Will a UPS prevent service loss, or does cable go out anyway

Posts: 7

I noticed a post where the user is going to install a UPS to prevent service loss during frequent thunderstorms in Tampa. My question: does a local power outage only affect your home equipment, or does the cable service (repeaters, etc) also lose power?

I have considered setting mine up the same way (powering the cordless phone, cable modem and voice adapter), but if a power loss results in the cable feed going dead, there's probably no point.

Posts: 318 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject:

i believe most cable companies run backup power on their networks. your cable shouldn't always go down when the power does, but it could.

i think UPS is a great idea!

Posts: 52 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject:

It may or may not. Sorry for the vague answer, but it can vary greatly. Some neighborhoods have cable plants with separate power. Some even have backup power (generator, battery). Where I live, when my power goes out, my cable still works. That may be because it is on a different grid (ie commercial power), or it has a backup. The only way to really know is to have a UPS during your next power outage. If the Cable light on your modem is still lit, you are still online. A UPS is a good investment for any electronic equipment anyway, IMHO. Spend the extra for one with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation). Especially if you have a lot of power dips where you live.

Posts: 73 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:44 pm Post subject:

from your home's perspective, if you place your cable modem, and router on a UPS, that will buy you some time.

As far as the cable company, if they place their equipment on UPS power inside their 'cloud'.... it's hard to say...

Posts: 7 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject:

Since I already have a small one, I might as well set it up that way - nothin' to lose. Thanks for the feedback.

Posts: 66 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject:

Most of the switching power supplies which typically supply 60 Volts ac to the trunk,bridger and line xtender amplifiers have battery backup for 2 hrs..depending whether or not your particular cable company maintains them properly or not....Louis

Posts: 129 · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject:

Ever wonder why when your power goes out, your phone doesn't? (Speaking of the old world POTS, that is). POTS has its own backup power supply. It uses relatively little voltage. The same usually applies for cable. We had an ice storm last month, and the power AND POTS lines were out. However, my cable service was up. I had my computer, router, etc... hooked up to my Belkin 800VA UPS and was able to operate for over 1 hour on backup power.

With traditional POTS and a regular phone, there is no need for a UPS on your end, but with Voip and a UPS, you are probably in good shape.

Posts: 62 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:12 am Post subject:

Disturbed wrote:

Ever wonder why when your power goes out, your phone doesn't? (Speaking of the old world POTS, that is). POTS has its own backup power supply. It uses relatively little voltage. The same usually applies for cable. We had an ice storm last month, and the power AND POTS lines were out. However, my cable service was up. I had my computer, router, etc... hooked up to my Belkin 800VA UPS and was able to operate for over 1 hour on backup power.

With traditional POTS and a regular phone, there is no need for a UPS on your end, but with Voip and a UPS, you are probably in good shape.

I agree. During our little ice adventure here in Atlanta (I'm a transplant from the North so I've seen much worse) I realized I needed a UPS, purchased one and went without disruptions of my service...even when the power and POTS (B*ll S*uth) were down. The neighbors were quite curious how I still had phone svc. (log onto account...send referral...get free month...grab a beer).
Wink

P.S.- Yes, I already had a UPS for my PC. I purchased the second for approx. $40 and connected my cable modem, PAP2 and RT31P2. With such a low voltage draw, it lasts a good 1-2 hours.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 13, 2005 Posts: 3

Unfortunately for me the power box for the cable in my area sits directly in front of my house on the same pole that my house is on so if I lose power the cable goes down too. I do have my router and cable modem on the UPS and if the power is only out a second or two I still might be able to stay connected to various things (haven't tried it with Vonage yet) but anything longer than a few seconds and I will get DC'd from what ever I was doing. Even if your cable does go out UPS is still a good idea as it gets highly annoying to have your computer reset every time the power goes out for a few seconds.