Vonage / Power outage solutions?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Sep 08, 2008 Posts: 1

Hi everyone,

We've just switched from Verizon to Vonage, but are worrying about emergency telephone options in a power outage. Do any of you have suggestions? Keeping a "bare minimum" landline service would clearly do the trick, but I'm wondering if anyone has an easier/less expensive solution.

Many thanks,
M.

Posts: 373 · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject:

Most people that are now using Vonage have cell phones. If the phone line goes down, you resort to your cell phone. If it is imperative that you have more reliable number, for emergencies, get a pay as you go cell phone. They are pretty reasonable, if you only use in emergencies or only use a few times a month.

Posts: 350 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Dec 04, 2005 Posts: 350

I have my internet modem, router, and Vonage device on a UPS (uninterruptable power supply). I have a 375 VA unit and it has survived an apporiximate 2 hour power loss. Keep in mind that your telephone set might also need power (such as a cordless phone).

Posts: 2 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 7:52 am Post subject:

Will cable still work in a power outage? I just purchased a battery backup for my router, cable modem and Vportal, but that will not do any good if cable goes down with the power. I would think if it is just the power to my house, it will work, but what about if the whole neighborhoods power goes out due to a storm or other problem?

Posts: 323 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 323

aleelee wrote:

Will cable still work in a power outage? I just purchased a battery backup for my router, cable modem and Vportal, but that will not do any good if cable goes down with the power. I would think if it is just the power to my house, it will work, but what about if the whole neighborhoods power goes out due to a storm or other problem?

The answer to this is, it depends.

From my experience shorter outages my cable service still works and I have had phone service still. These are cases where my entire development is offline (500+ houses).

If you are looking for a rock solid backup plan, you need more than a UPS. You either need to rely on a cell or have a very basic POTS line as a backup. Personally I'm happy with the UPS and cell as the other backup, but this is a choice that everyone needs to make so that they are comfortable.

Posts: 2 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:59 am Post subject:

Quote:

If you are looking for a rock solid backup plan, you need more than a UPS

I completely agree, my husband and I both have cell phones. I was just curious if the battery backups were worthwhile or not. I'm glad to hear that the cable doesn't always go out with the electricity.

The only POTS I can get is Windstream, and their cheapest package is 34.99. So, I'm sticking with Vonage and my cell for now.

Posts: 373 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:53 am Post subject:

In my town, if the power goes down where the cable office is located, the cable goes out, too. If you are talking major power outage, chances are your phone line is out, too. I have all of my "network" on the UPS, but without cable, I have to depend on my cell phone.

Posts: 227 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject:

The cable system has its own UPS devices. Brief power outages do not affect it. Long-duration power outages probably will interrupt your cable service as amplifiers in the cable system begin to exhaust their batteries. Your calls will be forwarded to your Vonage "network availability number" when this happens, or when your house power fails and your cable modem, router, and/or Vonage adapter exhaust theirs. I recommend using your cell phone as the "network availability" destination, but remember, your cell phone battery will eventually be exhausted, too, if you can't recharge it.

In my neighborhood, even the POTS dial tone fails in a power failure after about six hours. This is because Verizon serves this area using a remote multiplexer a couple of blocks from my home (and a fiber run from that to their central office, about six miles away). Their multiplexer (it's known as a pair-gain system, trademarked SLC-96 by the manufacturer) has its own UPS, and apparently lasts about six hours.

Nothing is perfect!

Posts: 48 · Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 10:59 pm Post subject:

I have a V-Tech 5881 (four station cordless) which has an internal battery in the base station plugged into a Vonage VD-V21 plugged into a D-Link DIR-625 which is all plugged into an APC BackUp XS-800 along with the computer and its peripherals.

If the main power goes out--but not the cable--I get about five hours on the UPS after the computer has shut down. The V-Tech runs for about four hours with some use.

If the cable goes out, the NAN sends calls to the cell. The cell, which is a PPC, can be recharged off the car battery. I can also handle limited e-mail exchanges on the PPC.

But, when all the lights finally go out, the UPS stops beeping, nothing blinks any more and every one of the telltale LEDs are dark... it's absolute heaven around here. It's a condition with its own problems, of course, but the few times it's happened, the quiet is simply awesome and life is as close to perfect as possible Smile