Greenhill

This really depends on what equipment is on the premises already.

I have a voice port box (big grey box outside, next to the power meter), if you have one of these the power comes from the headend (in other words if there's a local power outage, the phone stays on).

If there's no voice port, you'll have an MTA (it's a cable modem with VOIP telephone circuits). These have a battery (or two if you're lucky) that should keep the phone service alive for a few hours. However, if the internet or cable is out, the phone will be out too.

For new connections, I think Eastlink only install the MTA units, so might be something to consider if having a working land line (during a power outage, in a blizzard, in the middle of the night etc) is important.

AmyDavid

I have Eastlink. When we lost power over the Winter, our phone did not work. I am not mad. It did not work when we lost power.

Steve_P

Not trying stir it, but did you phone them and ask why, given what they say on their website?

Maybe it can be fixed.

AmyDavid

I can't bring myself to call them..their customer service drives me mental. I would rather be without a phone

Steve_P

I know that feeling.

Tuppence

Just checking you have a corded phone that doesn't need power to run? All our phones are cordless, so the base station dies when the power is off anyway, so having Aliant doesn't help us. We use the cell phone in this instance.

We have the Bell / Aliant internet, Aliant phone, Bell ExpressVu satellite bundle. We used to have Eastlink when we lived in Bedford, but they couldn't get us service quickly enough when we moved, so we switched. However we are likely to go back to Eastlink very soon, as the satellite reception is crap. We lose signal in a bad rainstorm, and it drives me nuts.

Steve_P

You should always have one corded phone in the house, even if it's a real cheapy.

You never know your cell battery could die too.

Tuppence

True. I actually found one last night in a box while I was rummaging through the garage for something else.

Luckily I have a phone charger adaptor on my wind up flashlight (sooo nearly typed 'torch' then!), and a car charger, so I have a few backup options.

Steve_P

Tuppence

If I could just connect my elliptical trainer so it could power my well pump during power outages, I would be a happy bunny!

Southcote

Well every time we've had a power outage we have had no telephone - and we are with Eastlink !

Steve_P

What does Eastlink have to say about this?

l i s a

We use Eastlink and when they set up they installed an Eastlink Battery pack on our main fusebox. This is kept charged and you can plug a hard wire phone in to this in the event of a power outage. I'll admit we haven't tested it as we have just used our cell phones to date.

or4ngecrush

East Link has better service, better prices and their repair times are much better than Alliant. You get a 15 % discount with rogers and later this year there going to be offering cell phones for East Link.

If the power is out the power has to be for 8 hours before you loose your service and if the power is out due to a telephone pole then you wont get any service (obviously)

I know this for a fact as I have inside direct track to this information, my boyfriend works for them.