Use your cell phone through your home phone wiring with bluetooth

I bought a new home that was pre-wired for landline phone service. But, because I'm not living in the 1940s, I have no use for an obsolete, overpriced landline. It sure would be nice to use those landline ports, though. Imagine being able to answer or make a cell phone call from anywhere in your house there is a phone jack without having to carry your cell with you.

If you complete this instructable you will be able to:

1. Make and receive calls over your cell phone using regular landline phone handsets (even with caller-id, sort of).
2. Access your voicemail using regular landline phone handsets.
3. Use up to three cell phones with the system at once.
4. Talk even if the power is out using a built-in UPS (optional).

This instructable does NOT require you to hack your phone (software or hardware), break the law, or do anything more technical than simple telephone wiring.

Step 1 You will need

1. One or more bluetooth-capable cellphones. If you have an old extra bluetooth-capable phone sitting in a drawer somewhere, get it out, you can use it too.

2. An Xlink Bluetooth Cellular Gateway (this is the 'magic box', you need this).

3. Your home's existing telephone wiring, or supplies to do your own wiring.

4. A small UPS, if you want to be able to use the system if the power goes out (optional).

5. Some simple shelving supplies if you want to do a neat job and not have things tangled up in the closet.

6. Some basic tools, and an RJ45 or RJ11 jack to use as input.

Comments

[gabureiru]

Could you provide details about your "jumper box" please?

great setup, I'm going to do something similar at home.

[lukeyj15]

In australia landlines are WAAAAYYYY cheaper then mobile or cell phones. So I probably wouldn't use this

[thepaul1993]

yay a fellow aussie,

[cornflaker]

An yet another lol

[cornflaker]

I wish we could edit posts on here... *An/And

[roland985]

Another Aussie...
Yeah the landlnes are cheaper, until you look at Telstra's pricing.

[Royalblu]

I have a similar system made by Motorola. It works with their cordless phone system. I bought the Bluetooth adapter and 2 cordless phones for $150 at Sams club over a year ago. The system works pretty good. Reception would be better if the cell phone we are using got better reception.

[msdrpepper]

I remember debating between that model and the slightly cheaper AT&T version of the same basic idea from Sam's, probably bought mine about the same time as yours. I must have gotten hit by lightening or some static charge because it worked perfectly anytime my cell phone was in range or hubby's cell phone. But at some point about a year or so ago, it kept losing the bluetooth connection. The AT&T version (I don't know how it was on your Motorola, but Sam's doeen't carry it in our local store now) there was like a 2 part process to pair the bluetooth cell phone to the landline, and now I can "pair" it, where it recognizes the cellphone's bluetooth when it is in range, but it won't go ahead with step two and connect to it. So I suspect something got clobbered. It doesn't seem to matter if we completely disconnect it, reboot it, deprive it of electrical power, deprive it of landline signal, completely erase the bluetooth information - it just will not go ahead and connect any more... So that's why I'm interested in this set up with the Xlink (and is it the same as the Gigaset like RadioShack carries??).

[aferber]

Is there any solution how I can dial from my cellphone over my landline account?

[alexanderm]

Broken link to the Xlink. Well... broken-ish. Says it's under construction. Google it or try: www.myxlink.com instead

[elias.alberto]

I've had something they called ISDN a looooong time ago, some sort of a dual line which I could connect using both lines simultaneously and have a mind-blowind speed of 128kbps (did I say it was a loooong time ago? My isdn modem used a ISA socket). Well, this now-crappy isdn thing used a pair of conductive wires (just like regular phone does) but used a 8-pin RJ45 connector. I came to the conclusion this was just to force customers to not use regular RJ11 cables, instead buying these cables from them at whatever price they decide. I believe they called these cables RJ12.

[DIYDragon]

Sweetness! I'll add this to my options. I want extra phones around the house, but don't want to pay for a landline.. I already have so many cell minutes that I don't use! ; ( haha@ $1 not to pay us charge.

[Lor]

Hey thanks so much. I just posted a Q asking how to duplicate a sim card. I thought that was the only way to use my cell phone around the house, since I never have it with me when it rings. This looks really difficult for me -- I'm not very electronically inclined, but I'm going to try it next week. I'll probably be contacting you. I really appreciate you sharing.

[Human Being]

cool

[greatscotmagic]

Great Instructable! What did you use for your RF "reflector?" will it work behind a wireless router to increase the range? Thank you.

[static]

While circumstances will vary, in my location I expect the POTS to be functioning after the cellular services tank. For that reason I'll retain POTS. In rural areas one of the problems is if cell phone customers aren't soon required to pay their share of 911 fees, the 911 system will be in jeopardy because of a lack of funding. Anyway your instructable outlines an option, that other can consider. Including long distance calls my monthly POTS runs less than $35. I grew up before the reach out and touch someone generation, so telephones remain nothing but a handy appliance for me.

[hazlett]

Well, what I have done is plug a 4 station cordless phone into the MagicJack. Works like a charm....usually....there have been some instances of outages but generally it is working fine. You do need to have the computer running 24/7 but what I did was buy a cheap, cheap, "thin client" running XP and I use that. Cheap computer, cheap phone...what more can a miser ask ?? Oh, MagicJack also has 911 campabilites, something that many VoIP phones do not provide.

[hazlett]

I have used the XLink and unless it has gotten better it is a piece of crap. I now have MagicJack for my landline.....check it out.....

[greatscotmagic]

Could you explain how to use the Majicjack with the landline? Magicjack looks very inviting, but I am afraid that I would be tied to the computer. Thanks.

[steinr98]

I tried this unit- it didn't work for me as our 2 wireless phones were 2.4 Ghz and the unit is also- had terrible sound and echos. Also our 2 Verizon phones state do not use the phone while it is on the charger- So not it would be a pain to keep charging and unplugging a home phone. I also tried a Panasonic phone made with bluetooth in it- it kept dropping the bluetooth connection. I'm back tothe land line-ugggg!

[mrmucox]

Just as a warning, plugging an RJ-11 cord into an RJ-45 Jack, can cause damage to the RJ-45. If it's only ever going to be a phone jack, it's no problem, but it can permanently bend some of the connectors in the jack. We had a rash of new data jacks test bad in a new installation before we realized the tone generator we were using had an RJ-11 and it was ruining the data jacks.

[AF-Geek]

@mrmucox: Thanks to both you and @kP! While this is a cool instructable, I will probably never use it. But, your tip about the RJ-11/RJ-45 problem is a great nugget of knowledge!

[kP]

I was about to enter the same comment when I found this one - AGREED: plugging RJ11 into RJ45, while electrically possible, is mechanically not recommended - the pins of the jack will be compressed beyond recovery.

There are these cords: RJ45 male on one end (for the jack) and RJ11 male on the other (for the device):
http://techstore.doit.wisc.edu/product.asp?login=P&itemnum=C17154

[b2gills]

You could just get an RJ45 connector and crimp it on instead of the existing RJ11.

[vanmankline]

Nice instructable! I found it while researching gateways for my grandfather. Was there any reason for selecting that model over another? Are there any other brands you suggest? P.S. Your lucky that your builder used cat5 (pretty much the new standard). However, you do not need that second wire you had installed and coiled, if you want to use just basic 10/100 Ethernet. It is slower than gigabit's 1000 Mb/s, but only needs 2 pairs to work (leaving the other 2 for phone lines). Having multi-port faceplates helps to keep a cleaner look with fewer holes in the walls.

[ColumbusGEEK]

I admit, this is very cool. Very close to a advertisement, but very cool. :)

[lordofthedonuts]

nice 'ible!

[scavanger]

Nice 'ible I have had the xlink for a few months now, works good, but my install does not look as classy as yours.

[Fixerdad]

I'll have to second ClayOgre on the land line thing. My DSL, local and long distance are about the same cost as a monthly contract, which I would never make full use of, since talking does not equal work for me. but more important, my land line is independantly powered, and I like the redundancy that it adds to my Tmobile prepaid, (which also costs me less in a year than about 3 mos. of contract.) Again I digress. The real question is if/since your land line is independantly powered, even though you don't have service, can you still call 911(on land line) if the feces finds the fan in your vicinity? Cool 'ible for those who've cut the cord however.

[ClayOgre]

"I have no use for an obsolete, overpriced landline.''

Hmm...I'm the exact opposite. I have a prepaid cell phone which I hardly use (mostly for "emergencies"), and a landline that I don't use much, but the rest of the family does. However, I am on the internet a lot and we do have DSL, which is just a hair cheaper than cable internet service, the last time I checked. I think we pay around $35 or so for monthly landline service...which is cheaper than regular cell phone service, at least the last time I checked the price of montly cell phone service.

I can't imagine paying for wireless internet broadband, or cell phone service when I'd use probably less than fifteen minutes a month. (I hate telephones).

[cyrozap]

This... is... AWESOME! It's just like the skype home phone system, but you can take it with you AND have 911 service! Epic win! Nice 'ible.

[clcktwr]

Some day I'd like to integrate this with Skype (or some other SIP or VOIP software), I've got a class 1 bluetooth dongle for my computer that should do the job. Presumably I could get it to talk to the Xlink, but so far the holdup has been the pitiful and ever-changing bluetooth support on Linux.

[cyrozap]

If you clicked the link, you could see how it's done sans-XLink. I bet you could just use a nettop, or one of those amazing Sheeva plugs ($100). Google the sheeva plug.

[frollard]

Just make sure your address is noted near each handset - not for you, but for when your friend has to call 911 because you're choking, and the 911 operator only gets an address of "the cel tower you bounced off of" :) Great instructable, I don't have a landline...just a cel phone..This could be interesting for me.

[cyrozap]

My phone (an Env2) has a feature that allows it, if you call 911, to give them your exact location based on the same principles of GPS but on land (radio triangulation). This is a lot more like the LORAN system (now largely obsolete, due to GPS).

[frollard]

I'm a 911 operator. :) the PHONE ITSELF has the technology. The radio towers have the technology to accept the digital signature of gps coords, or the ability to track via loran-style time-dilation distance measurement...sadly, we're not like CSI, or NCIS where we can track calls: Two reasons, 1 - funding for the equipment on the emergency dispatcher end - its very very expensive 2 - big brother legislation. The law in most places in north america say 'You may not, even with the phone's permission, take the coordinates of a cel phone over wireless. Your phone has a gps in it, it sends the coordinates which are stripped, and not forwarded to the 911 PSAP. Fact of the matter - I hate it. We get a lot of calls that would be treated much faster and more efficiently with automated gps. My phone (Razr 1st gen) has gps, the LG 555 I had before that (at least 6 years ago) had it as well. It's been around a LONG time - and it goes unused.

[JoeMenthol]

This must vary from state to state. In my area, our dispatch can (if needed) provide latitude and longitude for cell phone callers to responding officers/EMS. Can usually put them within 50 feet of the caller or so.

[frollard]

Indeed - your mileage may vary; even according to several research projects I did for this - I can safely say 'most' places cant :( We can as an emergency agency call the phone provider, and do a trace, often they can only give us the tower location, and the angle (inaccurate) to degrees, but not distance. Very useful for people on a highway - we use the angle to figure which jurisdiction they're in, but not their exact location (as it could bounce funny off a cliff, tree, or any other object)

[cyrozap]

1 - The equipment: DIY FTW. 2 - Wow. Thank you, pointless laws, for lengthening the response time of emergency responders.

[_soapy_]

re: 2. You really want the police and hence everyone and anyone to be able to track you everywhere you go without your knowledge? Think about that for a second.

The UK has that capability, and those laws (along with many, many other bad laws) and is rapidly becoming a police state. Just ten years ago, this couldn't have happened. Now we have not even the right to protest about it.