Thanks very much, BT Openreach!

[Slarti]

Yesterday afternoon, at about 16:30 my broadband went down.

The phone line was working OK, but there was no DSL light on the router.

Phoned Plusnet and after a short investigation they found that it was something at the exchange and Openreach expected it to be back up at 21:45.

That is when you realise how much you rely on the internet and thank goodness that at least TV and radio keeps working without it.

Slarti

[LemonFool]

You can usually tether to your mobile as a backup.

[PinkDalek]

You can usually tether to your mobile as a backup.

Hello LemonFool,

Shouldn't you be logging in as Stonge?

PD

[UncleEbenezer]

Ah, luxury.

Since suffering Virgin, I'm looking back to BT's copper as a golden age. Including the time it went down completely (not even a dialtone), when - in stark contrast to Virgin - I was able to get through to a service that promised, and delivered, a fix within 24 hours.

[Stonge]

Sorry, yes don't know how that happened. Confused me as I suddenly had notifications from two years ago. Apologies to the mods.

[Hardgrafter]

What's often not appreciated, is that your copper wires to BT (if you have a standard, non DECT, phone) will keep working when there is a power cut. Neither your Virgin cable phone, or any type of WiFI, Skype etc. will. The local mobile masts, being mains operated, will also be down.

[Meatyfool]

What's often not appreciated, is that your copper wires to BT (if you have a standard, non DECT, phone) will keep working when there is a power cut

Yes. But surely if a power cut is in just the right place (or is sufficiently wide reaching), then the telephone lines fail as well?

I'm sure they build in a high level of robustness, but sufficient to keep the service running in any eventuality?

In very basic terms, I am imagining the equivalent of a single piece of wire crossing the country connected to a three pin plug in Dover. If Dover goes down, can the service be run from a three pin plug in John O'Groats?

I know electricity me.

Meatyfool..

[kiloran]

What's often not appreciated, is that your copper wires to BT (if you have a standard, non DECT, phone) will keep working when there is a power cut

Yes. But surely if a power cut is in just the right place (or is sufficiently wide reaching), then the telephone lines fail as well?

I'm sure they build in a high level of robustness, but sufficient to keep the service running in any eventuality?

In very basic terms, I am imagining the equivalent of a single piece of wire crossing the country connected to a three pin plug in Dover. If Dover goes down, can the service be run from a three pin plug in John O'Groats?

I know electricity me.

Meatyfool..

It's many years since I worked on telephone exchanges, but they used to be powered by 48v batteries kept topped up by a mains supply, and usually with generator back-up. I suspect it's not dissimilar these days.

--kiloran

[Slarti]

You can usually tether to your mobile as a backup.

My son did for his, I just took a break from t'internet for a few hours.

I'd rather it had been of my choice though. Those running businesses from home, round here, were less than impressed I gather from talking to neighbours.

Seems to have been most of the town, with no warning.


Got to love BT

Slarti

[Slarti]

Ah, luxury.

Since suffering Virgin, I'm looking back to BT's copper as a golden age. Including the time it went down completely (not even a dialtone), when - in stark contrast to Virgin - I was able to get through to a service that promised, and delivered, a fix within 24 hours.

Well this was anybody on fibre, of any sort, with any provider as BT Openreach still has a total monopoly, round here.

I mean, why would they bother telling any businesses, let alone domestic users, in advance that they were going to cut us off for a while?

Slarti

[Slarti]

What's often not appreciated, is that your copper wires to BT (if you have a standard, non DECT, phone) will keep working when there is a power cut. Neither your Virgin cable phone, or any type of WiFI, Skype etc. will. The local mobile masts, being mains operated, will also be down.

A few months back the town was plunged into darkness but mobile phones kept right on working.
Perhaps they are on UPSs?

Slarti

[AleisterCrowley]

The mobile infrastructure might have been on a different circuit. Some, but not all, cell sites have battery back up. Switch sites etc have generators