I was wondering what if a person broke into my house at night and I was in the back bedroom.If there is no power the normal phone wouldn't work,I thought of using a battery handheld CB and calling for help on channel 9,the emergency channel.Do you have any other ideas for communication for that situation?

On a lighter note,I thought of a new occupation for some men--rent a man for y2k.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 10, 1999

Answers

Telephones do not require electricity to operate. If the phone is dead, use a cell phone. If you don't have a cell phone, or if the cellular network is dead, then use a CB radio. Be sure you know the range of your unit, though. Some hand-held CBs are only good for a couple of miles which probably wouldn't do you much good.

-- Sam Mcgee (weissacre@gwtc.net), October 10, 1999.

Just a heads up in "normal" situations, when a burglar breaks into a house they know someone is in, they usually take the phone off the hook (say, in the kitchen). This takes out your ability to call for help on your "regular" phone. Naturally, this affects those cordless phones too, since they are hooked into your phone lines out. Now, if you had a second phone line, only hooked up to a jack in your bedroom, you'd have a better chance. The usual recommendation is to have a cell phone in your bedroom for these occasions though.

That said, if there is a power failure, and someone breaks in, I sincerely doubt a CB or even a cell phone would summon help in a timely manner. Most likely the police will be too busy dealing with the situations caused by the power failure to help out very many people. Ie. You are probably on your own. So, you should think about what you would need/be capable of doing now vs at the time of trouble. People usually go to the gun/no gun arguements at this time. :) I remember hearing a story about a woman that hated the thought of shooting someone with a gun, but had no compunction about beating the you know what out of them with a baseball bat. Your mileage may vary.

-- James Collins (jacollins@thegrid.net), October 10, 1999.

I'm assuming you realize that the phone will work if the power is only out in your neighborhood, and not everywhere, including the phone company, etc. The only reason your phone wouldn't work under in this scenario is if you have a cordless.

Al

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), October 10, 1999.

As a correction to the other two posts. Telephones most certainly do use electricity to work. They are just on a different grid than the main power supply. If the power failure is extended enough, even the phones won't work (their generators will run out of gas or fail). Also, if you have a phone that needs outside power to work (for example, I have a combo answering machine/phone that plugs into AC power), it could still go dead during a power failure (even if the phones still have power). That's why I got a cheapo phone-line powered phone. If your phone plugs into an electrical socket, you can test it by unplugging it and seeing if it still works.

-- James Collins (jacollins@thegrid.net), October 10, 1999.

I have a very good gun and know how to use it.What I worry about is if I would hear an intruder in the house,I know he would come into my room and at that time I would threaten to shoot him,now say he ran out of the room into the main part of the house or stayed in my room at gun point--that's one reason I would like to be able to call for help.Also when I would first hear him in the house.

I understand about the chance of the person taking the reciever off of a phone thus stopping me from calling out.The second phone line is an idea and also the cell phone.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 10, 1999.

Maggie -- You're asking about outside communications, and I realize that, but if the guy is within your sights, you should pull that trigger.

-- helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), October 10, 1999.

Give the puppy a lead sandwich.

-- S&W (shoot@first.questionWhy He was thereLater), October 10, 1999.

Just an additional thought for safety. Assuming you have neighbors, if not this won't work. I bought a boat air 'foghorn', they are really loud and will sound off for quite a while. They come in bug spray cannister size with foghorn piece you attached to the top. Guns are a must for breakins but you could also scare the bejebbers out of them and maybe a hasty retreat with one of these little guys. Just another alternative to consider.

-- Sammie (sammie0x@hotmail.com), October 10, 1999.

Sammie,

Where can I purchase the bullhorn?I live in a small town with mainly local small stores.

I was planning on putting metal door stops for the exterior doors of the house,now after thinking about it,I am going to put one in for the bedroom door.With a locked bedroom door(that can't be kicked in),the gun and the bullhorn I should feel alot safer.I guess I'm just a worry wort.I felt safe here until I realized there could be problems due to y2k.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 10, 1999.

Maggie--not such a light note!!!I have had the same thought----lets see now---install gutters to catch rain--wood to split---hmmmmm!!!!!

-- catherine plamondon (signmeup@y2krentaman.com), October 11, 1999.

Catherine,

till the garden,fix the faucets AND....... I have found myself several times saying to a friend (half joking and half not)that I wish there was something like that.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 11, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

Storm whistles are phenomenally loud. I blew one in the car one time, just to see how loud it was and man-oh-man... was I ever sorry. I don't recall where I got mine, but I'm sorry that I got only six.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), October 11, 1999.

Maggie

I purchased my 'foghorn' at an army surplus store. I think it was about $8-10. I should think any marine supply store would have them as well. BTW it would be a good idea to let your neighbors know if they hear it - come a runnin'

Good luck and be safe!

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0x@hotmail.com), October 11, 1999.

Thanks to all for the good ideas.I will feel more in control if something would happen.I pray for all you to be safe and secure.

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 11, 1999.

Please delete

-- Maggie (aaa@aaa.com), October 17, 1999.