Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Ups and Downs. And Side-to-Sides.

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  • Emma Hart,

    Thanks guys, we will look at getting a car charger, it's a good idea. And I need cases and a dock for my iPhone anyway. Honestly I do.

    And yeah, my phone battery always goes flat faster when I'm down at my Mum's where the connection is really shitty.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Thanks guys, we will look at getting a car charger, it’s a good idea. And I need cases and a dock for my iPhone anyway. Honestly I do.

    Heh. Presents?

    My dad gave me, when I came down after September, one of those wind up radio, torch, alarm things, which has a port for a cellphone charger. At the time, I kind of scoffed, but it's been sitting next to my bed all week.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Thanks guys, we will look at getting a car charger, it’s a good idea. And I need cases and a dock for my iPhone anyway.

    Was thinking 'We should send down some car chargers', and then, apart from not actually knowing where you all live, the postal service is on hold, and now you have power. I'll count the thoughts.

    Glad to have you back on line, but still think if I was in your situation I'd be running away.

    Reputation for staunchness pretty well intact, given that you can still write in complete, coherent sentences.

    +1

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Emma, would an iphone charge from an ipod dock? Cos I bought a brand new battery powered ipod charger the other day, and I really will not be going to use it. You are most welcome to it.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Honestly, gosh, not angling for presents. (To be fair, I am about that subtle when I AM angling for presents.) It was what Karl said when he gave me the iPhone, that it was a gift he could keep on giving me stuff for.

    Also, to add to the list of great things to have in your house for emergencies: wet wipes. I happened to have baby wipes in the house for cleaning purposes, and they've been brilliant, because we haven't been able to so much as wash our hands - there's water, but it's not clean and we had no power to boil it.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Michael Stevens,

    I'm glad you're all ok and in one piece. And sounds to me like you're still staunch. Wish I could say or do something meaningful for you all. But great to hear you're ok.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 230 posts Report

  • webweaver,

    So glad to hear your voice again Emma. Kia kaha. I cannot imagine what it must have been like and how you still must feel. Virtual hugs from me.

    One thing I didn't realise until today was that the old plugin phones (not the hand-held ones) work when the power's out because they don't need a power supply. Telecom are collecting them from people to send down to ChCh.

    I also realised that I should really have my cellphone on me at all times, instead of randomly somewhere else in the house. And that having a stash of cash would be useful too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Also, to add to the list of great things to have in your house for emergencies: wet wipes.

    Word, never knew how awesome these are until I had kids. Now I've always got some in my bag. Also, alcohol based hand cleaner. I got a small one in my bag, one in the car, one in the bathroom, one in my office. Not only do they mean you can clean when there's no water, but they are also amazing at cleaning really strong dirt, like grease on the hands. It's also flammable, so it makes an accelerant if you're down to burning wood to make heat, and having trouble getting it started. Be bloody careful though, the flame is invisible, and the gel sticks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Cook frittata on the barbeque. Fucking rock, to be honest.

    Just revisiting this part. Why yes, I think that qualifies.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Yes but you didn't answer the question. If you do want it, courierpost appear to be resuming (relatively) normal business from Monday. Just say the word.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    given the much-higher-than-normal* number of texts I was sending, perhaps not surprising.

    Texts are extremely low bandwidth - the transmission of them would not be chewing up much power. It seems likely to me that the rapid power drain would have been from the phones trying to stay connected to the network, which was under very heavy load. I don't know if it was also damaged, if so that would have also contributed.

    Also a small 150W Inverter that can convert 12V DC to 240V AC is a useful thing to have when the power is out - can use a normal cellphone/laptop/psp/whatever charger then.

    Yes, it's a pity they're such expensive devices, whereas car chargers are cheap as chips. Some of them are dearer than a small petrol generator.

    I seem to recall something about continually having to renegotiate 3G data connections – ie, situation normal on Vodafone in some places anyway – also being a major battery drain.

    Recently discovered this with my new Android smartphone, which chewed the entire battery in one day at Foo camp. It gives a breakdown, and it was mostly down to WiFi. But 3G chewed a lot too. It hasn't happened at home, where I mostly use my own WiFi network so I presume it was contention with all the other smartphones there to connect, and simply all those signals on the same frequency demanding a higher output.

    The processor itself also burns a lot of power - mine's over 1GHz. Use less apps if you want to save power.

    There's a lot to be said for simple phones in emergencies - keep your old one, turn it off and leave it on a charger somewhere. Keep your numbers in your SIM, and swap it out if your main phone dies.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to BenWilson,

    Ok so it seems like constant "handshaking" (WiFi or 3G) is likely to be the problem particularly on a weak network. Worth knowing since that would mean you really need to turn it off even if you aren't actively using it in order to save battery.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    Good piece of advice from Telecom - change your voicemail to say you're OK (if you are), where you are, an alternate number. Will save your phone and help relieve network congestion.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    my android is a killer for that. the damn battery goes in about 90 mins if searching for wifi or network... i turn to flight mode ASAP if i see the network drop out.

    i hates it.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to BenWilson,

    Telecom will also divert landlines for free. Call 120.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Worth knowing since that would mean you really need to turn it off even if you aren't actively using it in order to save battery.

    Yes, although you won't get calls in. I'm not sure what happens with txts...do they queue up when your phone is off? Anyone? Bueller? If so, that could definitely stretch it out. Turn it on for 5 minutes every hour to get all the messages. Turn on flight mode, draft all your responses. Turn off flight mode and send them all. Turn off.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Che Tibby, in reply to BenWilson,

    I’m not sure what happens with txts…do they queue up when your phone is off? Anyone? Bueller?

    does with mine. emails, twitter, the whole nine stack overnight while i sleep.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • recordari,

    You just turned Emma's thread into a telephone geekery thread. That's quite an achievement, I would have thought, although I am also finding it educational, so carry on. ;-)

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Che Tibby, in reply to recordari,

    important stuff man: if i'm trapped in rubble i want that phone to save my sorry arse.

    plus, lots of people have no way to charge their communicators. best idea, change your message to "i'm ok, 24 february 2011", and switch the phone off.

    switch it on every few hours to bring down messages.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • David Hood,

    Absolutely texts queue up while your phone is off. I got some texts out to people to say I was alive and ask them to look at the state of the airport, roads, and bus services from outside and text me a summary each hour, then I began switching my phone off for most of the time to save battery life.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Che Tibby,

    It is. I'm thinking that our cordless phones aren't worth the hydrocarbons they're made of. Copper. I have one of the old Ericsson phones with the dial on the base, and always intended to get it wired in. Maybe I will now.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to recordari,

    You just turned Emma’s thread into a telephone geekery thread.

    I'm sorry - but my neurons have been firing much more randomly than usual since Tuesday and I sort of wanted to know why...

    Besides how many times can I say I'm really really glad Emma and family are well without seeming like a totally soppy bugger - well at least once more I guess. You know how labradors get so happy their whole back half wags ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Che Tibby, in reply to recordari,

    we have an old-skool line-charged phone we keep around the place for power cuts.

    already proven useful a few times when the lights go. as long as the phone lines are live you're in business.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Greg Dawson,

    So, when disaster strikes, disable wifi and data networks while maintaining normal phone network on your phone, should keep the charge longer. Good to know.
    And probably contact potential is more important than angry birds.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to recordari,

    I have one of the old Ericsson phones with the dial on the base

    The Ericsson Cobra is a classic. But it's not like you need a phone that old for emergency use. (Besides, no one under the age of 20 knows how to rotary dial.) Any fully wired phone will work on the power supplied by the phone line. Here's a new one from Dick Smith.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

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