Submitted by TheScout277 t3_zuhc03 in Maine

Hi all, hope you are all holding up well! I have a strange thing going on right now. My whole life whenever we relied on the generator for power, we would never have internet, yet just now, with no power from the pole, we have working internet with the generator running. Does anyone have any insight? Thank you!

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bigspoutwhale867 t1_j1j7loq wrote

If it’s cable company provided internet (or telephone company DSL/fiber fed out of a remote terminal), their remote equipment (on pole/ground pad) must have power again. This would most likely be due to power restoration or a generator.

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DrMcMeow t1_j1ja4st wrote

there's also the 24 hour backup power FCC mandate for fiber.

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maineff t1_j1jt97w wrote

That's not true, I think you are confusing voip power stuff.

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DrMcMeow t1_j1juxra wrote

for ONT on GPON.

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maineff t1_j1k7klj wrote

Are you talking about an active ata port on an ont? Anyway there's no requirement for the service provider to provide the backup solution for that, they can simply tell the customer how to perform a backup solution to make it last 24hr.

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78FANGIRL t1_j1kowv4 wrote

No, that's ridiculous! From my husband. He runs an internet company.

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siebzy t1_j1jj13s wrote

If the high speed internet line isn't damaged, your generator will power the modem and router.

While they sometimes share lines, they don't always share routing.

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MrLonely_ t1_j1na2lb wrote

There’s more equipment from the internet company that also requires power outside of your house. I believe they can be outside your power connections circuit so the equipment can lose or have power while your house has the other.

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siebzy t1_j1nb662 wrote

There's definitely not at my house - it's a coax wire straight from the pole through my wall to my router.

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MrLonely_ t1_j1nbf5g wrote

And somewhere down that wire from the pole, probably at the end of your road or an intersection, there’s a large metal box with internet equipment.

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cnyesko t1_j1j5c6m wrote

Just wanted to say this is us in the midcoast. About 28 hours now without power - internet lasted about 2 hours after the power went out, but just now got it back. Power though, is still out. Generator running with having the family visiting.

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threedogdad t1_j1jwghc wrote

We lose power all the time but there are plenty of time where internet is just fine. Separate systems where we are.

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smibrandon t1_j1jeh31 wrote

Telephone/cable/fiber don't generally go out as often because they won't short if they come in contact with a path to the ground. Also, power is generally at the top of the pole, so it can catch the tree limb first (for example). Then, as long as you have power for a router/modern/etc., or if it's self-powered (like copper telco lines), you're good to go.

Growing up in Portland in the 90s, I remember losing power relatively frequently. But I don't ever recall losing telephone service.

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imnotyourbrahh t1_j1jmolo wrote

tree may be on the power lines but not the communication lines below.

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puck63 t1_j1jnz3p wrote

Internet is low voltage. The lines are more forgiving and do not stop operating unless the wire is damaged or the transmitter / receiver site is out of power.

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maineff t1_j1jtde4 wrote

That's not true, cable companies use amplifiers on their lines, they need to be powered. There are usually battery backups cabinets mounted to the utility poles, when these batteries run out the internet stops flowing.

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puck63 t1_j1jtr7a wrote

I guess I'm comparing Internet to telephone systems. I've never heard about battery failure stops the internet. Who knew???

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truththeavengerfish t1_j1mg0ac wrote

Telephone dsl/fiber central offices have battery backups and generators. Cable co’s do not

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Stunning_Ad9784 t1_j1lsaqj wrote

They drop portable generators at the large output corner boxes. The use of the generator is what helps keep your line up and going. I literally just saw 2 in my town yesterday and thought how brave of them with the theft rate around area.

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wegerchris t1_j1mq7qu wrote

Cat 6e? Cable provides power over Ethernet too? Idk just a guess

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willieandthets t1_j1jabx9 wrote

My I telnet usually works with my generator, but not this time

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CantThinkOfAName000 t1_j1mih50 wrote

I don't know exactly how/why, but I definitely have memories of playing Socom 3 online (2006ish), powered by the generator, so it isn't a new thing in general (although maybe it's a new thing in your area).

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Vel0clty t1_j1mrh1a wrote

You can use a cellular hotspot to get by in down time. Worked for me during the storm when spectrum went

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ghT4uS68O0ogg3Y t1_j1mw8k8 wrote

Yup, I can turn my phone into a hotspot then run Netflix, etc on the TV.

I figured that out last night about an hour before power came back on. Wish I had thought of it earlier but now I know. First world problems in suppose

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Doc_coletti t1_j1odxp3 wrote

Yeah we often have internet with no power, but sometimes it both. Depends on what was damaged. I also have a home network with a large plex library, so even when internet out we can stream plex in network at least,

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