Now this brave new world is coming fast, where there are only one connection
to a house ove the internet, and reliant on the local mains supply being on,
what are the rights of people who want some kind of back up as old land
lines have?
Also, do these old tone dialling devices still work if you use them to dial
by holding them with the speaker to the handset microphone. This is a very
handy way for some people who cannot use mobiles to dial certain numbers on
phones elsewhere using an accessible directory.
I'm mainly talking blind people here of course.
Also, the attitude of BT and virgin seems to be, you have a socket for the
phone on the router, and its up to you to wire it to your extensions.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!

Was it ever “a right”?

Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.

What’s changed now is that it’s up to the user to provide battery backup
rather than the supplier.

Dunno about tone dialling devices but can’t think why they wouldn’t
continue to work.

Regarding extensions, it’s been the home-owners responsibility to wire
extensions for a long time. No change there.

Tim

Brian Gaff <brian1gaff@gmail.com> wrote:
> Now this brave new world is coming fast, where there are only one connection
> to a house ove the internet, and reliant on the local mains supply being on,
> what are the rights of people who want some kind of back up as old land
> lines have?
> Also, do these old tone dialling devices still work if you use them to dial
> by holding them with the speaker to the handset microphone. This is a very
> handy way for some people who cannot use mobiles to dial certain numbers on
> phones elsewhere using an accessible directory.
> I'm mainly talking blind people here of course.
> Also, the attitude of BT and virgin seems to be, you have a socket for the
> phone on the router, and its up to you to wire it to your extensions.
> Brian
>

--
Please don't feed the trolls

Brian,
You could of course use speed dialling on the phone for the 8 or so most
used numbers?

On Tue 12/12/2023 09:22, Brian Gaff wrote:
> Now this brave new world is coming fast, where there are only one connection
> to a house ove the internet, and reliant on the local mains supply being on,
> what are the rights of people who want some kind of back up as old land
> lines have?
> Also, do these old tone dialling devices still work if you use them to dial
> by holding them with the speaker to the handset microphone. This is a very
> handy way for some people who cannot use mobiles to dial certain numbers on
> phones elsewhere using an accessible directory.
> I'm mainly talking blind people here of course.
> Also, the attitude of BT and virgin seems to be, you have a socket for the
> phone on the router, and its up to you to wire it to your extensions.
> Brian
>

Am 12.12.2023 um 09:22:17 Uhr schrieb Brian Gaff:

> Now this brave new world is coming fast, where there are only one
> connection to a house ove the internet, and reliant on the local
> mains supply being on, what are the rights of people who want some
> kind of back up as old land lines have?

The only benefit of them was that normal analog phones (not DECT and
others that need power supply) were powered from the exchange, so a
local power outage didn't break telephone service.

There wasn't any backup or redundancy solution here.

> Also, do these old tone dialling devices still work if you use them
> to dial by holding them with the speaker to the handset microphone.

Of course.

> This is a very handy way for some people who cannot use mobiles to
> dial certain numbers on phones elsewhere using an accessible
> directory. I'm mainly talking blind people here of course.
> Also, the attitude of BT and virgin seems to be, you have a socket
> for the phone on the router, and its up to you to wire it to your
> extensions.

You can use any local VoIP - POTS capable telephone exchange for that,
some smaller ones are called terminal adapter or so.

Be aware: Not all of them support pulse dialing or IPv6, make sure you
read the specification before buying.

Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:

> Was it ever “a right”?
>
> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.

As far as I remember, until recently, it was a legal obligation on the
householder. At least one 'phone on each line had to be able to operate
independently of the mains.

--
~ Liz Tuddenham ~
(Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)
www.poppyrecords.co.uk

On 12/12/2023 09:59, Tim+ wrote:
> Was it ever “a right”?
>
> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.
>
In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
battery life. Really the only thing thta matters is that I have *some*
form of access to emergency services if needs be, and an idea of how
long the power cut will last, so I can go shopping if its a long time.
My car also has a battery and a handy supply of diesel fuel to keep it
charged.

> What’s changed now is that it’s up to the user to provide battery backup
> rather than the supplier.
>
And that is in my personal opinion, a fair and reasonable thing to do.
Batteries today are not the batteries of 1930. Very few people still
use a landline as their primary - let alone only - means of contacting
the outside world. Mobile coverage is fairly ubiquitous and the few case
where it isn't can be covered by battery backed internet access.

If the internet or mobile phone network goes down, its likely that the
Russians have invaded, or the grid collapsed anyway, and frankly at the
point you probably as a society have a lot greater problem then to
enable Aunt Bessie to chat to her niece over a landline while she lights
her candles.

--
"An intellectual is a person knowledgeable in one field who speaks out
only in others...”

Tom Wolfe

Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
> Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
>
>> Was it ever “a right”?
>>
>> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
>> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.
>
> As far as I remember, until recently, it was a legal obligation on the
> householder. At least one 'phone on each line had to be able to operate
> independently of the mains.
>
>

It was a strong recommendation, not a legal obligation. You’re not legally
obliged to have any phone at all! If you were daft enough not to have a
basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:26:32 +0000
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>
> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
> battery life.

During the high winds in East Anglia last weekend, the mobile network
worked.
But during the previous one, during Storm Babet, there was no
mobile signal at all. Nada. Zilch. Using both GiffGaff and Talkmobile.
I assume that the mast was powerless.

--
Davey.

On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:26:32 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
<tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On 12/12/2023 09:59, Tim+ wrote:
>> Was it ever “a right”?
>>
>> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
>> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.
>>
>In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
>phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
>battery life. Really the only thing thta matters is that I have *some*
>form of access to emergency services if needs be, and an idea of how
>long the power cut will last, so I can go shopping if its a long time.
>My car also has a battery and a handy supply of diesel fuel to keep it
>charged.

That may be okay assuming the base station remains in service but how
much back-up capacity do you think it has? I understand it is measured
in hours not days.

On 12/12/2023 10:42, Davey wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:26:32 +0000
> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>>
>> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
>> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
>> battery life.
>
> During the high winds in East Anglia last weekend, the mobile network
> worked.
> But during the previous one, during Storm Babet, there was no
> mobile signal at all. Nada. Zilch. Using both GiffGaff and Talkmobile.
> I assume that the mast was powerless.
>
Odd. I had no issues here in west suffolk.

I used to have MORE issues with trees bringing down telephone lines....:-)

--
When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over
the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that
authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it.

Frédéric Bastiat

On 12/12/2023 09:59, Tim+ wrote:
> Dunno about tone dialling devices but can’t think why they wouldn’t
> continue to work.
External tone diallers will probably work if you are using a traditional
phone, plugged into a traditional socket on an analogue phone adaptor
(possibly built into the router). They probably won't work with an IP
phone. VoIP is generally always dialled in on hook mode, with out of
band signalling. The adaptor will try to work out when you have
finished dialling before starting the actual call.
The analogue adaptor will need to be able to locally decode the DTMF,
but there is no need to build that into a dedicated VoIP phone.
I assume that DTMF compatible codecs will be used, at least initially,
but some VoIP codec options (like those for mobile phones) don't handle
DTMF well and those codecs won't work with separate DTMF boxes, unless
the adaptor detects the DTMF and sends it by other means - again
dedicated VoIP phones don't do this DTMF detection).

On 12/12/2023 10:48, Scott wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:26:32 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
> <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 12/12/2023 09:59, Tim+ wrote:
>>> Was it ever “a right”?
>>>
>>> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
>>> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.
>>>
>> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
>> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
>> battery life. Really the only thing thta matters is that I have *some*
>> form of access to emergency services if needs be, and an idea of how
>> long the power cut will last, so I can go shopping if its a long time.
>> My car also has a battery and a handy supply of diesel fuel to keep it
>> charged.
>
> That may be okay assuming the base station remains in service but how
> much back-up capacity do you think it has? I understand it is measured
> in hours not days.

As are most power cuts.
Like the grid, if its down for longer someone will probably hook a
diesel generator up to it.

The fact of powered landlines is simply an artefact of the initial
design of the POTS network. Consumers couldn't be relied upon to have
any power at all in their homes, and the telephone itself with its
carbon microphone and adequate audio power coming down the line dint
need it either.

It was simple, robust, and fairly idiot proof.

There is no reason to continue with that model merely for backward
compatibility.

What we need is sane emergency coverage in the case of power cuts, for
people who are not mobile, which is a vanishingly small community with
special needs that can be catered for by specialised kit.

In extremis one can envisage a situation where some form of active
centralised 'ping' of all people in such a category is available for
carers who can then ascertain if for any reason their broadband VOIP is
down. Paid for out of social services.

Normal able bodied people can use a mobile, or battery back their
broadband if they give that much of a rats arse.

--
“It is not the truth of Marxism that explains the willingness of
intellectuals to believe it, but the power that it confers on
intellectuals, in their attempts to control the world. And since...it is
futile to reason someone out of a thing that he was not reasoned into,
we can conclude that Marxism owes its remarkable power to survive every
criticism to the fact that it is not a truth-directed but a
power-directed system of thought.”
Sir Roger Scruton

Tim+ wrote:

> If you were daft enough not to have a
> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.

I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
> Tim+ wrote:
>
>> If you were daft enough not to have a
>> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
>> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.
>
> I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
> to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
> understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...
>

Well I didn’t mention it having to be plugged in. Mine certainly isn’t.

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:33:59 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
<tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>On 12/12/2023 10:48, Scott wrote:
>> On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:26:32 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
>> <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> On 12/12/2023 09:59, Tim+ wrote:
>>>> Was it ever “a right”?
>>>>
>>>> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
>>>> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.
>>>>
>>> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
>>> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
>>> battery life. Really the only thing thta matters is that I have *some*
>>> form of access to emergency services if needs be, and an idea of how
>>> long the power cut will last, so I can go shopping if its a long time.
>>> My car also has a battery and a handy supply of diesel fuel to keep it
>>> charged.
>>
>> That may be okay assuming the base station remains in service but how
>> much back-up capacity do you think it has? I understand it is measured
>> in hours not days.
>
>As are most power cuts.

Unless they are three days or over a week:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2023/09/ofgem-storm-compensation-cap-/

"This saw 40,000 people cut off for three days and 4,000 people
without power for over a week in parts of northern England and
Scotland."

>Like the grid, if its down for longer someone will probably hook a
>diesel generator up to it.

Are the smaller base stations typically on church roofs, buildings or
poles in the street usually accessible?

On 12 Dec 2023 12:49:10 GMT, Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:

>Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>> Tim+ wrote:
>>
>>> If you were daft enough not to have a
>>> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
>>> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.
>>
>> I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
>> to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
>> understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...
>>
>Well I didn’t mention it having to be plugged in. Mine certainly isn’t.
>
My desk phone is plugged in, partly for audio quality and partly for
resilience.

On 12/12/2023 09:22, Brian Gaff wrote:
> Now this brave new world is coming fast, where there are only one connection
> to a house ove the internet, and reliant on the local mains supply being on,
> what are the rights of people who want some kind of back up as old land
> lines have?

None. Well not a lot. Take read of :-

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/access-emergency-organisations-power-cut

short URL -> http://tinyurl.com/bdhht7t7

and perhaps download the first document :-

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/123118/guidance-emergency-access-power-cut.pdf

short url -> http://tinyurl.com/2kzmsp78

but basically the rules are :-

1. Providers should have at least one solution available that enables
access to emergency organisations for a minimum of one hour in the event
of a power outage in the premises;

2. The solution should be suitable for customers’ needs and should be
offered free of charge to those who are at risk as they are dependent on
their landline;

3. Providers should

i) take steps to identify at risk customers and
ii) engage in effective communications to ensure all customers
understand the risk and eligibility criteria and can request the
protection solution; and

4. Providers should have a process to ensure that customers who move to
a new house or whose circumstances change in some other way are aware of
the risk and protection solution available.

.... so as I said above, not a lot, and I feel many elderly don't
understand their rights and don't admit to being "at risk" so don't get
the solution they need...

> Also, do these old tone dialling devices still work if you use them to dial
> by holding them with the speaker to the handset microphone. This is a very
> handy way for some people who cannot use mobiles to dial certain numbers on
> phones elsewhere using an accessible directory.

Only on phones connected via an Analogue Adaptor of some sorts. So I
would say DECT phones or traditional phones plugged into an ATA which
may be built into the router or a separate ATA. If you have a phone
which talks SIP probably not.

But I wonder what the issue is with mobiles? Modern mobiles can be
driven entirely by voice. I can ring anything in my Samsungs directory
by voice.

> I'm mainly talking blind people here of course.

The RNIB have mobiles with Synaptic software to assist.

> Also, the attitude of BT and virgin seems to be, you have a socket for the
> phone on the router, and its up to you to wire it to your extensions.

I don't know about Virgin, but OpenReach who do the installations of
Fibre for BT have enhanced installations available, but not all ISPs who
use the OpenReach offer them. These cover some internal wiring.

However for many its not necessary. The issue with many current set-ups
is they are DECT cordless and whilst the handsets have a long battery
life after a power fail, mine say a week, the DECT base station needs
power. However your router needs power to get a service. If it is also
the DECT base station then the system will continue to work in a power cut.

Both the BT and ZEN routers have this capability.

If you want to retain a landline phone, then provided the router is near
a phone socket, you can get a patch cable to link the existing wiring
into the router. As Openreach usually remove the copper drop this should
work fine.

> Brian
>

Dave.

Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
> Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
> > Tim+ wrote:
> >
> >> If you were daft enough not to have a
> >> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
> >> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.
> >
> > I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
> > to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
> > understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...
> >
>
> Well I didn’t mention it having to be plugged in. Mine certainly isn’t.
>
Why not leave it plugged in? Ours is plugged in and the DECT phones
live quite happily with it.

--
Chris Green
·

On 12/12/2023 15:02, Chris Green wrote:
> Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
>> Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>>> Tim+ wrote:
>>>
>>>> If you were daft enough not to have a
>>>> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
>>>> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.
>>>
>>> I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
>>> to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
>>> understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...
>>>
>>
>> Well I didn’t mention it having to be plugged in. Mine certainly isn’t.
>>
> Why not leave it plugged in?

Because it keeps ringing with scam calls ? Better to only plug it in,
for that once in a lifetime occurrence (for most) to need to make a call
in a power cut.
Or switch the ringer off

On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:23:25 +0000
The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:

>
> >> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
> >> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few
> >> hours battery life.
> >
> > During the high winds in East Anglia last weekend, the mobile
> > network worked.
> > But during the previous one, during Storm Babet, there was no
> > mobile signal at all. Nada. Zilch. Using both GiffGaff and
> > Talkmobile. I assume that the mast was powerless.
> >
> Odd. I had no issues here in west suffolk.

This one was in the area between Stanton, on the A143, and the
A140 and Eye. Technically West Suffolk, but localised.

--
Davey.

On Tue 12/12/2023 13:59, David Wade wrote:
> On 12/12/2023 09:22, Brian Gaff wrote:
>> Now this brave new world is coming fast, where there are only one
>> connection
>> to a house ove the internet, and reliant on the local mains supply
>> being on,
>> what are the rights of people who want some kind of back up as old land
>> lines have?
>
> None. Well not a lot. Take read of :-
>
> https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-2/access-emergency-organisations-power-cut
>
> short URL -> http://tinyurl.com/bdhht7t7
>
> and perhaps download the first document :-
>
> https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/123118/guidance-emergency-access-power-cut.pdf
>
> short url -> http://tinyurl.com/2kzmsp78
>
> but basically the rules are :-
>
> 1. Providers should have at least one solution available that enables
> access to emergency organisations for a minimum of one hour in the event
> of a power outage in the premises;
>
> 2. The solution should be suitable for customers’ needs and should be
> offered free of charge to those who are at risk as they are dependent on
> their landline;
>
> 3. Providers should
>
> i) take steps to identify at risk customers and
> ii) engage in effective communications to ensure all customers
> understand the risk and eligibility criteria and can request the
> protection solution; and
>
> 4. Providers should have a process to ensure that customers who move to
> a new house or whose circumstances change in some other way are aware of
> the risk and protection solution available.
>
> ... so as I said above, not a lot, and I feel many elderly  don't
> understand their rights and don't admit to being "at risk" so don't get
> the solution they need...
>
>>   Also, do these old tone dialling devices still work if you use them
>> to dial
>> by holding them with the speaker to the handset microphone. This is a
>> very
>> handy way for some people who cannot use mobiles to dial certain
>> numbers on
>> phones elsewhere using an accessible directory.
>
> Only on phones connected via an Analogue Adaptor of some sorts. So I
> would say DECT phones or traditional phones plugged into an ATA which
> may be built into the router or a separate ATA. If you have a phone
> which talks SIP probably not.
>
> But I wonder what the issue is with mobiles? Modern mobiles can be
> driven entirely by voice. I can ring anything in my Samsungs directory
> by voice.
>
>>   I'm mainly talking blind people here of course.
>
> The RNIB have mobiles with Synaptic software to assist.
>
>>   Also, the attitude of BT and virgin seems to be, you have a socket
>> for the
>> phone on the router, and its up to you to wire it to your extensions.
>
> I don't know about Virgin, but OpenReach who do the installations of
> Fibre for BT have enhanced installations available, but not all ISPs who
> use the OpenReach offer them. These cover some internal wiring.
>
> However for many its not necessary. The issue with many current set-ups
> is they are DECT cordless and whilst the handsets have a long battery
> life after a power fail, mine say a week, the DECT base station needs
> power. However your router needs power to get a service. If it is also
> the DECT base station then the system will continue to work in a power cut.
>
> Both the BT and ZEN routers have this capability.
>
> If you want to retain a landline phone, then provided the router is near
> a phone socket, you can get a patch cable to link the existing wiring
> into the router. As Openreach usually remove the copper drop this should
> work fine.
>
>
>>   Brian
>>
>
> Dave.

We have a Panasonic desk phone with nuisance call blocking and acts as a
DECT base station. The desk phone has four AA cells inside that keep the
phone working (for how long - unknown) in the event of power failure.

We had to ditch it when we found it could only block 50 numbers but
otherwise it was a very good piece of kit.

On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:18:40 +0000, Mark Carver <mark@invalid.com>
wrote:

>On 12/12/2023 15:02, Chris Green wrote:
>> Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
>>> Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>>>> Tim+ wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If you were daft enough not to have a
>>>>> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
>>>>> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.
>>>>
>>>> I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
>>>> to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
>>>> understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...
>>>>
>>>
>>> Well I didn’t mention it having to be plugged in. Mine certainly isn’t.
>>>
>> Why not leave it plugged in?
>
>Because it keeps ringing with scam calls ? Better to only plug it in,
>for that once in a lifetime occurrence (for most) to need to make a call
>in a power cut.
>Or switch the ringer off

I have never noticed that. I assumed if I blocked the call on the DECT
handset this would then prevent it ringing for more than a millisecond
on my other phone. Am I labouring under a misapprehension?

On 12/12/2023 15:57, Davey wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:23:25 +0000
> The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>>
>>>> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
>>>> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few
>>>> hours battery life.
>>>
>>> During the high winds in East Anglia last weekend, the mobile
>>> network worked.
>>> But during the previous one, during Storm Babet, there was no
>>> mobile signal at all. Nada. Zilch. Using both GiffGaff and
>>> Talkmobile. I assume that the mast was powerless.
>>>
>> Odd. I had no issues here in west suffolk.
>
> This one was in the area between Stanton, on the A143, and the
> A140 and Eye. Technically West Suffolk, but localised.
>
Yes. When we get cuts is nearly always to the 11KV network which can be
fairly localised. If a tree takes the wires down it's a few hours, if it
snaps a wooden pylon, it takes a bit longer...

--
Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have
guns, why should we let them have ideas?

Josef Stalin

Scott <newsgroups@gefion.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:26:32 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
> <tnp@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 12/12/2023 09:59, Tim+ wrote:
>>> Was it ever “a right”?
>>>
>>> Sure, having a phone system that continued to work during a power cut is a
>>> nice thing to have but I’m not sure it was ever legalised as a “right”.
>>>
>> In fact here, when I get a power cut. I use my laptop with a mobile
>> phone as a router to contact the power company. Both have a few hours
>> battery life. Really the only thing thta matters is that I have *some*
>> form of access to emergency services if needs be, and an idea of how
>> long the power cut will last, so I can go shopping if its a long time.
>> My car also has a battery and a handy supply of diesel fuel to keep it
>> charged.
>
> That may be okay assuming the base station remains in service but how
> much back-up capacity do you think it has? I understand it is measured
> in hours not days.
>

There’s nothing to stop you buying a battery to power your router and fibre
ONT during a power outage. You don’t even have to turn it on unless you
have need to communicate. If it is a real concern and the householder
doesn’t know how to implement it then hire someone who does. (See also gas
fitters and any other sort of trades person that might be hired in).

On 12/12/2023 16:04, Scott wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:18:40 +0000, Mark Carver <mark@invalid.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On 12/12/2023 15:02, Chris Green wrote:
>>> Tim+ <timdownieuk@yahoo.co.youkay> wrote:
>>>> Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
>>>>> Tim+ wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> If you were daft enough not to have a
>>>>>> basic wired phone for use in a power cut (which a large number of people
>>>>>> seem to be) unsurprisingly you’re stuffed in the event of a power cut.
>>>>>
>>>>> I can understand that once people have DECT phones, they're not likely
>>>>> to keep an old wired phone plugged in (I don't); but what I don't
>>>>> understand is why they throw away all the wired phones ...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Well I didn’t mention it having to be plugged in. Mine certainly isn’t.
>>>>
>>> Why not leave it plugged in?
>>
>> Because it keeps ringing with scam calls ? Better to only plug it in,
>> for that once in a lifetime occurrence (for most) to need to make a call
>> in a power cut.
>> Or switch the ringer off
>
> I have never noticed that. I assumed if I blocked the call on the DECT
> handset this would then prevent it ringing for more than a millisecond
> on my other phone. Am I labouring under a misapprehension?

I would think so, unless you're using BT's (or whoever's) Call Protect
system, because that blocks the call at the exchange. Blocking it as
part of the DECT's own system, will only block it on that device.

All that said, it's pointless, because the scammers use multiple spoof
numbers anyway