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Post by paulf on Aug 25, 2022 21:27:02 GMT -5
Today we realized just how reliant we are on the internet. We were off-line for about eight hours and while it was not panic time, it certainly did make us realize just how much technology we use in our daily lives. A whole bunch of what we do for lights, temperature control, garage doors, phones, computers, television etc. are voice operated through the internet. We do have over the air TV but ROKU has become a big part of our entertainment.
Couldn't go on-line to NJT and see how Laura and the other southern folks are doing in the rain. The only good part was...NO ROBO-CALLS ALL DAY.
Back into civilization at 9pm...whew. Kinda sad to think about it
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Aug 25, 2022 22:34:02 GMT -5
Yes, it’s like we live in a coke bottle.
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 26, 2022 12:33:46 GMT -5
paulf, the only thing worse that losing the Internet is losing electric entirely. I can cook on the gas grill if I want to but I can't use the microwave or stove or do laundry, use the computer, watch TV or turn on lights. Although it does not happen very often, sometimes someone hits a pole and takes out the electric. It is amazing how many times I reach for a light switch. Luckily we have smart phones and can use them for internet if the power goes out.
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Post by spike on Aug 26, 2022 21:32:56 GMT -5
Fortunately we have a small generator for when the power goes out, which is sometimes rather common around here. Good enough to run a lamp and the coffee pot. Have a small electric burner to cook on if necessary. We don't really miss the internet UNTIL we can't get on it LOL Then again we don't have any of "Alexa" sort of things. If we did I think it would be really hard on us! I will say that I am addicted to my ROKU!!
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Post by brownrexx on Aug 27, 2022 10:59:00 GMT -5
spike, we have a generator too but do not use it for just a couple of hours which is all that our power usually would be off. I like to have it as a back up though in case we had an outage in the winter.
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Post by mgulfcoastguy on Aug 27, 2022 13:15:02 GMT -5
When the whole area is out of power, like after a hurricane, there are consequences. Almost almost all houses are built with central heat and cooling in mind, within a few hours they are uninhabitable. One person moved into a mosquito net tent in his backyard with solar yard lights for lights. Then there are the people who depend on oxygen due to emphysema etc, people who have to keep medications like insulin cold, gasoline cannot be sold at gas stations because they have electric pumps, traffic lights don't work et al.
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Post by paulf on Aug 27, 2022 21:17:17 GMT -5
Our internet was also down most of Friday...no idea about Sat when visited family out of town. Hope it is back on Sunday.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Aug 28, 2022 10:13:13 GMT -5
paulf, hairymooseknuckles, brownrexx, spike, mgulfcoastguy, When I get my breakfast and get some wits about me, let’s revisit this discussion. I’m super slow this morning. I think someone wrapped me up in a sheet and beat me with a cast iron skillet. Hahaaa. Or do t could be Arthritis, I’m not sure.
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Post by spike on Aug 28, 2022 12:20:09 GMT -5
We know that dear Mr. Knuckles but we wuvs you anyway
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Post by september on Aug 28, 2022 12:38:04 GMT -5
We lose power 2-3 times a year, might be for 1-3 hours. Normally from a summer wind storm, but sometimes from a cut line somewhere due to construction. We have a quick power blip every few months. It's fast enough so that some of the digital clocks don't even notice. We can always tell when there has been a blip in the night, because the unused basement TV always turns on by itself after the power comes back on, and we hear talking downstairs. The longest we ever lost power was about 3 days, probably 10 years ago now when a severe straight line wind took down acres of trees all over our area. It was July 3, and very hot. We got a generator after that, but have never needed to use it, as brownrexx said, not worth it for just a few hours. It does get turned on and tested occasionally for some minor use to be sure it's still working.
I have a cheap Tracfone cell plan, can use the cell phone for internet if the power goes out, at least until the battery goes. Streaming uses up data minutes fast though, I keep forgetting to buy more data minutes after having used them up watching a basketball game during a power outage earlier this summer. Still have plenty of talk and text minutes left. I use my cell phone more as a TV streaming device and controller than for talking. We still have a land line that I prefer people call me on because I don't carry my cell phone on me most of the time. Less than 6 people have my cell number, so I ignore junk numbers I don't recognize. If I'm at home, I prefer the computer for internet because of the screen size and real keyboard.
It is a nuisance, the few times we don't have internet, but I am always happy to read a book if I don't need to do anything else. Of course that can be a problem too, if I don't have something downloaded onto my E-reader. I'm fine with hard copy books too, but I like reading in bed at night or early morning, and the small size and it's own lighting make the Kindle type of readers handy to use. Our public library has added another online service for free books. We had the Cloud Library, and now we have Hoopla as well with another set of books, although Hoopla limits you to 3 per month. If I go on vacation, I make sure to load at least three new books in case I don't have the fast connection you need for downloading.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Aug 28, 2022 14:15:48 GMT -5
Like mgulfcoastguy said, it is a very different thing to lose Internet and/or power for a matter of hours than to lose them for days or weeks at a stretch. It is much, much worse to lose water and sewer for days or weeks! Sure, I missed the internet and streaming TV a lot, but living through that kind of storm and its aftermath really helps put wants and needs into better perspective. After our post-Hurricane Michael experience, one of the big concepts for DH and I in our planning for our new house is resiliency. The possibility of living through future extended internet outages, plus privacy concerns are why I am not interested in getting dependent on any internet-based home automation. Any automation we do will be our own, not dependent on an internet connection. Whatever we can't automate on our own terms we will just continue to do the old-fashioned way. We are also investigating which combination of generator, solar + batteries, etc., that we would need to run the well pump (and the pump for the septic holding tank, if we have one), some lights, fans, the refrigerator/freezer, maybe a small appliance or two like a coffee pot, and charge cell phones and other small devices for an extended period. Ideally it would also allow for limited electric vehicle charging, but part of resiliency will be making sure we have at least one vehicle that runs on gas. (I.e., one gas or gas/hybrid, and one electric vehicle, so we have transportation options under most conditions.) It won't be enjoyable, but I can cope with cooking on the grill and survive without A/C for weeks if I have lights, fans, cold drinks, fresh foods, can get to the store for supplies, and especially if I have safe, reliable water and wastewater. Of course the resiliency idea also requires a way to protect the fragile solar panels during storms. So, DH is looking at designing a ground mount setup which will allow us to detach the solar panels and move them into the garage or house during a hurricane. Either that, or designing some sort of storm covers for the panels that we can apply before hurricanes. Now we just hope that we don't have another major hurricane before we get all of this implemented.
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Post by paulf on Aug 28, 2022 15:36:59 GMT -5
We were sitting outside next to our small fish pond in the heat (Nebraska heat not Texas or Florida heat) wondering how my wife's parents and grandparents did back when the house we live in now was theirs and it did not have AC. They sat outside in the shade waiting for a breeze like we were doing. After a few minutes we went inside where the temp was 76F rather than the 96F outside. What wimps we have become. And we complain about three days without internet where just a few years ago there was no internet (until Al Gore invented or discovered it whatever porkie he is telling now). Until my wife was 18 this house had no indoor bathrooms...now we have two. They had 20 Amp electrical service and now we have 200. Let's see, what else?
Oh yeah they walked to school every day 10 miles uphill to and from and 20 miles in the snow each way. But to hear tell, they were very happy growing up and wouldn't change a thing...well, maybe a few things.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Aug 28, 2022 16:03:47 GMT -5
I have strong opinions, but that’s neither here nor there. I don’t like how the world isn’t able to go about their day without internet and or electricity. A person can barely wipe themselves without instructions from an AI being. We have become a nation of drones. The simple act of buying a bar of candy is not even remotely possible without a bar code being scanned. Think about that for a second.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Aug 28, 2022 16:36:21 GMT -5
I didn’t mean to infer we should go back to the dark ages, I like the convenience as much as the next guy. What I don’t like is how all the infrastructures rely on electricity and internet to work. You should be able to order a burger or soda without it.
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Post by spike on Aug 28, 2022 17:56:49 GMT -5
Totally agree with you Mr Knuckles! We are sadly very dependent on electricity also. We purchased our generator due to power outages. Our lines are really old out here and a lot of the telephone poles are on their last days.
I do have one of those smart phones. Samsung Galaxy Note 9. It can do all sorts of things that I have no clue how to do. My son said to get that phone so I did but seriously it is a waste of money. I only use it when I leave the house for emergencies and the random picture. AND a grand child showed me how to use google maps so I could find my way. These days most people have those silly phones practically attached to them.
I do most of my food saving by canning. Doesn't matter how long the power is out if food is canned.
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Post by paulf on Aug 29, 2022 16:34:26 GMT -5
A technician was supposed to be here today between 1 and 3. No show by 4 so I called customer service. The guy who made the appointment apparently stuffed it all off because there was no mention of a tech visit. He said the reason for the tech visit was because he couldn't see a problem and if there was a problem he couldn't fix it from his end. When I told the lady/girl today what was going on she and her "advanced technical team" would look into what was wrong. After being on hold for about half an hour the green lights came on.
After 4 days of no internet it finally got solved...for now. They are sending out a technician next week to clear up a few other problems the advanced team discovered. As you see we are on line.
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Post by spike on Aug 30, 2022 10:42:25 GMT -5
One great thing about this thread is the reminder that as we round the corner to winter, it is time to check the generator out and make sure the propane tank is full! Glad you are back on line paulf, and got my fingers crossed it stays that way!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 2, 2022 7:56:04 GMT -5
I hope they have you sorted out, paulf. I know that your off and on (mostly off) internet has been annoying.
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Post by spike on Sept 2, 2022 8:43:00 GMT -5
it is time to check the generator out and make sure the propane tank is full! Had to open my mouth I did >,< Power went out last night just after 3 AM and didn't come back on until 7:30 this morning.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Sept 3, 2022 12:03:04 GMT -5
So, don't leave us hanging! Did your generator work and did you have propane to run it?
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Post by spike on Sept 5, 2022 11:47:01 GMT -5
So, don't leave us hanging! Did your generator work and did you have propane to run it? LOL Once our lazy backsides get out there to check I will let you know
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