My power was out 38 hours Monday and Tuesday (Feb 15 & 16, 2021) My 1000 VA APC backup power supply allowed me to keep my internet, Wi-Fi, cell phone and computer chargers, and VOIP phone working for 10 hours, after that only a cellphone powered by Verizon that gets zero bars (-120 dBm) in my house and automatically uses WiFi for calls and data, but no Wi-Fi after 10 hours. Only a portable radio as my only means of getting information. Right before the power went out, Local TV news was talking about 15 minute rolling power outages. All electric home, no fireplace, the indoor temperature dropped to 40F as the outdoor hit -2F. Even though indoor and outdoor faucets were left dripping, a pipe behind my bathtub broke and I had to shut off the water.
My reliable Grundig (AKA Eton) S350 radio was eat up by leaking Sunbeam batteries from Dollar Tree. Unfortunately, scraping the terminals didn't fix it, because the corrosion had ruined a slide switch (circled) allowing you to use AA or D batteries. Not something I could fix in the dark with no power for a soldering iron. Next thing I tried was an Insignia (Best Buy) FM only HD radio. I listen to KRLD 1080 on their HD2 feed on 105.3 because AM reception is very poor in my house. But tuning to 105.3, Both HD subchannels are broadcasting SILENCE. I could get WBAP's feed on a 99.5 subchannel. All night I listened to Eric Harley and Gary McNamara on their Redeye Radio show, then into the morning with Hal Jay and company, nothing to help people stranded in their homes, just untrue statements that the power outage was caused by WINDMILLS and SOLAR PANELS, and liberals forcing unproven and untested technology on Texans. And the Biden's Green New Deal - which never became law and Biden does not endorse.
I finally went outside and called a fellow radio nerd in San Antonio who had electricity -- could he contact KRLD and let them know their FM HD simulcast has been off for 12 hours. I don't know if he had anything to do with it, but it starting working 15 minutes later.
I think when I was a kid 50 years ago, emergency communication was better - the old rotary dial copper wired telephone worked in power failures, a little 6 transistor AM pocket radio worked, and I never had one of those 9 volt rectangular batteries destroy a radio.
My reliable Grundig (AKA Eton) S350 radio was eat up by leaking Sunbeam batteries from Dollar Tree. Unfortunately, scraping the terminals didn't fix it, because the corrosion had ruined a slide switch (circled) allowing you to use AA or D batteries. Not something I could fix in the dark with no power for a soldering iron. Next thing I tried was an Insignia (Best Buy) FM only HD radio. I listen to KRLD 1080 on their HD2 feed on 105.3 because AM reception is very poor in my house. But tuning to 105.3, Both HD subchannels are broadcasting SILENCE. I could get WBAP's feed on a 99.5 subchannel. All night I listened to Eric Harley and Gary McNamara on their Redeye Radio show, then into the morning with Hal Jay and company, nothing to help people stranded in their homes, just untrue statements that the power outage was caused by WINDMILLS and SOLAR PANELS, and liberals forcing unproven and untested technology on Texans. And the Biden's Green New Deal - which never became law and Biden does not endorse.
I finally went outside and called a fellow radio nerd in San Antonio who had electricity -- could he contact KRLD and let them know their FM HD simulcast has been off for 12 hours. I don't know if he had anything to do with it, but it starting working 15 minutes later.
I think when I was a kid 50 years ago, emergency communication was better - the old rotary dial copper wired telephone worked in power failures, a little 6 transistor AM pocket radio worked, and I never had one of those 9 volt rectangular batteries destroy a radio.
