TEXANS Please share your experiences with TECH, during your difficult times.

[beowulf]

I've never had regrets about anything I have overbuilt.

 

[Bearsixty7]

..And I agree that priorities should be on necessities first (like utilities), then other infrastructure (like roads), then nice to have (like parks & art).

I agree 100%!

 

[bindian]

I do hope you get out of your mess soon and the weather improves.

I am most curious what your experience with various technology was:

Cell phone
Internet
VOIP
Landlines

Did stuff work that you didn't expect to? Did stuff fail that you didn't expect ?

Any issues with point of sale terminals at stores?

Thanks in advance.

Hughesnet internet seemed to slow down, but only the evenings. Direct TV was as usual. Cell (AT&T) service seemed to go in and out depending on the time of the day. I have an outside cell signal booster antenna that wasn't powered up. I would drive to the back of my property to make calls. The truck was warm.

My thumper diesel generator (10hp, uses 1 gallon diesel for 3 hours run time) supplied two heaters, the TV, TV Satellite and phone chargers. When I wanted to check my retirement account, I unplugged one heater and powered up the puter and satellite. Ran the thumper 5 days without shutting down. Hot refueling.

I run heavy equipment and a diesel sawmill here. I had plenty of off road fuel to go another week or two. Tractor had to be jumped off every day, even with a trickle charger on it inside the barn. I think it needs a battery with more cold cranking amps now. Telehandler started when the snow started melting. Sawmill fired right up. I didn't fire up the CAT excavator with it's 24 volts. 2003 Cummins in my dually almost didn't start the morning it got down to 9 degrees.

Was not able to get out to stores but the corner store where I always use cash. By the time our street was safe enough to drive on, the power was back on here and at the stores. Ran out of bread and all I could get was organic! Once power was restored, it was business as usual, except lines at fast food places and empty grocery shelves. But intermittent water pressure due to faucets dripping.

I was treating it like a hurricane hunker down, but forgot to fill my 55 gallon drum with water before hand.
hugs, Brandi

 

[CalG]

Why is "tech" even a thing when one is trying to keep loved ones warm and fed?
Amazing how priorities shift when the stakes are lifted.

" I would just die if I couldn't go to the mall"...

 

[bindian]

Why is "tech" even a thing when one is trying to keep loved ones warm and fed?
Amazing how priorities shift when the stakes are lifted.

" I would just die if I couldn't go to the mall"...

Because if some TECH doesn't work, it could endanger your life!
Brandi

 

[Oaktree]

The excuses of "unprecidented" blah, blah, blah annoy me. Society wastes so much money and resources on useless stuff. Why not spend money on preperation and over preperation before you spend a nickle on the arts for instance? When I built my drive shed, I had a hard time getting the roof built to snow load standards higher than required.

Uhhhh, you live in Canada where severe winter weather is expected, Texas not so much. Record high temperatures are normally more of a concern there, and no doubt their infrastructure is designed to handle that.

 

[TractorGuy]

That's something that should be of special note for the posters here who feel diesel powered generators or PTO generator heads are best. They may be IF you have more fuel than you'll need. As with any fuel, if you run out and the major utilities can't even get it, a homeowner/farmer probably won't be able to either.

Any time they predict an unusual weather system coming my way I call and have my drums filled. Between my drums and tractor tanks I could run my diesel generator over a week if need be.

Listening to the news drives me nuts. Every time something like this happens everyone wants to have an investigation and lay blame to someone else because THEY failed to prepare. People need to take responsibility for their own protection.

 

[Diggin It]

Uhhhh, you live in Canada where severe winter weather is expected, Texas not so much. Record high temperatures are normally more of a concern there, and no doubt their infrastructure is designed to handle that.

TX has had at least two similar recent events, 1989/90 and 2010 or so. They had been warned and advised their grid could not handle another one. They made the conscious decision not to heed those warnings. Personally, I hope somebody involved in that neglect goes to jail.

Any time they predict an unusual weather system coming my way I call and have my drums filled. Between my drums and tractor tanks I could run my diesel generator over a week if need be.

Listening to the news drives me nuts. Every time something like this happens everyone wants to have an investigation and lay blame to someone else because THEY failed to prepare. People need to take responsibility for their own protection.

Personally, I'm very similar. I watched the news for several days prior and as the forecast solidified, I decided I had to go get gas for my portable genset. Checked everything else and the only other thing I was a little short on was birdseed. Once you get them dependent on the feeder, you can't really stop ahead of a storm that will cover all of their natural sources. So, I went out and got 20 gallons of gasoline and 80 pounds of birdseed. I still have the gas. Didn't need it after all, but the mowers will be using it soon.

.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Texas electric bills? Maybe i misheard but when the tvs on i barely pay attention, like now.

Some young mother said her bill for THE DAY, 1 single day was, over $1000.00!!!

Her comment was, either that or the kids freeze?

What's all that about, $1000.00 elec bill for 1 day?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just came across this guy on bitchute. The Health Ranger Report: Situation Update, Feb. 21, 221 - Fifteen HARD lessons I just learned from the Texas grid collapse

I rolled my eyes when he spoke about Organic Bananas and Avocados, almost shut it off and then he started talking of his diesel equipment. SAVED.

Listened to his whole report doing dishes, making and eating breakfast, and doing dishes again.

Nothing I didn't know, but maybe worth listening to for many, if you have the time.