A pink box! Extreme on-call, high availability systems!

Imagine you're in the middle of a critical Zoom meeting, your screen freezes, and then... darkness. The power's out. Again. If you're in Northern California, this scenario might sound all too familiar. As the world shifts towards remote work, the reliability of power and the internet at home has never been more critical. But how do we keep the lights on and stay connected with climate change intensifying fire seasons and extreme weather events? Buckle up because we're about to dive into the world of backup power, disaster recovery, and how to stay online when the grid goes down.

Over the past few years, Northern California has experienced an increase in the severity and frequency of fire season and extreme weather events such as winter storms. This has led to an increased risk of power outages, which can have devastating effects on individuals and communities, especially as the world transitions into a post-pandemic era where more people are working from home.

Climate change has played a significant role in the increase in fire season and extreme weather events in Northern California. Rising temperatures and prolonged drought conditions have made the region more susceptible to wildfires, while at the same time, worsening winters have brought increased risks of flooding and high winds. These extreme weather events can cause damage to power lines and infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages.

In the The post-pandemic-world, the move towards remote work has only heightened the importance of reliable power and internet at home. With many people now working remotely, power outages can significantly impact productivity and economic stability. Moreover, without power and the internet, people cannot work or attend online classes, disrupting their daily lives.

Utilities and other organizations have been working to mitigate the risk of power outages caused by extreme weather events. This includes strategies such as upgrading infrastructure to prevent damage from high winds and flooding and implementing fire-prevention measures to reduce the risk of wildfires. However, despite these efforts, the risk of power outages remains a concern for many.

As Northern California continues to experience the effects of climate change, it is essential to recognize the importance of reliable power and internet at home. Individuals and organizations must prepare for potential power outages by having backup plans in place and investing in reliable generators and other equipment. Additionally, it is vital to continue to push for sustainable solutions that address the root causes of climate change, which will help to reduce the risk of extreme weather events and power outages in the long run.

Back to me..and pink boxes

Early in my career, I worked in retail; often, a grocery store could lose telecommunications and internet, and cables would be severed and take months to repair.

If this happened, the company had a 'pink box,' a system that could be deployed with generators, cell service, satellite phones, and much more, enough technology to power the store and connect it back to the outside world when the entire data connection to the store was broken.

This was a significant disaster recovery solution. Unfortunately, I never actually saw one; I just came across one on some DR paperwork for a project I was working on, and I recommended purchasing an additional one to be shared between three high-value sites.

As the reliance on technology to work from home has increased due to the post-pandemic move towards remote work, the risk of power outages due to climate change has become a growing concern in Northern California. In addition, the region has experienced longer and more intense fire seasons, worsening winters with increased risks of flooding and high winds, all of which increase the likelihood of power outages. As a result, individuals and organizations seek innovative solutions to ensure they can continue working from home with power, internet, and cell service during outages.

One option is to invest in high-power generators that can provide reliable backup power during an outage. These generators are typically powered by propane or natural gas and can provide a continuous power supply for several days. High-power generators can power entire homes, including heating and cooling systems, and can be programmed to turn on automatically when the power goes out. They are more expensive than traditional backup generators but provide security and comfort for those who rely heavily on technology to work from home.

Another option is to deploy portable cell towers in areas with a high risk of power outages. These towers can be quickly transported to the affected area and provide cell service to those in need. Portable cell towers are expensive to deploy and maintain but can offer a vital lifeline for people who rely on cell service to work remotely. In addition, they can be instrumental in areas where cell service is limited or nonexistent.

Satellite phones are another option for individuals and organizations seeking reliable communication during a power outage. These phones use satellite technology to connect to the outside world, even in areas where cell service is unavailable. Satellite phones are more expensive to purchase and maintain than traditional cell service, and the connection speed is typically slower than conventional cell service. However, they provide a reliable backup communication method when other options are unavailable.

In addition to these solutions, battery backup systems can power homes and offices during an outage. These systems are more cost-effective than high-power generators and can be paired with solar panels to provide sustainable power. However, they typically only provide power for a limited time and may not be sufficient for extended outages.

Fun facts, but what can you actually do to make yourself a pink box for your home?

Let's go back to our work-from-home stipends. Then let's pause and establish what we are trying to do.

Keep your home safe and warm.

If this is your intent, then you probably want a generator for your home, strong enough to keep your fridge running. (use a 1:4 ratio, one hour powered on for four hours powered off).

The generator I recommend is the Anker Powerhouse 767, with a solar panel.

The solar panel means you can recharge it between rain downpours. The portability means you can run it between rooms. The quietness and lack of gas or propane mean you can keep it in your house and not have a wire trailing through a window. (Let's be clear - having a window ajar in a storm is never really a good idea)

You probably also want to keep phones and ipads charged. In this situation, a generator and torches are all you need!

I'd strongly recommend an inverter that's compatible with your Power tool batteries and a few power packs for your phone(s).

Maintain your ability to work, or at least shut down gracefully.

This is where it gets fun, which is why I started this article...

Start with a small UPS that can power your Laptop or computer, monitors, and any other home office-based technology (camera, etc.)

I'd recommend something like this.

Depending on what you have attached, this should give you about 20 minutes, just enough to send those last few messages, let people know you have an outage, and finish that Zoom call.

Your router and modem probably are outside your office. Are they more likely in your living room with your tv and cable box?

Let's get a slightly bigger UPS with a longer run time. This will give you an hour at maximum. But you should be able to recharge the UPS from the generator.

Finally, for those of you like me who lose cell power when the power & wifi goes out, you are probably using a Samsung 4G LTE Network Extender. My hack is to keep it next to your router, plugged into the UPS. I will try getting an external Antanea, mounting it outside, and running a long cable down the wall and inside to the device; I'll post about that separately.

I hope this article gave you some great ideas; let me know if you have any other suggestions or personal takes on this subject.

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