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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: sfreeman8 on March 27, 2021, 05:27:50 pm

Title: I must be dense or something
Post by: sfreeman8 on March 27, 2021, 05:27:50 pm
We were without power from 3 p.m. yesterday until 10 a.m. this morning. i had a lot of messages on my landline phone and laptop giving updates on the power outage. Problem is, I had no power so couldn't get any of them until power was back on....the only way to get updates was to call the power company on my flip phone which would tell me to go to their website for updates.

So, I must be so far behind in technology/ How do I get updates if I have no power? I have Wifi but that, too, doesn't work without power to the modem because no internet. Do we have to order text and data for the phones? What about the laptop or regular computer? How does everyone else get updates or whatever during power outages?

Thanks for clearing this up for me.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: sdenimandlace1 on March 28, 2021, 05:15:56 am
I think you need a smart phone to do that.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: ktheodos on March 28, 2021, 07:05:51 am
There would have to be something through your mobile phone, since when the power is down, you can't receive calls on your landline, and the only way to get internet would be through a hot spot on your phone which would use data....I know, it's ironic that you receive calls about the power being out when you can't listen to them...
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: oldbuddy on March 28, 2021, 11:51:29 am
Fortunately I have shifted my efforts to passive income websites, so if I do have power outages (seldom) I just cool my jets and relax, knowing I am still making money is good enough for me.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: king4cash on March 28, 2021, 02:06:28 pm
I think that you need to invest in a Generator in the future for such emergencies...
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: sfreeman8 on March 28, 2021, 02:08:58 pm
There would have to be something through your mobile phone, since when the power is down, you can't receive calls on your landline, and the only way to get internet would be through a hot spot on your phone which would use data....I know, it's ironic that you receive calls about the power being out when you can't listen to them...

My laptop isn't wired to the modem. it uses Wifi but I couldn't get on the internet while the power was out.  This is why I don't understand. What do the phones use? What are hot spots?
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: sfreeman8 on March 28, 2021, 02:11:15 pm
I think that you need to invest in a Generator in the future for such emergencies...

Haha! Easier said than done when on SS and household income before expenses doesn't even hit $25,000 a year between the 2 of us.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: potluck6 on March 28, 2021, 07:02:10 pm
Able to call on the landline phone when that happened. It was only for a couple hours. Don't know what I'd do  if it was longer.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: singletonb on March 28, 2021, 09:19:10 pm
We have a battery operated weather radio that is suppose to be able to keep us updated about the weather condition in our area.  I am not sure how it works or if it works.  We have never had to use. 
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: linderlizzie on March 29, 2021, 12:25:53 pm
I don't know why you even need updates. You'll know when the power comes back on. What's the point of updates? I'm just sayin'.

And you are not dense, sfreeman8.  :monkey:
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: debidoo on March 29, 2021, 02:22:14 pm
Please I call the internet company when my internet is out and I get a recording to check the status online.  Am I missing something?
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: mrisha on May 05, 2021, 05:01:29 pm
It can be a little daunting when you lose service.  That is why I will always have a landline.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 07, 2021, 08:41:23 am
We were without power from 3 p.m. yesterday until 10 a.m. this morning. i had a lot of messages on my landline phone and laptop giving updates on the power outage. Problem is, I had no power so couldn't get any of them until power was back on....the only way to get updates was to call the power company on my flip phone which would tell me to go to their website for updates.

So, I must be so far behind in technology/ How do I get updates if I have no power? I have Wifi but that, too, doesn't work without power to the modem because no internet. Do we have to order text and data for the phones? What about the laptop or regular computer? How does everyone else get updates or whatever during power outages?

Thanks for clearing this up for me.

You have a cell phone with a data plan or you just wait for the power to come back on. Why do you need constant updates? I would not think and power company would send out updates every 15 minutes anyway.

Any time the power has been out in my area either I or a neighbor reports it and I wait for it to come back on. They do not have to tell me every 10 minutes they are still working on it.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 07, 2021, 08:42:53 am
There would have to be something through your mobile phone, since when the power is down, you can't receive calls on your landline, and the only way to get internet would be through a hot spot on your phone which would use data....I know, it's ironic that you receive calls about the power being out when you can't listen to them...

You CAN receive calls on a land line when the power is off.  And you do not need a "hot spot" to have data packages on your phone.  I guess when the call comes thru they expect you to, oh I don't know, PICK UP THE PHONE and say hello?!?
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 07, 2021, 08:44:48 am
There would have to be something through your mobile phone, since when the power is down, you can't receive calls on your landline, and the only way to get internet would be through a hot spot on your phone which would use data....I know, it's ironic that you receive calls about the power being out when you can't listen to them...

My laptop isn't wired to the modem. it uses Wifi but I couldn't get on the internet while the power was out.  This is why I don't understand. What do the phones use? What are hot spots?

A hot spot is basically like a small box with a data plan that will allow you to get on the internet. That is all it does. It works similar to how a cell phone works as far as getting on the internet. But you do not do anything with it except get on the internet.  It is also really expensive.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 07, 2021, 08:48:52 am
I don't know why you even need updates. You'll know when the power comes back on. What's the point of updates? I'm just sayin'.

And you are not dense, sfreeman8.  :monkey:


I agree about the updates. Just wait. 
And you are also right - you aren't stupid because you ask a question.

People are too use to having to be in the know all the time and immediately.  Most companies post updates via Facebook.  A good idea to have a page even if you do nothing on it but follow stuff like that.  Our local power company posts updates on their Facebook page. But usually just we know the power is out we are working on it. Possibly a time frame for fixing.  That is it.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: countrygirl12 on May 07, 2021, 08:49:31 am
It can be a little daunting when you lose service.  That is why I will always have a landline.

Cell phones work whether you have power in your house or not.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: sfreeman8 on May 07, 2021, 09:18:59 am

You have a cell phone with a data plan or you just wait for the power to come back on. Why do you need constant updates? I would not think and power company would send out updates every 15 minutes anyway.

Any time the power has been out in my area either I or a neighbor reports it and I wait for it to come back on. They do not have to tell me every 10 minutes they are still working on it.
[/quote]

No, I do NOT have a data plan on my flip phone. I do not  do "constant updates." I do check if nothing is back on in at least 3 hours by calling from the flip phone because I worry about my frozen food.  I have an old upright freezer and I don't know how long the food would stay frozen in a power outage. The last time we had an outage over 24 hours, the food was starting to thaw.

There would have to be something through your mobile phone, since when the power is down, you can't receive calls on your landline, and the only way to get internet would be through a hot spot on your phone which would use data....I know, it's ironic that you receive calls about the power being out when you can't listen to them...

You CAN receive calls on a land line when the power is off.  And you do not need a "hot spot" to have data packages on your phone.  I guess when the call comes thru they expect you to, oh I don't know, PICK UP THE PHONE and say hello?!?

I can't receive calls on the land line when power is off. Like I said, it goes through the Internet/TV/phone (VOIP) modem. No power, no modem.
Title: Re: I must be dense or something
Post by: mrsmere on May 08, 2021, 09:09:44 am
I would just wait for the power to come back on but with a smartphone you still have service.