I have one 4-line phone next to my computer, a two line cordless phone with base station dialpad and speaker phone plugged into the house wiring in the kitchen (majority of calls are answered here), 2 old corded phones under an end-table in the nearby family room using a line1 - line2 jack (house wiring), cordless phone in one childs bedroom on line 2 (house wiring) with the other unit of this cordless phone (SunRocket sign on promo) in the master bedroom, old corded phone in a "spare" bedroom on line 1 (house wiring), corded wall phone in the bonus room on line 1 (house wiring). Cheap phones, phone jacks and a two line phone or two will let you really enjoy the service. Attempting to transfer, etc. is ok (if we find a way to do so) but chances are the rest of the family will not be trainable.

The simple solution may be two get a second inexpensive phone where your computer is for the same port as the wife's phone and pick that up.

About 99% of our child's calls use distinctive ring. Three rings and if the child is at home we don't pick it up.