Last week my teen tried to make a phone call on our home phone. It wouldn’t go through. I tried, and it worked. I asked what nimber he dialed, and he read it off starting with the area code. I said, “It’s a local call. It won’t work if you add the area code.” He looks at me incredulously, holds up his cell phone, and says, “Of course it will. I do it all the time on my phone.” And he was right….
As long as the tower’s not on the same substation as your house (or has its own generator), a cell phone will also work during a blackout. A cordless phone will not.
I still have a couple old slide rules, one that I used in college (back in the early ‘70s) and one that my father-in-law used on the Manhattan project (according to the serial number, it was made in 1941 or 1942). When students forget their calculators, I pull these out, describe their age, and note that I’ve never had to replace their batteries…
And television had 3 channels, until the implementation of UHF and VHF. I still have, for old times sake, a rotary phone that can double as a weapon. It has to weigh 5 lbs. and could inflict serious damage if used properly.
cdward almost 10 years ago
Last week my teen tried to make a phone call on our home phone. It wouldn’t go through. I tried, and it worked. I asked what nimber he dialed, and he read it off starting with the area code. I said, “It’s a local call. It won’t work if you add the area code.” He looks at me incredulously, holds up his cell phone, and says, “Of course it will. I do it all the time on my phone.” And he was right….
Sisyphos almost 10 years ago
Ah, my fusty old green kidder, the youth of today know so much better than you [or me]!
puddleglum1066 almost 10 years ago
As long as the tower’s not on the same substation as your house (or has its own generator), a cell phone will also work during a blackout. A cordless phone will not.
I still have a couple old slide rules, one that I used in college (back in the early ‘70s) and one that my father-in-law used on the Manhattan project (according to the serial number, it was made in 1941 or 1942). When students forget their calculators, I pull these out, describe their age, and note that I’ve never had to replace their batteries…
ladykat almost 10 years ago
But it’s true, Nerwin!
sarah413 Premium Member almost 10 years ago
And television had 3 channels, until the implementation of UHF and VHF. I still have, for old times sake, a rotary phone that can double as a weapon. It has to weigh 5 lbs. and could inflict serious damage if used properly.
westny77 almost 10 years ago
Oye…kids.
She is telling you the truth. There were also rotary phones at one time too.
JP Steve Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Tell him about party lines!