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Power outages are a frequent thing where I live, so I’ve mastered the art of staying connected in those dark times. When you reside in a place where the weather tends to be chancy, you’ve got to be prepared for the possible consequences.
Gone are the days of candles and board games; candles are a fire hazard and all board games are available in the form of digital apps. Now we have our smartphone flashlights and we can survive anything as long as there’s Wi-Fi.
So, how do we use the internet when our main power source fails us? Luckily, I have a few tricks up my sleeve; therefore, we’ll get you connected one way or another!
What is a Power Outage and How Does it Impact Your Internet Service?
Have you ever witnessed your neighborhood being engulfed by darkness due to the abrupt suspension of electric power? That’s what’s called a power outage or blackout.
Interruption in the power supply causes our home appliances to stop functioning – that includes our internet equipment, such as the modem and router.
Loss of internet connectivity disrupts our routine online activities, which may result in communication gaps, loss of revenue, missed opportunities, and sheer frustration.
How to use the Internet without Electricity?
Whenever a power outage strikes, you can keep using the internet by:
- Switching to Cellular Data or Mobile Hotspot
- Turning on an alternative Power Source, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or Generator
- Using a backup internet service
Mobile Hotspot & Tethering
Cellular data is the most convenient solution to maintain connectivity during a power outage. If you don’t have an agreeable data package, it’s never too late to sign up for one. When you have mobile data, you can broadcast it from your phone to use on other devices as well.
Most smartphones have the mobile hotspot feature, which gives it router-like properties. Once you enable the hotspot, you can share your cellular data with others like Wi-Fi.
Another way to share your mobile internet is tethering - this involves a wired connection (Ethernet/USB) or Bluetooth.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- Mobile hotspot and tethering only works for a limited number of devices (5-10).
- Cellular data is not as fast as your home’s wired connection.
- Sharing data with multiple devices can rapidly drain your phone’s battery.
- Most mobile plans have tight data caps, so you may experience throttling or incur extra charges if the limit is exceeded.
- Some cellular plans do not allow users to share data via mobile hotspots and tethering.
Alternative Power Source
In case power outages happen way too often in your area and mobile data doesn’t follow through, I’d suggest a long-term solution. Investing in a generator, UPS, or similar localized power source can keep the lights and internet on during blackouts.
Typically, a power outage across a neighborhood or small area does not influence the internet service provider (ISP). Wireless or cable internet supply to your home continues, but you cannot access it due to your modem and router shutting down in the event of power loss.
Most ISPs have a backup power source to stay operative lest their infrastructure is affected by whatever caused the outage.
Generators
Portable generators can easily run from 6-16 hours and power several electrical appliances in small to medium households. You can always go for a bigger generator with the capacity to power your house for longer during extended outages.
UPS and Battery Backups
A UPS is normally designed to give you up to 15 minutes to save your work and properly shut down devices after the outage hits. Battery backups for individual devices usually last a few hours; hence, they can keep your devices active for a while, provided that the batteries have been recharged before the blackout.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- Generators require a hefty upfront investment, and significant ongoing costs (fuel + maintenance).
- Generators tend to be noisy and generate heat.
- UPS does not work for heavy appliances.
- Rechargeable batteries are slightly pricey, have a short lifespan, and their disposal may raise environmental concerns.
- An alternative power supply will be rendered useless if the outage has affected the ISP’s station or infrastructure supplying internet to your area.
Backup Internet Service
If your ISP fails to keep you connected during outages, you may need to sign up for a backup solution. This implies that you have an alternative power source to keep your internet equipment operative, but you cannot connect to the network because the backend supply is cut off.
Some ISPs offer a backup internet option as an add-on or separate service. The key point is that the backup internet offers a different kind of connection. For example, if cable or fiber internet is your primary connection, the practical backup option would be wireless, such as satellite or 5G internet.
You may invest in a 5G or 4G LTE home internet device that works like a mobile hotspot. However, these devices are designed to accommodate a greater number of users, provide more coverage, and offer better speeds.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
- At the end of the day, a backup internet service is an added expense. You’ll be paying for two services instead of one each month.
- The backup connection may not perform identical to your primary connection. Performance limitations like slower speeds and higher latency are expected.
FAQs
Does the Internet consume electricity?
Yes, it does and a lot of it to be precise. A large number of computers, huge data centers, and miles of wiring are required to supply internet to users – the system uses up plenty of electricity to function.
What to do if the power is back but the internet is still not working?
At times a power surge or fluctuation can damage electrical appliances and internet equipment. In this case, you may need to have your modem/router fixed or replaced.
If your modem and router are working fine, the problem may lie at the ISP’s end. They may not have recovered from the outage, so you’ll need to wait or rely on an alternative service till then.
Can the modem and router work without electricity?
Your modem and router can work during a blackout only if they are connected to a battery backup or an alternative power source like a home generator.
Will my Mesh Wi-Fi system work during a power outage?
Powering the entire mesh Wi-Fi network with an alternative power source can be difficult as each node requires an individual power socket. However, you can power up your mesh Wi-Fi router and stay connected within a smaller range.
