(OT) Cable vs DSL issues

[David Bandel]

On 12/23/06, Bill Campbell <linux-sxs at celestial.com> wrote:
> Here is data point for people in the discussion as to the relative merits
> of cable vs DSL broadband connections.  After a major wind storm here,
> many people are without cable while the phones and DSL are working fine
> (and my TiVO on DirecTV satellite is also working well :-).
>
> I don't know why we had no problems with our phone lines, including
> our T1, when falling trees took down lines throughout the area, but I'm
> not complaining.
>

This is because the phone lines from customers to the telco CO are
usually short runs (not more than a few kilometers), and even when a
line is knocked to the ground, it's often not cut (ever try to cut a
even a small 24 pair (T-1) outdoor phone cable? -- if so, now try a
100 pair outdoor cable).  The power grid on the other hand is
completely different.  It's not 100 pair UTP.  In some places (like
here), the local distribution system, which is 19kva, is aluminum
cable.  And separating triple or even single phase cables from a
transformer is child's play.  And since it's a grid (nothing like a
phone or ethernet network), just short one of the larger feeder
network and after some sparks fly and the transformers pop, the lights
go out in the grid.
Also, the grid in the US allows power to flow from West to East (Calif
to NY), but not the other way.  So while problems in NY can cause
brownouts in Calif because the grid is trying to send power east, when
the west coast goes down, it's on its own.
Anyway, power and phone are completely different animals.

Ciao,

David A. Bandel
-- 
Focus on the dream, not the competition.
            - Nemesis Air Racing Team motto