# Do I need a land line to get dsl? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 6, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032 "2012-11-06T01:56:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/1 "2012-11-06T01:56:40Z")
My girlfriend wants DSL but she does not have a land line, and does not want to pay for one just to get DSL. Is this possible? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/2 "2012-11-06T02:00:43Z")
You need the physical line but you do not have to pay for POTS (plain old telephone service), you can get a “dry loop”. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/3 "2012-11-06T02:03:28Z")
I’ve heard it called “[naked DSL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_DSL).” I’ve also heard that in some places it’s actually more expensive than getting phone service also. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/4 "2012-11-06T02:44:38Z")
I was considering DSL extreme. Anybody know if they are ok? Can they do this? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/5 "2012-11-06T02:45:53Z")
If it helps, we are in Southern California. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/6 "2012-11-06T03:05:43Z")
There are a handful of reasons that make naked DSL more challenging than the usual service on a voice line. Some LECs don’t offer it at all, and for the ones that do, their first-tier sales reps don’t know it exists. Once you convince them it exists, there’s an ongoing risk that the service will suddenly disappear when a field tech steals an “unused” pair because they didn’t hear any dial tone on it. If you’re looking for an ISP, check out [Sonic.net](http://Sonic.net). I had DSL through them for about ten years, and they were one of the things I was most unhappy about losing when I left California. There aren’t too many ISPs where you can contact the president directly and get an answer. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/7 "2012-11-06T03:10:38Z")
Thanks for the advice. I will check out sonic. I used DSL extreme for another friend and was not too happy with the speed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/8 "2012-11-06T03:11:40Z")
The thing is, she is on a fixed income, so we need something cheap! ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/9 "2012-11-06T03:15:10Z")
Absolutely. When I got my original DSL service, I got the DSL/landline bundle. I recently upgraded to VDSL (AT&T UVerse) and discontinued my landline service at the same time, so you most definitely do not have to have a land line in my case. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/10 "2012-11-06T04:11:17Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Absolutely. > > When I got my original DSL service, I got the DSL/landline bundle. I recently upgraded to VDSL (AT&T UVerse) and discontinued my landline service at the same time, so you most definitely do not have to have a land line in my case. As **zoid** already pointed out, you _do_ need the physical land line, although you _may_ be able to persuade your provider to let you have DSL without you having to pay for old fashioned phone service on that line. You might save a little bit of money that way, but not all that much, as you will certainly still be paying something to have the line there and in use by the DSL. As I recall from a couple of years ago, it is possible to get very basic land-line phone service in California, on an existing line, very cheaply (under $10 per month, IIRC, plus any costs for non-local calls), so, once the line is there, I do not think anyone is going to be saving much by forgoing phone service altogether. (I was getting my broadband via cable then, though, not DSL. For a while I also got my phone from my ISP via cable, but I eventually figured out that, with my low level of phone usage, it was both cheaper and more reliable to use the basic land line phone service.) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Morgan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@Captain\_Morgan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Morgan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/11 "2012-11-06T04:56:31Z")
I have/had DSL through CenturyLink and was never required to get a land line. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/12 "2012-11-06T17:03:36Z")
Depends on the phone company and the plans they offer. I have Verizon DSL. The DSL is $30 per month and phone is $20 per month. But naked DSL is $47 a month, only a $3 difference. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/13 "2012-11-06T17:36:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’ve heard it called “[naked DSL](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_DSL).” I’ve also heard that in some places it’s actually more expensive than getting phone service also. That’s the case for me. The landline costs $x but adds a $x+whatever discount. I have a phone plugged in but the ringer is off. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/14 "2012-11-06T17:46:11Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > … > > If you’re looking for an ISP, check out [Sonic.net](http://Sonic.net). I had DSL through them for about ten years, and they were one of the things I was most unhappy about losing when I left California. There aren’t too many ISPs where you can contact the president directly and get an answer. I’m using Sonic Fusion - that’s ADSL 2+, and they’ve leased the copper directly from AT&T, so you don’t have to get a line from them, dry loop or otherwise. When I had normal DSL from them, I had to get the cheapest possible line from Pac Bell AKA SBC AKA AT&T. They wouldn’t hand out a dry loop unless you were using their DSL service. Yeah, Sonic’s a good outfit, and the Fusion service is a good deal. (Their ADSL 2+ service says up to 20 mbps down, depending on distance. I get about 5-6. Exactly HOW you get that kind of speed through a ratty old twisted pair I don’t know.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/15 "2012-11-06T18:26:54Z")
Can you tell me what you’re paying for Sonic Fusion service? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/16 "2012-11-06T18:47:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Can you tell me what you’re paying for Sonic Fusion service? Their advertised price is $40/mo, which includes internet and unlimited long distance VOIP. It also means you do not have to pay a bill to AT&T for a line. I actually pay $50/mo, because of the various federal and state taxes and surcharges. The big chunks there are the federal subscriber line charge ($6.50) and universal service fund fee ($2.41). Sonic is rolling out cheap fiber which is a bunch faster, but it’s currently available only in very limited areas. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/17 "2012-11-07T13:35:43Z")
If there’s not a phone line from the telehone pole to the house already, then have them install one by saying you want a landline. Cancel the landline the day after they install the line. Then, if they allow “dry loop” or “naked” DSL, call in and order it. A lot of times they won’t run the line from the telephone pole to the house unless you’re ordering a landline too. You’ll probably get a better rate if you do the ordering online. ---
**Author:** ![bahimes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/18 "2012-11-07T14:15:25Z")
Isn’t there, or shouldn’t there be another alternative? I just contracted for Internet and phone (VOIP) in Spain, paying about 30 Euros per month for both. No land line. Small domed antenna pointing at a nearby mountain. Seems the US providers are still wedded to the copper/fiber monopolies. ---
**Author:** ![al27052](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@al27052](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al27052)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/19 "2012-11-07T14:38:45Z")
> [@bahimes](#): > > Isn’t there, or shouldn’t there be another alternative? > I just contracted for Internet and phone (VOIP) in Spain, paying about 30 Euros per month for both. No land line. Small domed antenna pointing at a nearby mountain. > Seems the US providers are still wedded to the copper/fiber monopolies. What kind of internet speeds are you getting? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032/20 "2012-11-07T15:50:57Z")
> [@bahimes](#): > > Isn’t there, or shouldn’t there be another alternative? > I just contracted for Internet and phone (VOIP) in Spain, paying about 30 Euros per month for both. No land line. Small domed antenna pointing at a nearby mountain. > Seems the US providers are still wedded to the copper/fiber monopolies. that’s because the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain. terrestrial radio links need line of sight. you might not have that due terrain or trees. also precipitation especially snow can cause problems for. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-land-line-to-get-dsl/640032.md?page=2)