    Our kids make and receive video calls on Google nest hub max. Works well for us. It's set up on its own google account and we can have a limited contact list.

  • THICKnSLOW on 13/12/2023 - 21:58
    +1

    Maybe you should write a note, then call an Uber to deliver it.

  • Ak850 on 13/12/2023 - 22:43
    +1

    I wish we could have figured out how to get a landline to work, but with our NBN connection and modem, was cheaper and easier to get a 365 day Sim card and put it in a "home phone" that looks like a regular land line, but isn't. So if you're worried about living in the past, this could be your future.

    • Palamedes on 14/12/2023 - 09:00

      We have done that for a few aged family members, much cheaper than a "real" landline. Edit: Also to note they don't have NBN etc.

  • OMGJL on 13/12/2023 - 22:52
    +1

    Amazon Echo speaker is around $20 something, or buy a Tuya Camera from AliExpress for similar amount.

    if they don't pick up their phone just call the speaker or yell to the camera app.

  • Ultimate Gattai on 13/12/2023 - 23:44

    I don't even ring the house phone anymore, it's a direct call or sms to the person's mobile that I want to contact.

  • payless69 on 14/12/2023 - 07:45

    make it a poll?

  • Sammy Boi on 14/12/2023 - 09:50

    Forget about the home phone it's Dead

    I suggest telling your wife to turn emergency bypass on for your number if she uses an iPhone so you can reach her no matter her preference for silent.

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 18:05

      I do, but she also rarely has any idea where it is and often can't even hear it when it's ringing!

  • Baghern on 14/12/2023 - 11:17

    We have multiple family groups in watsapp

    multiple for extended families

  • opt on 14/12/2023 - 11:41

    A cheaper alternative to a fixed line is to get a cheap mobile phone (a used one would do just fine) with a cheap long expiry SIM. Have it plugged in (so always charged up) at a central location of your house with ring volume set to max and incoming calls restricted to numbers in your family.

    Having a second mobile phone and a SIM is also helpful when signing up to services where you don't want to give your primary number. I always keep a second SIM for this purpose and as an emergency backup (get a SIM from a different network than your primary number).

  • minkzoo on 14/12/2023 - 13:43

    E.T.

  • kiriakoz on 14/12/2023 - 15:07

    ffs mate, SPEAK with your family. Explain the issue and mention that you're prepared to think creatively for a solution. They'll either:

    • keep an eye out on their phone more.
    • suggest a technical solution in line with their habits.

    either way, you have a solution. This is entirely social and not technological.

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 18:04

      Man, it's not a 'talk to them' solution, but maybe I didn't give enough info.

      Kids don't have phones. My wife has ADHD and never has a clue where her phone is, and never notices it vibrating unless it's right with her. Daughter will pick up on her iPad if she's on it, son's iPad doesn't stay charged because he doesn't use it, and is only ever on his laptop.

      A technical solve that allows me to 'call' the house easily would solve all of this.

      • kiriakoz on 15/12/2023 - 00:08

        Okay, I’ll ease up. Maybe I misunderstood.

  • lazarski on 14/12/2023 - 16:51

    Calling home doesn't solve your problem at all

    why are you even asking ozbargain

    ask your family to answer their phones when you call

    or are you annoying them constantly so they avoid their phones?

    • MyOtherOtter on 14/12/2023 - 17:59

      Jesus christ dude, kids don't have phones, wife has ADHD and rarely has a clue where it is.

      My daughter will answer her iPad if she's on it, and my son is only ever on his laptop gaming.

      Being able to call home does solve my problem, because none of the other people in my house regularly have a device actually on them.

      • digitalbath on 14/12/2023 - 18:15

        This is a “you” problem then. If you’re wife can’t be bothered answering a phone, doubt she can be bothers to use another form of communication device.

  • fastnbulbous on 14/12/2023 - 19:21
    +1

    What does E.T. use to call home?

    E.T. gets Elliott's help to build a device to "phone home" by using a Speak & Spell, along with a record player, circular-saw blade, wooden coat-hanger, foil-lined umbrella, and other items from around Elliott's house.

  • Cadic on 14/12/2023 - 20:52

    I have a arlo camera , I use it to call so my wife knows she need to answer her phone :)

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