ESB outage prep

Tabnabs

So today I finally got a response from Comreg (Vodafone are choosing to ignore my question, surprise, surprise...)

We refer to your query raised on 13 February 2014 as outlined below.

The provision of mobile phone networks and services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers who operate in a fully liberalised market under licences provided by ComReg. These licences, which require the Mobile Network Operators to provide a minimum level of national population coverage [1], in relation to 2G, 3G and future services (under the Liberalised Use Licence). It should be noted that there are no Universal Service Obligations (USO) attached to mobile phone licences and therefore the USO Regulations [2] only apply to Designated Undertakings and the right to service at a fixed location.

We trust this clarifies the matter for you.

Kind regards

etc. etc.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] The minimum population coverage requirements of the 3G licences were volunteered as part of the competitive evaluation processes which led to their award.

[2] European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and User’s Rights) Regulations 2011, S.I. No. 337 of 2011, Regulation 3 of the USO Regulations applies to designated undertakings, that they shall satisfy any reasonable requests for the ‘provision of access at a fixed location’

A very nonsensical way of saying they do as they please if I read it correctly.

So, when the grid goes down, your mobile will be worthless as a phone. It really reinforces the point of having backup plans and alternative means of communication (which don't require grid electricity to operate).

The Glass Key

It sort of depresses me when I read posts in other forums about people getting rid of their land land because of cost. When the electric goes the land line is often that one thing that you can still rely on, unless of course a tree has come down across your line.

I even keep and old "corded" phone and when the power goes after finding a torch plugging it in (in place of the cordless phones) is the first next thing I do.

Tabnabs

Very true, but if every member of your family is on the end of a mobile when out and about, a landline is of limited use. Even public phones are as rare as hens teeth these days.

The Glass Key

Tabnabs wrote: »

Very true, but if every member of your family is on the end of a mobile when out and about, a landline is of limited use. Even public phones are as rare as hens teeth these days.

Your not keeping up here I'm one of the few remaining land line users because we have no mobile coverage at home and its my experience in an emergency that the mobile towers if they are running get blocked with calls.

Stovepipe

what kind of generator(s) would ye recommend for running household items and how do you connect it to domestic items like fridges? Diesel, petrol or a.n.other fuel?

regards
Stovepipe

ShadowFox

Stovepipe wrote: »

what kind of generator(s) would ye recommend for running household items and how do you connect it to domestic items like fridges? Diesel, petrol or a.n.other fuel?

regards
Stovepipe

You need to work out your start up power and your running power of each item with one of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/13a-plug-in-energy-saving-monitor-n67fu
to see how big a generator you need (dont start everything at once) Most generators take a standard plug these days Id recommend a diesel mainly because you can run it on green diesel (if you can get it)

ShadowFox

The Glass Key wrote: »

It sort of depresses me when I read posts in other forums about people getting rid of their land land because of cost. When the electric goes the land line is often that one thing that you can still rely on, unless of course a tree has come down across your line.

I even keep and old "corded" phone and when the power goes after finding a torch plugging it in (in place of the cordless phones) is the first next thing I do.

I had an eircom landline in for this reason but with UPC I get stronger broadband free calls and my tv for the same price so its no wonder people are changing Im saving €60 a month

The Glass Key

ShadowFox wrote: »

I had an eircom landline in for this reason but with UPC I get stronger broadband free calls and my tv for the same price so its no wonder people are changing Im saving €60 a month

I hardy use it but my fixed line bill is still around €70 every 2 months, money for old rope, Eircom must be very badly manged to not make a profit with those charges.

TheHappyChappy

ShadowFox wrote: »

You need to work out your start up power and your running power of each item with one of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/13a-plug-in-energy-saving-monitor-n67fu
to see how big a generator you need (dont start everything at once) Most generators take a standard plug these days Id recommend a diesel mainly because you can run it on green diesel (if you can get it)

Great info cheers

Cork boy 55

The scale and length of this outage most be biggest power loss event in recent history in Ireland or is my memory hazy.

One of the reasons why so many trees are done is the unprecedented rainfall Plus the multiple storm train weakened the root system and soil structure and then came Storm Darwin as a coup de grace on the 12th
It was a perfect chain of events for tree falls in many ways if Darwin had happened back in December it would not have even half as bad IMO