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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5121
Location: Cary, IL
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 Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 1:47 pm Post subject: Verizon Prepares Network for Coming Florida Storm |
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| Quote: | BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- With Tropical Storm Katrina springing up quickly and threatening South Florida as a possible hurricane by the end of the week, Verizon Wireless has mobilized its emergency operations teams to ensure reliable wireless phone coverage before, during and after the storm for residents and local emergency agencies. Local efforts include:
-- Pre-arranging fuel delivery to the company's network switching
facilities in Ft. Lauderdale and Jupiter, and to generators at
permanent cell sites to keep the network operating at full strength
even if power is lost for an extended period of time. Nearly 80
percent of the individual transmission sites operated by Verizon
Wireless have their own on-site generators. This capability is
critical when power goes out and if roads are impassable.
-- Strategically positioning mobile generators across South Florida, with
ready access to roof-top cell sites along the coast from Palm Beach
County to Dade County. (Permanent generators are not allowed on
roof-top cell sites due to their fuel source.)
-- There are dozens of Cells on Wheels (COWS) on standby statewide,
including many at the company's Ft. Lauderdale and Jupiter network
switching facilities. These self-powered mobile cell sites are to be
deployed immediately in any hard-hit areas that need extra network
capacity.
-- Fine-tuning the company's digital network across the state and
maximizing call capacity where needed in threatened areas before the
storm hits. During the 2004 storm season, call traffic spiked
dramatically on the day before a hurricane's landfall, and continued
to be heavy on the Verizon Wireless network as other communications
networks failed.
-- Teams of "test men" from across the state are getting ready to roll
in specially-equipped vehicles to test the network in the wake of
Katrina in South Florida and anywhere the storm might pass.
"During last year's incredible storm season, we saw how important wireless communication can be in a crisis for the public and emergency agencies," said Mike Lanman, Florida region president of Verizon Wireless. "So even though Katrina sprung up very quickly, we're battle-tested and well-prepared to provide residents and rescue agencies strong, reliable wireless service."
The Verizon Wireless network proved to be the state's most reliable last year, often the only functional communications network for the public, relief agencies and emergency officials during an extraordinary 2004 season of storms.
During and after each storm in 2004, the Verizon Wireless network in Florida remained nearly 90 percent operational, and was back to 100 percent within a few days, while most other means of communication were knocked out in many cases for residents and emergency response officials.
Tips
South Florida residents also can help themselves with emergency wireless communication preparations, including:
-- Keep wireless phone batteries charged in case local power is lost.
-- Have additional charged batteries and car-charger adapters available
for back-up power.
-- Keep phones, batteries, chargers and other equipment in a dry,
accessible location.
-- Maintain a list of emergency phone numbers -- police, fire and rescue
agencies; power companies; insurance providers; family, friends and
co-workers; etc. -- and pre-program them into your phone.
-- Distribute wireless phone numbers to family members and friends.
-- Forward your home phone calls to your wireless number if you will be
away from your home or have to evacuate.
-- Limit non-emergency calls to conserve battery power and free-up
wireless networks for emergency agencies and operations.
-- Send brief TXT Messages rather than voice calls for the same reasons
as above.
-- Check weather and news reports available on many Internet-connected
and other wireless phone applications when power is out. |
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lrpena
EVDO User
Joined: 20 Apr 2005
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 6:53 pm Post subject: working in the middle of the hurricane |
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It's 8:50 pm here in weston, florida 10 miles west of fort lauderdale. the eye wall is just south of me. i lost internet and power about 1 hr ago, just fired up my laptop and got connection with no problem and no speed issues this is one solid network.
Way to go Verizon.... |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5121
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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I have actually heard from a few more people in Florida, with the same story, power, cable internet is DOWN. EVDO is UP! Hopefully, people have a lot of extra charged laptop batteries
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JT4
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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I live in Miami. My EVDO was up the whole time. I lost power early on. The next morning when my battery was low I sat in my car using my 12 volt Igo charger and happily checked my mail. I am on a job on Miami Beach today and I am posting this without issue. My phone service is Cingular. I had service as well but my signal dropped drastically from the full bars I usually get at home. Maybe the Cingular cell was damaged or out and I am getting signal from a nearby cell.
Juan |
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lrpena
EVDO User
Joined: 20 Apr 2005
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:43 am Post subject: |
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| Well this time it's wilma, and i just lost power so i'm back on my laptop and good trusty Verizon EVDO. |
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JT4
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 7:00 am Post subject: |
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Same here once again in Miami. It's almost 9:00AM and Wilma is still blowing heavily outside. EVDO is running fairly well on my laptop again but no power, cable or DSL. Wilma is definitely is stronger that the rest that have been coming through here lately. I wish the best to all in South Florida.
Juan |
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prasad_kodaypak
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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Who is your DO-service provider in Miami?
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Kodaypak |
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JT4
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| prasad_kodaypak wrote: | | Who is your DO-service provider in Miami? |
Verizon.
Juan |
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yogagirl
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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I couldn't get on using the 620 card on Tuesday in Coconut Creek and neither could my neighbor. But verizon cell wasn't working either . Does anyone know how it's going now? And is there a city north of miami that works with broadband and the novatel 620 card such as hollywood, boca, pompano?
Deb |
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JT4
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| yogagirl wrote: | I And is there a city north of miami that works with broadband and the novatel 620 card such as hollywood, boca, pompano?
Deb |
Sounds like a problem in your area. I had service at both my Hollywood business locations. One by Hollywood Blvd. and 441 and the other west of the Ft. Lauderdale airport in a small part of Hollywood there. There have been times where I did not connect to Broadbandaccess but did connect to Nationalaccess.
Juan |
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yogagirl
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Juan,
I'm assuming that if I drive back sun from gainesville I'll be able to find a place to work within 45 minutes of Coconut Creek.. Do you know if there are any starbucks, borders or barnes and nobles open in broward county? And if there are and if they are on generators would that mean the wireless would work (I have a belkin card) too??
If not, I assume I will find some place I can use the v620 as long as I have enough gas . I know some cell phones are spotty still and that they are overloaded so I didn't know if verizon was in that boat. I guess I can sit in my car with a converter if I have to as well.
Deb |
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JT4
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| yogagirl wrote: |
I'm assuming that if I drive back sun from gainesville I'll be able to find a place to work within 45 minutes of Coconut Creek.. Do you know if there are any starbucks, borders or barnes and nobles open in broward county? And if there are and if they are on generators would that mean the wireless would work (I have a belkin card) too?? |
If you don't find a decent place to use you EVDO card you can always sit at a terminal at the Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood airport and use WiFi. WiFi is free at that airport. It will only cost you parking and expensive airport food if you are hungry. Dade seems to be reviving quicker that Broward. I had a harder time finding open restaurants and stores in Broward than I did in Dade. It is easier to get gas in Dade than Broward in my experience. I don't know of any specific places I could send you so unfortunately you will have to try your luck. Hoep that helps.
Juan |
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yogagirl
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 28 Oct 2005
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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Juan,
Actually I was thinking about the airport because it is good. I can bring my own food , I think it's the parking that's very expensive but it may be best solution. Thanks for brainstorming. Hopefully the dsl from earthlink will work in my condo but it uses bell south so that could be iffy.
I think hurricane media coverage would be really valuable if they covered wireless openings. I did hear that people were driving to weston to charge their phones and laptops in external plugs (that was the 2 percent area with electric for first few days in broward).
Deb |
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JT4
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 18 Aug 2005
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| yogagirl wrote: | | Hopefully the dsl from earthlink will work in my condo but it uses bell south so that could be iffy. |
My Bellsouth DSL works at home when I power up my router/modem by generator.
Juan |
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lrpena
EVDO User
Joined: 20 Apr 2005
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| I can confirm EVDO is working here in weston it was out on tuesday but came back up on wendsday. theres also restaurants and coffe shops open for buissness . |
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