Phone/Internet down in Wrightwood

[angelwolf326]

happy dance!!!!

[ChrisLynnet]

THANK HEAVEN! This has been a nightmare with anxious clients having a meltdown when they didn't hear from me.

[ForestGal]

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!  

[Wrightwood]

[Toolman]

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!  

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.

[ForestGal]

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.

[Moose]

Still no internet service at my house,  phone and cell are working.  Attempting to reset all modems and routers.

[Wrightwood]

SBCSD issued this release today which stimulated lots of press:

https://local.nixle.com/alert/4737576/?sub_id=648980

[Leftfield]

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?

[Moose]

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

[Wrightwood]

Many ham radio operators were on hand held radios that cost about $100-$125 total.

     

[Moose]

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.

[Bob C]

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.

[Toolman]

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.

[RennMan]

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.

[wrightwoodgirl]

So what exactly should one purchase for emergency's?  what is the name (s) of and type of ham radio phone?

[Bob C]

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.

[Moose]

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!

[Hobbes]

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...

[SoCalGal]

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!