My electricity goes "out" fairly regularly. Although I have stand by power the cable (internet service) goes down with the local utility. My cell phone service has standby generator and their monthly charges are only 25% of the cable charged. Made me think (just now with the power out) that those baztards need a generator too! Before I get upset with them, possibly on the phone... is a generator all it takes. I don't know the "workings" of the cables electrical needs.
You can get internet service through your cell phone too (use it as a hotspot) assuming its a smaht phone
Hmm, that is weird. I've had the cable literally get ripped off the house with the electric lines (still attached, but lying on the ground). We were without power for several days but when the ex hooked up the genny, we went to watch a dvd one night and found the cable was still going strong. Not sure if the cable company had a generator. Also didn't try internet as we were using a welding portable generator so ran extension cords to whatever we were trying to power. Running power to my desk was not a priority (freezer, fridge, downstairs heat and well pump).
We only have internet service although our line is capable of "cable tv" and phone. They remind me with 30 pounds of sales chit every month! I'm not very dependent on the internet, it's just the $98 a month bill that is 4 times greater than the cell phone and that service is extremely reliable regardless of the storms. There was a big pine that crashed a pole and sadly a 9 year old little girl was killed in a vehicle that was somehow involved at a campground so I'm not particularly interested in whining about my little incontinence just now. We had a good downpour, no crazy wind or lightning, this incident happened about a mile away as the crow flies. It is on the shore of a 33,000 acre lake and it makes its own weather seemingly.
Yeah I read that earlier on the news. Freakish tragic accident from the sounds of it. We have spectrum now, it goes out on occasion but not often. We had red zone wireless, it was awesome until the original company sold then it sucked. Always out for days at a time for who knows what reason. I have to have internet for my work and had to dump them.
Yeah we have Spectrum, they extended the line over a mile for my business acct. For what I felt was a deal ($1500 something) and the HughesNet dish got used for target practice.
Spectrum should have power supplies at various locations throughout their network that tie into the local power companies transmission lines to power Spectrums network. "Usually" in this day and age the cable company has battery cabinets that house up to 6 deep cycle batteries to power their network should the commercial power go down. Usually there are NOC's that monitor the networks performance and powering status should an event occur. Now, as with anything, if proper maintenance is not performed these safeguards are for not. They do have the ability to dispatch technicians out to power the network off generators, but with the events you recently experienced they may have had other priorities and targeted higher population areas first. If this is a regular occurrence, internet going out, I suspect the lack of battery cabinets and or batteries. Not knowing who your cell provider is I do know T-Mobile has home internet options available with unlimited data and up to 500Mb speeds if memory serves me correctly. They charge $50/mo which is quiet reasonable in my opinion considering some options. Tired to keep this high level and not get too technical as I do have a very indepth understanding of how both work. Any question let me know.
Thanks, that's what I was looking for! It's usually an idiot hitting a pole, this time it was a very local storm about a mile away from home where we didn't have any wind. I fully understand the power company during a regional wind event getting to me last, I am actually the end of the line that serves us and have a generator. I guess my next question is how their (Spectrum) signal is disbursed and where it originates. I just find it odd, probably because I just don't know but I've never lost power without the internet going with it. I do understand that I need power at the house for Spectrums stuff to work. Thanks for the info.
So this is the most simplified diagram I can find. It is within the "coaxial" portion of the network the power supplies that power the fiber node and amplifiers reside. In todays world, it is one power supply to one fiber node and generally one one amplifier off each leg of the fiber node (generally there are 4). If the commercial power goes down based on design criteria up to say ~250 customers can be impacted without battery backup for the power supply. Same scenario if the fiber pair feeding the node breaks. The "hub" or "headend" usually has generator backup so impact there is not likely.
I have a buddy that recently bought a large tow behind generator and a truck to pull it. I haven’t talked with him much as he is traveling all over New England but I guess he brings the generator to these hubs when needed. Says he is making good money. Lots of windshield time and away from home for who knows how long. Works for him as he is single with no intention of settling down.
Highland thanks again. I'd probably have to draw a 2-3 mile radius around my place to hit 250 customers. Iirc they put in 4 amplifiers between me and the node for my line extension.
