It was always said you should not rely on this and have a conventional phone plugged in somewhere as backup.
20a switch for appliances yes or no ?
- Thread starter RobTi
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It's certainly wise(for the time being - see below), but I'm not so sure who is "always saying it".
In any event, I gather that BT are planning to 'phase out' their copper network, in which case even 'corded' phones will presumably not work in the absence of power?
Didn't BT get into bother quite recently when their VOIP service shut down during a massive storm and people were left without communication for days?.
I believe they have publicly said the are rethinking their strategy after that.
As for switches for under counter appliances, I kept ours. Easier to disconnect at switch rather than running to consumer unit if you have an issue.
I believe they have publicly said the are rethinking their strategy after that.
As for switches for under counter appliances, I kept ours. Easier to disconnect at switch rather than running to consumer unit if you have an issue.
There is also a problem in areas where there is un-reliable ( or non existent ) mobile phone coverage. Such areas have ( or had ) a public telephone box on a reliable copper loop. Some were monitored for line faults ( Redcare ) to ensure the repair process was started with minimum down time.
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It was often in the instructions of the cordless phone.
As I said, it's certainly wise (if one has a copper landline connection) - but, "often" is a little different from "always"
For a while I worked in telecomms, and it was considered good practice in case of emergency or power failure. Even a trip in your own house. Or a failure due to a fire. The phone companies invest a lot in standby batteries and generators to provide a dependable service. Frame rooms and private switchboards in offices also have batteries so can work in a power cut.
In a Major Incident cellphones are likely to be swamped or stop working, so emergency services and essential utilities use PMR, and a different comms network. Unsurprisingly there is a network used by, for example, the railways and government that is not the same.
Your VOIP might still work in a power cut if you can power your hub, from batteries or a UPS, so might your broadband. I will probably get one when my line is converted.
Unlike PSTN, IP is connectionless and inherently unreliable
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As I've said, more than once, it's definitely wise (when it can be done).
I don't doubt that but, as I've also said, that would be no consolation (or help) to subscribers who don't have a copper connection to the exchange/wherever.
Kind Regards, John
well, that depends what sort of backup power the telecomms network has, and if the subscriber has taken the precaution of putting a UPS or battery on his hub. I think the power load will be pretty low.
I have a fibre service to a street cabinet at the end of the road, and copper from there
AFAIK nobody is saying they will run 200 million new fibres into homes and offices
That stage is currently underway. A couple of weeks ago a fibre was installed to the post outside my home. If I want to subscribe to the service a fibre would be installed from the post to my home. There is the possibility to receive a 1 Gbps connection (averaging 920 Mbps). No copper connection would be provided and phones would be the IP type which would not function in a power cut unless I power the router from a UPS.
Maybe I'm wrong, but my understanding was that (although it will obviously take a long time) there IS a progressive move towards running fibres into all homes and offices etc.
Gigaclear have put fibres into my (tiny) village, including a 'pot' just by my front gate. If I wished to avail myself of their service, they would run fibre (only) from there to my house.
Kind Regards, John
Traditionally with FTTC, the cabinet only handles broadband with the voice continuing back to the exchange on copper.
BT openreach in the long term want to phase out their copper network in preference for a fiber one. This will be a process that likely takes many years to complete, but it is already starting. Where I live the FTTP connectorised distribution points have recently sprung up on the telephone poles and the sides of buildings. Some customers are getting plugged into them too.
Seperately BT openreach intend to phase out analogue voice in favour of VOIP delivered over customer's broadband connections (BT retail market this service as "digital voice", other communication providers may have their own names).
Shockingly they are planning to do this even for people who don't have FTTP available, so many people will be downgraded from traditional copper voice lines.to VOIP over ADSL or FTTC.
Telephone exchanges have long-duration backup power, but FTTC cabinets have much shorter backup duration (since they were originally intended to be broadband only).
and the cabinets are very heavy in power as shown by the warmth emanating from the cabinets.
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