Damaged Lines on Welsh Island

[welch-time]

Thanks for the pictures Dan. My brother in law (near us on welch) also sent me some pics back in December. 300 yards of down lines is a lot of work.

Mark

[Slickcraft]

As of this morning the phone lines are still on the ground both north and south of the island entry point. The line to the south appears unbroken however the northern line is severed.

I used the automated system to enter a "support ticket" on 4/16. Consolidated has had trucks at Glendale, one with empty boat trailer. However there has been no observed activity on Welch.

I called today 1st tech support and then was connected to line repair. The ticked that I entered on the automated system did not get through to line repair. They initiated a new ticket and said that a crew will be out on Monday 5/1 with service restored by 6PM that day. Given the extent of the damage all that I can hope for is that they actually get started on Monday.

Alan

[welch-time]

Alan, is the island power currently on? My neighbors cameras were online until today which leads us to believe CC might be working on repairing / re-hanging the lines. Or the power might be off.

I also have an open ticket. Our cameras have been offline since Dec.

We're opening up next week.
Fingers crossed.

Mark

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by welch-time

Alan, is the island power currently on? My neighbors cameras were online until today which leads us to believe CC might be working on repairing / re-hanging the lines. Or the power might be off.

I also have an open ticket. Our cameras have been offline since Dec.

We're opening up next week.
Fingers crossed.

Mark

Island power is currently on at least at my place...

Dan

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Island power is currently on at least at my place...

Dan

Same here, north branch has power. Don't know about the south branch.

Alan

[welch-time]

Hey... My cameras are back up.

Update: CC called me to check if my internet was up and let me know that it was a temporary fix. The cables are probably still on the ground.

Mark

[Slickcraft]

Mark,

Are you on the north branch? There is one spot where all of the twisted pairs are pulled from each end of a connection block. They might have spliced your two pair back together. A neighbor south of us said that they had been there.

However no temp fix or phone call here.

Alan

[welch-time]

Yes, end of north branch. They rigged my neighbors line a couple weeks ago too. I was puzzled that her internet was working while mine wasn't. Now we figured out they're splicing individual lines and the damaged main bundle is still on the ground. Apparently they don't splice a customer line unless there's a service ticket opened.

Mark

[Descant]

Originally Posted by welch-time

Well, I'd call it the west branch (22). They rigged my neighbors line a couple weeks ago too. I was puzzled that her internet was working while mine wasn't. Now we figured out they're splicing individual lines and the damaged main bundle is still on the ground. Apparently they don't splice a customer line unless there's a service ticket opened.

Mark

The lines are basically a horseshoe coming onto the island at the point closest to the mainland and splitting there, north and south. Muskat (15) would be the last house on the north branch, so 22 is north branch.

[Slickcraft]

We got the temporary internet fix today with our two pair of wires spliced at the break point. Nice not having to run on hot spots and also to have YouTube TV.

One tech said one week to a permanent fix but maybe 2 weeks. All of the downed wire on both branches to be replaced.

Alan

[Hivolt]

This would be a great opportunity for them to run fiber.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

This would be a great opportunity for them to run fiber.

Wouldn't the underwater cable have to be replaced to do fiber? As far as I can tell, Hub66 and Starlink are at least equal
to fiber. Wires, fiber or otherwise, outperform at catching trees.

[Hivolt]

Originally Posted by Descant

Wouldn't the underwater cable have to be replaced to do fiber? As far as I can tell, Hub66 and Starlink are at least equal
to fiber. Wires, fiber or otherwise, outperform at catching trees.

Yes as far as I know, I figured since have been getting major subsidies for rural broadband expansion they'd find a way to make it profitable.

You are right though Hub 66 is fiber speeds. I have never used starlink though.

[Slickcraft]

Still no activity by CC to repair the down lines on Welch.

Alan

[Hivolt]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Still no activity by CC to repair the down lines on Welch.

Alan

We can't even get them to do their job on the mainland, it's not the workers at fault, it's their piss poor management. I wouldn't be surprised if that stuff sat on the ground all summer. they are notorious for refusing to replace damaged poles that they have ownership of, even during an emergency. I don't understand why the PUC lets them get away with it.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Hivolt

We can't even get them to do their job on the mainland, it's not the workers at fault, it's their piss poor management. I wouldn't be surprised if that stuff sat on the ground all summer. they are notorious for refusing to replace damaged poles that they have ownership of, even during an emergency. I don't understand why the PUC lets them get away with it.

Breezeline is no better. They didn’t even know there was a problem at our place since the fire last week. The tree and associated fire took out the cable to at least 3 of us, maybe 5 and they didn’t even know until I called. To top it off the only service bear on Thursdays, and only if we provide transportation. I have a funny feeling come Thursday they still don’t have it fixed.

My problems with them on the mainland were much worse, finally ditched them and went to Xfinity.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Still no activity by CC to repair the down lines on Welch.

Alan

Just advise CC that you'll be fixing the wires and poles yourselves.

That ought to get their attention!

[Descant]

It wasn't that long ago that we had propane lights, fridge and stoves. When we encouraged folks to get electricity in 1959, it was easy enough to get the minimum of 30 camps to sign on and pay the $150 deposit. Not enough people wanted phones, so that was delayed some years. Now, we're doing away with landline phones and DSL in favor of cell phones and Hub66. That declining market does not encourage CC to provide better service. Islanders are probably a losing operation for them.

[Pine Island Guy]

Originally Posted by Descant

It wasn't that long ago that we had propane lights, fridge and stoves. When we encouraged folks to get electricity in 1959, it was easy enough to get the minimum of 30 camps to sign on and pay the $150 deposit. Not enough people wanted phones, so that was delayed some years. Now, we're doing away with landline phones and DSL in favor of cell phones and Hub66. That declining market does not encourage CC to provide better service. Islanders are probably a losing operation for them.

I agree! Things went downhill fast when the company in Texas bought them and they had no idea what a very rural operation Verizon was in NH and VT etc. Best decision Verizon made was to sell it off and pocket the money.

I'm very happy with Hub66 on the island, other option was going to be Starlink. with NHEC starting to run fiber, and the other options available, I have the same feeling that Consolidated would be happy to have the island customers disappear

It's another beautiful day on the water, enjoy it!! -PIG