boatright join:2004-07-28 Tyler, TX | boatright Member 2024-Jun-7 6:31 am Lost Internet Service During a Local Power FailureWe have a whole-house backup generator so our house (and cable modem) have electricity during a neighborhood power outage. We've lived in our current home in Tyler, TX, for a little more than a year and I've noticed that local power failures immediately bring down the internet service. In other places I've lived the cable distribution system was backed up with battery power and we wouldn't lose internet service except for very long outages. Does Optimum also back up its distribution network with battery power? Is the situation I am describing indicative of a problem that can be repaired or is this the expected behavior with Optimum's network? |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 6:31 am · |
Well Bonded join:2015-10-17 Naples, FL | Well Bonded Member 2024-Jun-7 8:25 am said by boatright:Does Optimum also back up its distribution network with battery power? Is the situation I am describing indicative of a problem that can be repaired or is this the expected behavior with Optimum's network? Many providers are notorious about maintaining their backup batteries, as such any power failures take their service out. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 8:25 am · |
limegrass69 No Whammies join:2008-05-28
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (2) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (2)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) limegrass69 Member 2024-Jun-7 8:34 am said by Well Bonded:Many providers are notorious about maintaining their backup batteries, as such any power failures take their service out. Notorious. As in notorious for poor maintenance. In the NYC area, Altice's predecessor, Cablevision, was pretty on top of plant maintenance. Towards the end of their tenure, maintenance (including backup batteries) started to slip. It fell off a cliff when Altice came to town. One should assume no service during a power outage. In my area, Verizon is not much better. Cellular gets overloaded and can't be relied upon either. It is the world we live in. Not much you can do! |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 8:34 am · |
Bobcat00 join:2018-09-19 New Jersey
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (4) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (4)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Bobcat00 to boatright
Member 2024-Jun-7 10:11 am to boatright
This is what has worked for me more than once: The next time you see a tech working on Optimum's outside boxes, ask him if the equipment has battery backups for power failures. If he says they do, kindly tell him that the batteries serving your area are dead and ask if he can put in a request to have them replaced. Be polite and don't make it sound like you're complaining or that it should be his job to do it. They don't carry batteries and it would be a separate truck roll to take care of it (assuming it's even possible in your area). |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 10:11 am · |
batterup I Can Not Tell A Lie. Premium Member join:2003-02-06 Netcong, NJ
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (6) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (6)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to limegrass69
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 12:28 pm to limegrass69
said by limegrass69:In my area, Verizon is not much better. Cellular gets overloaded and can't be relied upon either. It is the world we live in. Not much you can do! Verizon has a room size backup generator in every central office. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 12:28 pm · |
batterup | ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (7) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (7)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Bobcat00
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 12:31 pm to Bobcat00
said by Bobcat00:Be polite and don't make it sound like you're complaining... Should I wash his feet wile I'm kissing his ass. If I lost internets I would drop the ass-hats. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 12:31 pm · |
Bobcat00 join:2018-09-19 New Jersey
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (9) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (9)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Bobcat00 Member 2024-Jun-7 12:49 pm Walking up to a guy on the street while he's try to do his job. Be polite. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 12:49 pm · |
boatright join:2004-07-28 Tyler, TX | boatright to Bobcat00
Member 2024-Jun-7 1:29 pm to Bobcat00
said by Bobcat00:The next time you see a tech working on Optimum's outside boxes, ask him if the equipment has battery backups for power failures. If he says they do, kindly tell him that the batteries serving your area are dead and ask if he can put in a request to have them replaced. A good suggestion, but I've never stumbled upon such a technician. I decided to subject myself to the torture of contacting Support. As expected they didn't really understand the issue I was describing, but we did end with the agent agreeing to send a technician out. I know that won't immediately accomplish anything, but I assume he'll know whether there is supposed to be battery-backed infrastructure and how to reach the people who can actually get it fixed. The appointment isn't until the 16th, but if I manage to accomplish something with this route, I'll update the thread. From what I can tell it seems like ISPs that provide phone service are required to have service that survives, at least for a period of time, in a blackout. This requirement is also what led to the requirement that cable modems have an optional battery backup (funded by the customer, but made available by the ISP). That would accomplish nothing if the infrastructure itself weren't backed up by batteries. I'm not completely sure I understood all of the FCC legalese on the topic or whether what I was reading was a proposed rule or an actual rule, so maybe I am wrong about the "requirement." In any event, I press on... |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 1:29 pm · |
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dfens42 join:2008-01-06 Elkins, WV
·Optimum Online
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (12) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (12)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) dfens42 Member 2024-Jun-7 2:20 pm The requirement was/is for POTS/landline service. Because they provide enough current through the wiring to run a corded phone. And they maintain batteries in the local CO, they're racks and racks, and it is done to maintain 911 svc along with those POTS connections. If you have a cordless phone, it will not work. As for VOIP, the modem has to have a working battery backup as well, plus the plant. And most providers have stopped providing them to customers, so I can imagine the plant batteries probably won't do much either. Fiber needs battery as well. Cell service normally has some kind of minimal battery and generator backup at the towers, etc. But, if you don't have your account with the primary company (VZ, ATT, T-Mobile) maintaining the towers and equipment, I know for a fact in some disasters (hurricanes specifically) secondary providers had very spotty or no service. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 2:20 pm · |
Bobcat00 join:2018-09-19 New Jersey
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (14) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (14)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Bobcat00 Member 2024-Jun-7 2:23 pm said by dfens42:As for VOIP, the modem has to have a working battery backup as well, Optimum hasn't provided modems with backup batteries for many years. And even when they did provide modems with battery capability, they didn't provide batteries. The funny thing is that the modems had a firmware bug where if the RF was lost (e.g., power failure) and the modem stayed on (e.g., backup battery or UPS), when the RF came back on, the WAN port would only negotiate to 100 Mbps. So you were actually better off without the battery/UPS. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 2:23 pm · |
Well Bonded join:2015-10-17 Naples, FL | Well Bonded to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 3:05 pm to batterup
said by batterup:Verizon has a room size backup generator in every central office. Which doesn't matter when there is electronics out in the field. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 3:05 pm · |
Well Bonded | Well Bonded to dfens42
Member 2024-Jun-7 3:14 pm to dfens42
said by dfens42:Because they provide enough current through the wiring to run a corded phone. Which doesn't happen if the batteries in the electronics out in the field are dead. Cell service normally has some kind of minimal battery and generator backup at the towers, etc. But, if you don't have your account with the primary company (VZ, ATT, T-Mobile) maintaining the towers and equipment, I know for a fact in some disasters (hurricanes specifically) secondary providers had very spotty or no service. Which is a false statement, most cellular providers do have battery backup backed up by gensets, as for secondary providers they are just reselling the primary providers service, that have no equipment in the field at all. Now a major problem with cellular outages after a storm is the landline providers loss of power to the equipment powering the circuits that handle the sites backhaul. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 3:14 pm · |
batterup I Can Not Tell A Lie. Premium Member join:2003-02-06 Netcong, NJ
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (16) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (16)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Well Bonded
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 4:32 pm to Well Bonded
said by Well Bonded:said by batterup:Verizon has a room size backup generator in every central office. Which doesn't matter when there is electronics out in the field. The electronics in the field, none required for FiOS, have batteries and and a plug that truck mounted generators attach to. The Phone Company isn't a piss-ant cable company. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 4:32 pm · |
batterup | ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (17) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (17)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Well Bonded
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 4:38 pm to Well Bonded
said by Well Bonded:Now a major problem with cellular outages after a storm is the landline providers loss of power to the equipment powering the circuits that handle the sites backhaul. That will not happen, those are enterprise loops with a guarantied up time of 99.9%. During Sandy I lost cell from all four carriers; Sprint went down in an hour the others were up longer but they all went down. They came back a day later. My cable modem was down for eleven days. My DSL/POTS never went down. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 4:38 pm · |
wdunwoody join:2003-11-06 Manasquan, NJ | wdunwoody Member 2024-Jun-7 4:59 pm said by batterup:During Sandy... My DSL/POTS never went down. Same here. I didn't have backup power for the DSL modem; but my laptop had a modem and I was able to connect to 56k dial up internet. Worked slow, but fine. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 4:59 pm · |
Well Bonded join:2015-10-17 Naples, FL | Well Bonded to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 5:14 pm to batterup
said by batterup:The electronics in the field, none required for FiOS, have batteries and and a plug that truck mounted generators attach to. The Phone Company isn't a piss-ant cable company. You just conflicted yourself and yea they may have batteries that last oh maybe 4 hours when new. However after a disaster it may be a day or two before we can tow gensets out to remote sites and that are distributed by the communications priority level and consumer internet and RT POTS is at the bottom of that pile. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:14 pm · |
Well Bonded | Well Bonded to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 5:17 pm to batterup
said by batterup:That will not happen, those are enterprise loops with a guarantied up time of 99.9%. Total BS, that 99.9% does not apply once their has been a disaster. And I have been involved in many of restorations after one, so I have a clue of reality versus what you can Google. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:17 pm · |
Bobcat00 join:2018-09-19 New Jersey
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (19) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (19)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Bobcat00 to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 5:24 pm to batterup
Verizon Wireless was up 100% of the time during Sandy. Coworkers with Fios report their service also stayed up. That was back when we paid per text message, and VZW made text messages free for most of the month. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:24 pm · |
batterup I Can Not Tell A Lie. Premium Member join:2003-02-06 Netcong, NJ
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (21) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (21)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Well Bonded
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 5:26 pm to Well Bonded
said by Well Bonded:However after a disaster it may be a day or two before we can tow gensets out to remote sites Angus gets it done NOW.
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· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:26 pm · |
batterup | ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (23) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (23)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Well Bonded
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 5:28 pm to Well Bonded
said by Well Bonded:And I have been involved in many of restorations I was restoring service when you were still swimming in your father's gonads. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:28 pm · |
batterup | ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (24) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (24)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Bobcat00
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 5:29 pm to Bobcat00
said by Bobcat00:Verizon Wireless was up 100% of the time during Sandy. My tower went down. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:29 pm · |
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Well Bonded join:2015-10-17 Naples, FL | Well Bonded to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 5:31 pm to batterupBased on your comments I doubt that. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:31 pm · |
Well Bonded | Well Bonded to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 5:33 pm to batterup
said by batterup:My tower went down. Maybe it did but do you know why? |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:33 pm · |
Bobcat00 join:2018-09-19 New Jersey
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (26) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (26)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Bobcat00 to batterup
Member 2024-Jun-7 5:43 pm to batterup
said by batterup:said by Bobcat00:Verizon Wireless was up 100% of the time during Sandy. My tower went down. My closest "tower" in on Verizon's Network Operations Center building. The second closest is at the CO, with its big-ass diesel generator. The third is at Trump's golf course, I don't know if it has a generator or not. So we're basically going to be up all the time. Except when we had our last JCP&L power failure! VZW service was brought to its knees. I was able to get a better signal if I went upstairs and presumably got a signal from the other side of the mountain. I don't know how to figure out which tower I'm on with a 5G iPhone. With CDMA, you could tell from the PN offsets. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 5:43 pm · |
wdunwoody join:2003-11-06 Manasquan, NJ | wdunwoody Member 2024-Jun-7 6:21 pm During Sandy, my power (JCP&L) was out for 12 days. And electrically, I am only about... 20 pole spans away from the main substation, which I observed WAS energized on the transmission (34.5kV) side. Verizon POTS/DSL and FIOS stayed up the whole time because the Central Office was built to Bellcore standards. It had(has) an extensive battery plant as well as on-site generators and fuel supply. Verizon Wireless right at the coast stayed up for about 4 days or so; until the cell tower generator fuel supplies, and then the batteries ran out. Some of those tower sites could not be reached to refuel. Optimum service... as long as you could power your modem, set top box and TV; started to drop as the batteries in their remote line amplifiers failed. As a previous poster said, back then, Optimum tended to keep up their remote batteries, while Altice these days do not... |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 6:21 pm · |
Bobcat00 join:2018-09-19 New Jersey
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (28) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (28)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) Bobcat00 Member 2024-Jun-7 6:47 pm Our Optimum node's batteries (built by TKR) never lasted more than 1 hr 10 min. Isn't 34.5 kV considered distribution? |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 6:47 pm · |
batterup I Can Not Tell A Lie. Premium Member join:2003-02-06 Netcong, NJ
| ![Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (30) Lost Internet Service During a Local Power Failure - OptimumOnline (30)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) batterup to Well Bonded
Premium Member 2024-Jun-7 6:49 pm to Well Bonded
said by Well Bonded:said by batterup:My tower went down. Maybe it did but do you know why? I assume because there was no generator backup. The providers didn't go out at once, they went out one by one over several hours as their batteries died. It took a day after they went out that they all came back up together. I assume they brought in a generator as the power didn't come back on for many days. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 6:49 pm · |
wdunwoody join:2003-11-06 Manasquan, NJ | wdunwoody to Bobcat00
Member 2024-Jun-7 7:25 pm to Bobcat00
said by Bobcat00:Isn't 34.5 kV considered distribution? ...maybe "subtransmission" would be more accurate for 34.5kv? Around here, JCP&L usually only uses 34.5kV to feed substations or large users. They usually use 2400/4160 for distribution around town to the local pole top transformers... although there is some 13kV used... |
· actions · 2024-Jun-7 7:25 pm · |
Well Bonded join:2015-10-17 Naples, FL | Well Bonded to wdunwoody
Member 2024-Jun-8 12:14 am to wdunwoody
said by wdunwoody:During Sandy, my power (JCP&L) was out for 12 days. And electrically, I am only about... 20 pole spans away from the main substation, which I observed WAS energized on the transmission (34.5kV) side. Which doesn't mean the distribution side is energized. |
· actions · 2024-Jun-8 12:14 am · |
wdunwoody join:2003-11-06 Manasquan, NJ | wdunwoody Member 2024-Jun-8 12:25 pm said by Well Bonded:Which doesn't mean the distribution side is energized Exactly! While the circuit from the substation to my transformer was good, there were numerous problems of trees and wires down "downstream" that took almost 2 weeks to resolve. There were not many "line isolation" switches then that could have isolated bad sections... but there are more now... |
· actions · 2024-Jun-8 12:25 pm · |