I don't think you're right about that. In Warwick we were without power for about 5 days. We lost phone service twice, both for fairly short periods in the middle of the power outage period. Like Wendell, we also have the 544 exchange out of Orange. /Reva Reck/ /reva//@//revareck.com/ Robert Heller wrote: > At Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:23:39 -0500 Reva Reck <reva at revareck.com> wrote: > > >> MIME-Version: 1.0 >> >> ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area. >> ** If you did, we all thank you. >> >> >> >> >> >> I think there's a lot to be said for keeping a true copper landline, >> especially if you live in a remote area. You can get their cheapest plan >> - one where you pay for every call - for very little money, and then use >> something like magicJack or whatever for most of your actual phone >> calls. I think people should think about being without power, possibly >> in a situation where roads are impassable, and having no way to make a >> phone call. For those of us who don't get cell service at our homes, >> that's a prettty scary scenario. Even if you do get cell service at your >> home, will the cell tower you get your signal from be operational if >> there are widespread power outages? >> > > Actually, I think Verizon no longer bothers to maintain any sort of > long-term backup power for the copper phone system -- any long term > power failure generally takes the phone server down too. It might be > delayed for 10-12 hours or something. Last year's ice storm did NOT > knock the main phone lines down in Wendell, but phone service was > down until *power* was restored in Orange (the location of the CO for > Wendell). People with generators and satelite internet were able to stay > on-line and in communication. Wendell's emergency planning is working > on the assumption that phone service will be out in the event of any > major emergency. > > > >> /Reva Reck/ >> >> /reva//@//revareck.com/ >> >> >> >> Robert Heller wrote: >> >>> ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area. >>> ** If you did, we all thank you. >>> >>> >>> At Tue, 5 Jan 2010 12:08:47 -0500 Frank Aronson <fsaronson at gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>> Keep in mind that both MagicJack and Phone Power are both VoIP and are not >>>> true landlines. The great advantage to Phone Power is that it doesn't >>>> require a "server" (a computer to run the software) as its all contained in >>>> the "free" adapter (a la Vonage). I assume it also works a bit better than >>>> MagicJack and the cost is lower than Vonage (right now you can get a >>>> residential line for $8.33/year with a two year commitment). >>>> >>>> The only *true* landline you're going to find is Verizon. We have Comcast, >>>> but if you lose power, you're pretty much down (yes, there's a battery >>>> backup, but it doesn't last forever). The old copper lines will still >>>> provide power to your wired phone even if you can't see the buttons in the >>>> dark! >>>> >>>> >>> It should also be noted: Verizon wants to get out of the copper landline >>> business. Verizon is also *barely* maintaining the copper landline >>> infrastructure, which in rural areas can be pretty bad (there are people >>> who lose phone service when it rains because the phone cables fill up >>> with water). Oh, Verizon charges something like $60/month for service >>> that is equivalent to Vonage (eg nationwide long distance, voicemail, >>> etc.). Not really the best deal available (probably the *worst* deal >>> available). >>> >>> >>> >>>> Frank >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> >>> >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>> Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2601 - Release Date: 01/05/10 02:35:00 >>> >>> >>> >> MIME-Version: 1.0 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net >> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net >> >> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. >> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members >> page on the Hidden Tech Web site. >> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members >> >> >> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2601 - Release Date: 01/05/10 02:35:00 > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20100105/53ab5fb4/attachment-0001.html