Yep, that's next on my list. I just this afternoon perusaded SBC to drop in a convential land line here -- for a flat fee. They may or may not know what they are getting into. I'm going to explore ham, whether I get the license or not. What are they going to do, make life worse?

randjack,

Being a retired engineer with the Bell System, most high rises built within the last thirty years have at least two copper lines from each living unit down to the main terminal and most have more. Each individual living unit is looped prewired with at least six copper lines so if the lines get cut during the initial concrete pour, all outlets still have service. If the line is cut in more than one place, then all bets are off. But that usually does not happen. So you should not have any problem getting additional copper lines to your high rise apartment. That is not to say that the local phone company may be short of lines to your high rise building. But that is a problem that they will remedy as soon as you order your additional lines.

Ham radio on the other hand be very directional unless you have a penthouse with views in all directions.

A bettery powerd carbon monoxide detector (or 2 or 3!)

I haven't been able to find one battery powered, all the ones I have seen have been the plug in type.
I would like to find a clock that will display the time and alarm the alarm from battery rather than just shut down. I was late for work the other morning because I didn't know the power went out. I'm about the buy a cheap one and just rip out the transformer and rectifier and put in a bettery then power and charge from a little wall wart.

People laugh when I say my internet has been more relaible than my power but it has been up through 3 or 4 power failures now, seems the other end of the cable has a decent UPS as well. I bought a largish one so even though its a few years old and the battery doesn't have full capacity it still holds a good long time.

If you pack food, make sure you pack toilet paper along with it !!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks. We've got two pair, theoretically. I persuaded to SBC to come in on an 'outlet rewire', but there are a lot a copper sets availbale at the punch down on this floor. They may have to put a tone on them, but I have every confidence it can be done. The problem is that I forced a broadband provider to do a rewire to get that service dropped in.

Re. radio: I am am on the next to top floor. I can run a wire vertically, but, as you say, it will have limited exposure, and I can't go much above the roof line. There is a lot of steel here, so I am going to play with receive only before I commit money & time.

Thank you for your input. Stay around. This is a GREAT place on the net.

Living in Chicago all my life, I've been through a few. I keep most of the supplies mentioned in both vehicles in the Rubbermaid stackable totes. Great Post.