Does ADSL work during a blackout?

[brettwlewis]

I'm thinking of finding alternate power for my PC, monitor, DSL modem, etc.

My question : Does the Telkom ADSL infrastructure stay up during a power blackout?

 

[francoistk]

Yeah it does. or at least as far as I know it does. They normally have battery backup's and possibly generators at the exchanges, so I expect it should still be working.

 

[general_koffi]

Yeah, it does. Runs on phone lines, remember?

I think Telkom must keep battery reserves or generators to power their exchanges and servers etc.

 

[Random717]

Yeah, it's the reason I'm considering getting a generator, to keep my downloads going...

 

[bekdik]

Telkom has gensets at all major exchanges.

As to answer the question as to ADSL working or not, is it ever working as expected?

 

[acer]

RATHER GO TO http://www.openweb.co.za/specials FOR BETTER PRICES AND NOT RUBBISH CRAP TELKOM IS SERVING WITH THE K4 FLIES

 

[acer]

People Let Hellkom Win The Battle

 

[MrH]

I've had eskom power failure for 7 hours in 2 days and the ADSL kept working, so yes it stays up.

 

[gregmcc]

If you have a power failure at home I wonder if you can run any low voltage lighting off the telephone lines. afaik they're 50V but very low current. Maybe I should put a few LED's together and get Telkom to power my home

 

[Ecco]

Wont you still need electricity for your modem and/or router?

 

[killadoob]

the best thing to do is buy a usb adsl modem with a laptop that has a backup battery

1 laptop
2 fully charged batteries
usb adsl modem

work in a black out

 

[bwana]

Wont you still need electricity for your modem and/or router?

If you have a laptop and a USB adsl modem you'll manage for as long as your laptop batter holds out.

 

[MrH]

Sooner or later everyone who needs to stay connected in SA is going to have to take the plunge and at least get a UPS, maybe a generator as well since the power blackouts are only going to get worse as time goes by in SA.

I see that prices of generators are climbing at an alarming rate, in fact the one I bought after that "bolt in rotor" episode in CT has more than doubled in price for the exact same generator.

It will probably pay to just bite the bullet and get your house powered asap as prices are only going to get higher.

 

[Ecco]

If you have a laptop and a USB adsl modem you'll manage for as long as your laptop batter holds out.

Yeah, but as mentioned in this forum, the USB modem is probably the worst choice of modem!

 

[CathJ]

Yeah, but as mentioned in this forum, the USB modem is probably the worst choice of modem!

Ah, but the best modem/router in the world is no good if isn't on... so maybe for these circumstances, the usb modem isn't the worst choice

 

[mh348]

Yeah, but as mentioned in this forum, the USB modem is probably the worst choice of modem!

I use a usb modem even though I have a Netgear Router, I haven't had any problems so far.

 

[bwana]

Yeah, but as mentioned in this forum, the USB modem is probably the worst choice of modem!

Not in a blackout when you dont have a ups or a generator.

 

[Ecco]

Ah, but the best modem/router in the world is no good if isn't on... so maybe for these circumstances, the usb modem isn't the worst choice

You make a good point! I still wont settle for the usb modem if i were to be buying new hardware anytime soon - i rather go plain dialup (included free with webafrica) on my notebook for the 2 hours.

 

[stocksie]

My APC 1000 Smart UPS keeps a D-link Wireless Router going for 8 hours and alows me to "top-up" my laptop battery when running low.

 

[Winga]

I run a UPS that uses deep discharge car sized batteries. I get 4 to 5 hours running 2 PC's the modem and a printer. The CPU's are also always running at 100% capacity.
That gets me through most loadshed's