WrightwoodCalif.com Forum
Public Forums => Disaster Awareness & CERT => Topic started by: Bob C on Oct 03, 11, 09:17:44 AM
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All phone service, cell service and internet in Wrightwood is down at the moment.
Wrightwood residents with emergencies, should go to the fire station to report those emegencies.
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Sounds like someone was using a backhoe somewhere?
How are you posting to the web Bob? I'm thinking you must not be in Wrightwood.
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I'm in Lancaster today
Update (via amateur radio): Cause is a damaged cable, caused by SCE installing a pole along Sheep Creek, 8/10 of a mile from Phelan Road. Estimated 4 hours to repair.
I'm also told that people in Wrightwood can dial "249" numbers, as long as they do so without using the area code.
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I talked to my brother in WW who has T-Mobile. He said the service has been going in and out.
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We have t-mobile, as do my parents; hubby had to go down to Pipeline to use his cell and I can't get through on my parents' at all.
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There's a lot of backhoe work going on at the Southwest corner of Orchard and LPC... Anybody check there?
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A co-worker tells me phone service at Pinon Hills ele is out as well. Any confirmation that PH is also affected?
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I just left Wrightwood, where everything is still down. Have 2 cells ATT and Verizon, both are out. No internet, no land line. Just came down to Mc Donalds in Phelan, and when I just got here there was not internet, but it just came back. Glad to know what is going on.
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Verizon cell comes and goes here in wrightwood currently working here on the east side
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http://www.sce.com/Safety/worker/call-before-you-dig.htm
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It is 5:15 now. Verizon now claims that the lines should be repaired by 6pm--for what that is worth!
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http://www.sce.com/Safety/worker/call-before-you-dig.htm
Isn't it ironic?
This is Edison's program, and they are the ones that hit the phone line.
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7pm still no phone. Any news ???
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Mine just finally came back on! Cell, internet, and phone are all working.
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Just got a verizon cell call from WW
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As of 7:05 pm all land lines, internet, cell service and 911 are back working.
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Lonepine and east cyn all is back working
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It was not a backhoe.
SCE was installing a new pole on Phelan Road at Mango and hit the Fiber lines. That included 20-T1 and 5-T3 lines that feed Wrightwood.
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Amazing that only took 10 hrs to repair....everythings back up f i n a l l y...
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happy dance!!!!
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THANK HEAVEN! This has been a nightmare with anxious clients having a meltdown when they didn't hear from me.
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I monitored all day on ham radio, it was so nice to get the updates on a regular basis, and to know what was going on. Thanks a million John, Bob, Bonnie & Ed, and all who participated in passing along the info. Great job! :2thumbsup:
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I monitored all day on ham radio, it was so nice to get the updates on a regular basis, and to know what was going on. Thanks a million John, Bob, Bonnie & Ed, and all who participated in passing along the info. Great job! :2thumbsup:
Another good reason to have your Ham license when all other means of communication is cut off. ;)
You don't need internet, you don't need TV, but you do need communication. What could have made this a tad worse is the AC power out also. How is your back up power situation for your radios?
Do you have a AA battery pack for the HT? (lasts longer than the OEM battery)
Do you have Spare AA batteries for the HT?
Do you have a cigarette plug adapter for your car if you don't have a AA battery pack ? (BTW, it will charge your battery also)
Is your base station set up to switch over to alternative 12 volt power either automatic or manual switching?
Some things to consider to keep your radios going when you can't charge the HT if an HT is all you have.
Hopefully this minor inconvenience will be an awakening as to the importance of being communications prepared.
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Another good reason to have your Ham license when all other means of communication is cut off. ;)
Do you have a AA battery pack for the HT? (lasts longer than the OEM battery)
Do you have Spare AA batteries for the HT?
Do you have a cigarette plug adapter for your car if you don't have a AA battery pack ? (BTW, it will charge your battery also)
Is your base station set up to switch over to alternative 12 volt power either automatic or manual switching?
Some things to consider to keep your radios going when you can't charge the HT if an HT is all you have.
Hopefully this minor inconvenience will be an awakening as to the importance of being communications prepared.
Very good points, Toolman! I was using my AA battery pack most of the day, cuz I sorta forgot to charge the regular Lithium battery after the net last night. What is an OEM battery? Yes I have lotsa spare AA batteries, and a car charger. No base station, just my HT. But it sure came in handy today.
This is a good reminder to check my regular battery status more often, and charge the thing more often.
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Still no internet service at my house, phone and cell are working. Attempting to reset all modems and routers.
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SBCSD issued this release today which stimulated lots of press:
https://local.nixle.com/alert/4737576/?sub_id=648980
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This is becoming a yearly event. You might as well have it coupled with Mountaineer Days. >:(
If someone has a heart attack in this kind of situation, the victim isnt going to make it.
Besides dealing with the cost and the installation of a monstrous ham radio antennae, are there any other radio communications that we can get that at least we will be able to summon help if need be?
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Just talked to Verizon, yes really, and they tell me my internet problem is still related to the earlier outage. Will wait until the morning to check again,
By the way Leftfield, many of the ham operators on the air today during the outage were on small handhold radios with small antennas. Not a major investment to get started. FYI
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Many ham radio operators were on hand held radios that cost about $100-$125 total.
(http://www.actioncommunications.com/radios/vertex/vxa-150big.gif) (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_AvFFKsLDBl0/S2UwLS_qOMI/AAAAAAAAAs8/MRHLSp7DPMc/s400/wouxun6)
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Called Verizon early this morning. Tech had me reconfigure my Westel 6100 modem back to what it should have been. Somehow during the outage the modem reverted back to another setting. Once the changes were made I was back up in no time.
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Besides dealing with the cost and the installation of a monstrous ham radio antennae, are there any other radio communications that we can get that at least we will be able to summon help if need be?
By now, you've seen the photos that were posted, and must realize that there is no high cost, or "monstrous" antenna to deal with.
The only other option I can even think of, is for you to purchase a satelite phone. You will have equipment costs, monthly plan costs, usage cost, and you need a clear line-of-sight to the satelite.
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If someone has a heart attack in this kind of situation, the victim isnt going to make it.
FYI, Several of our Fire personnel are Ham radio operators that keep their Ht's with them. I never go on FS patrol without my little HT that fits snuggly in a pouch attached to my go bag.
Two years ago we witnessed an accident and I used our Ham radio in our truck, sans monstrous antenna, to call for assistance. Response was immediate, I could here them gearing up in the background while passing information.
Don't know how many times you've used 911 but in my experience, I've been put on hold far to many times. My go to communications is Ham radio first, cell phone second.
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By now, you've seen the photos that were posted, and must realize that there is no high cost, or "monstrous" antenna to deal with.
The only other option I can even think of, is for you to purchase a satelite phone. You will have equipment costs, monthly plan costs, usage cost, and you need a clear line-of-sight to the satelite.
As a former satellite control operator, I can tell you that satellite phones won't work too well in the Swarthout Valley. Out in the desert yes, but not in WW . You need a clear line-of-sight to the satellite, and since most sat phones are low-earth orbits, and basically a north-south flight pattern, the time you would be able to connect to the satellite is maybe a minute or two. Until the next one flies over...
Ham radio is a much better and cheaper solution.
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So what exactly should one purchase for emergency's? what is the name (s) of and type of ham radio phone?
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As a former satellite control operator, I can tell you that satellite phones won't work too well in the Swarthout Valley.
And that was my point :) There really isn't another good option. And keep in mind, its not just for when we lose phone systems either. There is no cell phone coverage along SR-2 (west of Wrightwood), Big Pines Hwy, or many other mountainous areas. Amateur radio is often the only easy way of communicating.
So what exactly should one purchase for emergency's? what is the name (s) of and type of ham radio phone?
Step #1: Get a license. Then you can decide which radio is good for you.
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A good thing to do would be to attend a ham radio licensing class. You need your license before you can legally transmit on any ham band. In the class you learn about many radio options, get to play hands-on with different radios by different manufacturers in various price ranges, and learn what ham radio can and can not do. There are limitations. With the knowledge you obtain from the class you can make your decisions on what equipment you want to purchase. Talk to ham operators that you know around your community (I assume Wrightwood), there are many of them. A lot of them hang out here on this forum and are more than willing to talk about the ham world and to demonstrate their equipment!
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I think this "split cable" has been going on for quite a while. In the last five days my cell phone has been:
1. dropping calls frequently
2. not ringing, but then alerts come up saying I missed phone calls, or have a phone message.
3. dropping my phone messages, saying there are no messages, or saved messages when there should be.
4. not connecting calls at all.
How about you?
Verizon, of course, tells me it is my imagination; not their problem...
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Leftfield, ham radio isn't phone-related, but is more like the emergency radios that police or fire units use - you've seen the little "handy-talkies" used on TV. Yes, a license is cheap and pretty easy to earn, but necessary before speaking on the special ham frequencies on your own. Check the amateur radio/ham radio section in this forum for local news and contacts.
Wrightwood, I hadn't heard of Nexis alert service before. Thanks for the link and mention!
We have a Wildblue dish for satellite internet service. We haven't tried it yet, but theoretically we could power that and a laptop from a vehicle and send emails, at least, for emergency communication. Even if an earthquake moved the house, we should be able to try and re-aim the dish, and with luck have some communications that way. Of course ham radio is better, but we don't have line-of-sight to Wrightwood, so we'd have to send to the Big Bear area repeater and get info through there. Assuming the handy-talkie is charged!
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You'll need to get an amateur radio license before buying a radio.
To pass the 35 question multiple choice test you can study online, take a class or read a book. It usually requires about 12-16 hours of studying.
Here's a link to the online test. (take the Technician test)
http://aa9pw.com/
We've had 6 year old ham radio operators that we've talked with on our Sunday night Net so it's not hard to do.
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(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/news/CutPhoneLine10.2.11.d.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/news/CutPhoneLine10.2.11.a.JPG)
Here's the area where they dug into the direct burial fiber cables (no conduit). (Phelan Rd and Mango)
Those fiber cables feed Wrightwood and Pinon Hills.
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/news/CutPhoneLine10.2.11.b.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/news/CutPhoneLine10.2.11.c.JPG)
(http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/news/CutPhoneLine10.2.11.e.JPG)
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Of course ham radio is better, but we don't have line-of-sight to Wrightwood, so we'd have to send to the Big Bear area repeater and get info through there.
Theoretically that might be the case but I'd be really surprised if we couldn't get simplex between the Wrightwood community and your home. (assuming your in the high desert area)
We do simplex testing on a weekly basis and from my location in Wrightwood I regularly can talk to Redlands, Hawthorne, El Monte, Hesperia, Bartsow, Lancaster, Palmdale, Apple Valley, the Queen Mary, Pinon Hills, Oak Hills, Yucapia, etc. and I am not within line of sight with any of those locations.
With simplex the only way to tell is by testing on a regular basis.
If simplex is not available between two stations a relay using a third operator is a very common method we use all the time.
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If someone has a heart attack in this kind of situation, the victim isnt going to make it.
Yesterday's outage was an excellent demonstration of what well trained community members can accomplish.
Within a very short period of time CERT was activated by the on duty Fire Captain at Station 14 and highly trained Ham Radio operators were placed at Station 14 and direct communications were established between SB County EOC and Wrightwood Ham Radio operators.
A large list of special needs folks throughout the community were visited by CERT members letting them know how to contact Station 14 in case of an emergency and checked on their well being.
The Emergency Radio Station 1610 AM was activated with a message on how to contact Station 14.
Yesterday there were a lot of people in the neighborhoods that had CPR training and were in direct radio communications that could have called for EMS help.
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What seems strange and, indeed, both dangerous and foolish is that a single point of failure can bring down all lines of standard communication in Wrightwood - land lines, internet, and cell service at once. This has happened a handful of times now since I moved to Wrightwood (in 2004), so it is not an isolated circumstance.
Why do all 3 of these services come into Wrightwood on the same physical cable bundle, with no redundancy or backup?
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Yesterday's outage was an excellent demonstration of what well trained community members can accomplish.
Consider it practice for the big one.
You folks did a good job :2thumbsup:
As far as a single point of failure goes that's right and just the tip of the ice burg. A couple of years ago a single point of failure brought down all FAA communications on the West coast. That single point of failure was a car hitting a pole on Ave P in Palmdale.
The fact is what WW experienced was exactly what will happen all over Southern California in a major incident. The only form of public communication will be licensed amateur radio operators.
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Wrightwood, I hadn't heard of Nexis alert service before. Thanks for the link and mention!
I highly recommend this alert service. I get texed and emailed as events are happening within various agencies near my zipcode. It's kept me clear from major events here in the valley that were creating a traffic nightmare. It will also give you a recap of various crimes that took place in my area over the week.
It is the first way I found out about the lines being down in Wrightwood.
And, being the scanner nut I am, it's alerted me to pursuits so I can grab my scanner and listen in.
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thats all well and good IF you have internet, cell and texting.... my cell didn't work in WW but hubby's worked in Riverside....
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Why do all 3 of these services come into Wrightwood on the same physical cable bundle, with no redundancy or backup?
That's not all... I believe electric service for the most part, comes up here one way, too. There's been several times in the past, where copper thieves caused a complete electrical blackout in Wrightwood. I'll bet natural gas lines mains are located in one area too.
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thats all well and good IF you have internet, cell and texting.... my cell didn't work in WW but hubby's worked in Riverside....
As I was coming into WW on SR2 last night around 5:45 PM, there were several vehicles parked on both sides of the highway. I thought it was odd until I realized they may be talking on cell phones, because they had a signal to a High Desert tower (not necessarily the one on the top of the mountain at the intersection of 2/138.)
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The only thing I know about ham radio and operators is: It was the only way to contact my hubby on Guam when a life threatening medical emergency happened with our daughter. (1964)
Would WW benefit by having its own repeater, and what would it take?
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The Wrightwood Communications Group (KW6WW) owns & operates 3 full time repeaters in the community plus 2 completely portable and self contained emergency repeaters.
All of the full time KW6WW repeaters are run by large AGM batteries that are kept charged and maintained by battery tenders. During yesterday's incident the KW6WW 2 meter repeater was the primary repeater with the **Table Mountain 2 meter repeater being used as the secondary.
** The JPL Amateur Radio Club owns and maintains 3 full time repeaters at the JPL Table Mountain Facility.
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Late getting into the conversation but Wrightwood and surrounding areas are so fortunate to have such dedicated people like "Wrightwood" (John), Gus (Cindy, John's better half), Boston Bob, Bonnie & Ed Ross. As usual they did a fantastic job :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
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Thanks to all who gave me the heads up about HAMs. I certainly like the hand held ones though getting a license just to call the fire house in the event of emergency seems a bit much.
Im not into chit chatting with strangers so it would be only be used for those emergency situations.....and do I really have to learn Morse codes? (In fact, the Vietnam POWs didnt use Morse code to communicate with each other but some other simpler code.)
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Im not into chit chatting with strangers
1) You're doing that now.
2) Every tool is what you make of it.
Just sayin'...
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-. --- / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / .-. . --.- ..- .. .-. . -..
no morse code required
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I've been a Ham for many years and to get to my level of license I did have to pass a 20 wpm code test. Today's standards are much different, no code is required for any level of licensing. Kids 6yrs. old are passing the written exams. When I was conducting test sessions, kids 10 yrs. of age were passing 20wpm code tests also. But those days are gone for code.
Being a Ham is like having a tool in the shed you may or may not use daily. Myself, I use it daily to keep in touch with friends while commuting around. Not much of a rag chewer myself either (chit chat).
With this latest event, my wife ran down the hill to run errands. we didn't want to tie up repeater usage so we transmitted directly which is called "simplex". She finished her errands and called for what we may need from Stater Bros. I gave her a short list on air and the shopping was done.
It's all in how you perceive your need. However, when all other communications fail Ham radio will always work. 99% of Ham repeaters are on some kind of back up power, solar, battery, generator. The repeaters are programed to auto switch if shore power fails.
Those monstrous antennae you refer to are used for low frq. use. I do have them and have used them during earthquakes, Y2K rollover, Katrina, and the Japan earthquake as well as keeping in contact with old friends in the northern states. So if you have loved ones living in tornado country or other disaster prone areas, it may be a good idea to get to know one of those Hams that has the gear to communicate around the world. They may end up being you best friend.
BTW, I met my wife via Ham radio while working communications for Air Shows. She was licensed before I was.
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The Wrightwood Communications Group (KW6WW) owns & operates 3 full time repeaters in the community plus 2 completely portable and self contained emergency repeaters....
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Thanks for the reply WW,
Geesh! What was I thinking? I should have realized that I suppose. I've read about lots of forum member using ht's during emergencies in WW and surrounding areas to report accidents etc..
Actually, I was going to offer to donate a 60' antennae tower if it would help.
YB
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Leftfield, if I could do this, anyone can. I've got to be one of the most electronically/techie challenged people on the entire planet, and I passed the technician exam in 7/08 with a 100% score. Didn't do quite that well when I took the General test a few months later, but I passed easily. I only have a handheld radio, and it's not a hobby for me. I do check in weekly on the KW6WW emergency communictions net on Sunday evenings, and sometimes I'll turn it on during the week just to listen, that's how I've learned a lot about proper radio etiquette. It's such a valuable tool to have in situations such as yesterday, which was the only way we could communicate up here. I did not transmit, just listened. And learned what was happening.
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One of the best things I've done. Great group of people & friends. My family will be better served during a disaster, let alone inconveniences or glitches in life in the mountains.
As was said in the 60's- Be there or be square ;D
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Think of Ham Radio as part of the solution for your families safety during emergencies.