#264949 - 11/08/13 04:54 PM
When cell, land lines, internet all go out
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Veteran
Registered: 08/31/11
Posts: 1233
Loc: Alaska
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At The Atlantic, James Fallows has a guest columnist with an interesting story. In the San Juan Islands, in Washington State, most communications with the outside world go through one undersea cable, which has broken. This past Tuesday morning, a large portion of an entire United States county woke up to find itself without cell phone service or access to the internet, and nobody in the county had long distance phone service. This is not an alternate-history fantasy; this county is totally dependent for virtually all its telecommunications on one private phone company, Centurylink. For folks living on islands, this is kind of a big deal. You can't just hop in your car and drive to somewhere where you can make a phone call. Because it's an undersea cable, repair could take awhile. A few places (the library and a few businesses) had a different connection to the outside world, and still had functioning internet. On the other hand, many of the electronic haves, most of whom have access to the power co-op's fiber, are sharing with the have-nots: the alternate ISP in Friday Harbor is opening its usually subscriber-only hotspots to the public; some coffee shops are allowing noncustomers access to their service; I saw a sign on the hardware store advertising free wi-fi. The parking lots of the power co-op and the library are full. There are no free seats at the library. OPALCO, which is a national expert in underwater cable technology, immediately offered to help Centurylink with repair work.
In my personal view, the real heroes so far are the San Juan Island Library and OPALCO. The library staff has been patiently and cheerfully helping folks with their computers and programs, after having set up extra work spaces in the main areas.
, work arounds are beginning to get some 911 and some phone service back. Sounds like a good reason to get into Ham radio.
_________________________
"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."
-Dorothy, in The Wizard of Oz
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#264951 - 11/08/13 07:15 PM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: AKSAR]
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Veteran
Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 1219
Loc: here
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While I agree that a ham radio would be useful, in this case, wouldn't a marine transceiver be just as effective since they are on an island and most likely in the vicinity of port stations that monitor it? Also, no testing requirements. Fill out the forms, pay the fees, and get the station license and RROP.
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"Its not a matter of being ready as it is being prepared" -- B. E. J. Taylor
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#264958 - 11/09/13 07:22 AM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: AKSAR]
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Old Hand
Registered: 05/29/10
Posts: 863
Loc: Southern California
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I believe there is already a volunteer emergency radio service set up using ham radios (ARES/ARRL).
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Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane
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#264959 - 11/09/13 12:55 PM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: AKSAR]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 11/25/08
Posts: 1918
Loc: Washington, DC
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I would get a lot of reading done.
The 46 books on my Kindle would tide me over for awhile.
.
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#264966 - 11/10/13 12:08 AM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: AKSAR]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/01/10
Posts: 1629
Loc: Northern California
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satellite dish
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If you're reading this, it's too late.
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#264970 - 11/10/13 05:49 AM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: ireckon]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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I just returned from a five day trip to an island with no cell, land line, or internet capability. That left plenty of time for the project we had to accomplish.
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Geezer in Chief
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#265102 - 11/15/13 03:29 AM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: AKSAR]
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Veteran
Registered: 02/20/09
Posts: 1372
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"I just returned from a five day trip to an island"
NOW we're talking!
Deck chairs, cold Corona's, and idle chat.
A superb substitute for the Internet :-)
Pete2
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#265114 - 11/15/13 01:10 PM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: Pete]
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Geezer in Chief
Geezer
Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
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"I just returned from a five day trip to an island"
NOW we're talking!
Deck chairs, cold Corona's, and idle chat.
A superb substitute for the Internet :-)
Pete2 Deck chairs? What's a deck chair? It was more like up before sunrise and back after dark, with some fairly demanding work in between. After we had accomplished our main goal,we did find three left over Tecate cans to celebrate. It was one of my best trips ever!
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Geezer in Chief
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#265116 - 11/15/13 03:05 PM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: Dagny]
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Pooh-Bah
Registered: 03/08/07
Posts: 2208
Loc: Beer&Cheese country
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I would get a lot of reading done.
The 46 books on my Kindle would tide me over for awhile.
.
or board games.
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#265128 - 11/16/13 05:21 AM
Re: When cell, land lines, internet all go out
[Re: AKSAR]
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Veteran
Registered: 02/20/09
Posts: 1372
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"Deck chairs? What's a deck chair? It was more like up before sunrise and back after dark"
you've really got to pick a better island, mate :-)
Pete2
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