Power Outage? Here's How to Keep Your Internet On Like a Pro

CNET

a day ago

Power outages are inevitable in the summertime, especially as hurricane season starts to pick up. Like the internet, power is something many of us don't think much about until it goes out. When your power cuts out, it takes everything plugged into the electrical grid with it, including your modem and router.
Rest assured, it's possible to stay online during a power outage. Whether the cause is severe weather or a blown circuit or whether your power is out for a few hours or a couple of days, here's how you can stay connected to the internet when you lose power.
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1. A quick fix: Mobile hotspot and tethering
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Activating a mobile hotspot on your phone essentially turns the device into a router, broadcasting its mobile internet connection for other devices to use. It's not the same as your home Wi-Fi -- speeds are likely to be much slower and will only support a limited number of devices -- but it should be enough to get you by. To learn more, CNET's Trisha Jandoc tested the performance of her mobile hotspot as her primary connection.
Read more: How to Use Your iPhone or Android Phone as a Mobile Hotspot
Tethering is similar in that it shares your phone's internet data with other devices, but it does so via a wired (USB or Ethernet) or Bluetooth connection rather than Wi-Fi.
Locating local internet providers
A few things to keep in mind when using a mobile hotspot or tethering:
Having the mobile hotspot function on your phone doesn't necessarily mean the service is included with your cellular plan.
The connection only works until your phone dies. If you can safely access it in your car, consider charging it when your battery starts to run low before the power comes back on.
You'll be using your data. If you have a data cap, using a mobile hotspot can put you over the limit, resulting in added fees or
throttled speeds unlimited" data, there may be a soft cap or a limit specific to hotspot use.
Contact your cellular service provider to determine if mobile hotspot use is included in your plan and if any data limits apply. If you have a data cap, check out CNET's guide to managing your data use.
2. An automatic fix: Cellular internet backup service
Select internet providers offer a separate cellular plan or service add-on to keep you online. To our knowledge, only three ISPs offer backup internet service plans: Xfinity, T-Mobile and AT&T. These home internet backup plans all provide equipment and a cellular connection when your standard connection goes down.
Comcast's Storm Ready gateway, battery and device.
Comcast
Xfinity Pro
Xfinity Pro comes with a battery-powered Wi-Fi extender that switches from a cable to a cellular 4G LTE connection. You can expect speeds up to 30Mbps down and 7Mbps up. While that isn't super fast, it should be enough for basic internet needs. The external battery is sold separately and will give you four hours of power during an outage. Xfinity Pro costs $15 a month.
T-Mobile: Home Internet Backup
T-Mobile offers a 5G home internet connection (where available) but with a 130GB data cap, enough for seven days of use and a slightly higher monthly fee. The Home Internet Backup plan includes free equipment starting at $20 monthly or $10 for T-Mobile voice customers.
You will need power to the T-Mobile router. If you intend to use your Home Internet Backup service during power outages, you may want to invest in a battery backup or other portable power device.
AT&T: Internet Backup
Last year, AT&T introduced its Home Internet Backup service for AT&T Fiber and eligible AT&T postpaid wireless customers. This service is only available in select areas and for customers with AT&T's BGW320 gateway routers. Android and iOS users can easily access this service through the Smart Home Manager app. It's important to note that the internet backup service automatically deactivates if your fiber or wireless service plan is canceled or if you remove the Smart Home Manager app.
3. A long-term fix: Generators or other power sources
Getting power to the modem or router may be all you need to keep your internet going when the power goes out.
A local power outage often doesn't stop internet service from coming to your home. Wireless and fiber internet don't need power to travel, although a power outage at the distribution point may cause a temporary outage.
Cable internet requires power to the nodes (connection points that send internet service along). Still, many ISPs will have a backup power source, enabling them to keep your internet service going.
So the problem isn't necessarily getting internet service to your home. It's how to access it. Without power to your modem or optical network terminal, you can't connect to the internet and without power to your router, there's no Wi-Fi.
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Quality portable power stations and generators are ideal for continuously powering your refrigerator, heaters, fans or internet equipment. Generators can get pricey but you often can find reliable generators on sale. If you're wondering which generator is best for your home, check out our generator buying guide and tips for finding the right-sized generator.
What about battery backups or a UPS?
Rechargeable battery backups will keep your internet equipment running for a few hours at best before needing to be recharged. Without a power source this can be difficult but a solar battery may be a solution.
As for a UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, most devices aren't designed to last more than 15 minutes or so. That's long enough to save your work or send any last-minute emails before losing your connection, but not much more.
What if my power is back on but my internet is still out?
Like most internet issues, the problem likely lies at the source of your connection, the modem and router. It's possible that the power outage caused your equipment to malfunction and a simple router restart should do the trick. In the case of electrical storms, a power surge may have damaged your equipment, rendering it inoperable. To prevent this, consider plugging your router into a surge protector.
If your modem and router seem to be working fine, but you still can't get online, it's possible that your ISP is experiencing an outage. Your power may be back on but theirs may still be out and affecting their ability to send service.
Network or infrastructure disruptions could also keep your internet out after power returns. Remaining precipitation or cloud coverage in your area may hinder your satellite internet, while downed telephone lines will knock your DSL connection offline. Sadly, there's not much you can do in such situations. It's like a power outage; you'll just have to wait until service is restored.
Keep connected and stay safe
Maintaining your internet connection is important when the power goes out, particularly if you're using it for information or communication, but safety comes first. Always use caution when dealing with electrical equipment and avoid tampering with any internet lines coming into your home.
For more tips on making the most of your home internet connection, check out the CNET Home Internet page. Be sure to visit the CNET Home Energy and Utilities page for more information about your home's power supply.
How to keep your internet on during a power outage FAQs
What's the easiest way to stay connected to the internet during a power outage?
If available, the quickest and easiest way to stay connected is by using a cellular hotspot. Using a mobile hotspot to connect to the internet is only meant for short term. Moreover, your mobile device will act as a router and broadcast the internet to other devices. This process can significantly lower your phone's battery. That said, using a mobile hotspot can only be feasible until your phone runs out of battery. There are other ways to connect to the internet, like using an alternative internet backup plan or investing in a power generator or power source, but this may come with additional fees.
To learn more, read how to use your iPhone or Android device as a mobile hotspot.
What internet providers offer cellular internet backup services?
Select providers like Xfinity, T-Mobile and AT&T offer internet backup plans and equipment. A temporary alternative connection is essential, especially when your standard home internet connection is down.
For $7 a month for 3 years of service, Xfinity provides equipment with its Storm-Ready Wi-Fi. In select areas, T-Mobile features a 5G-home internet backup connection, which comes with 130GB of data and free equipment, starting at $20 a month or $10 for T-Mobile voice customers. AT&T's latest Home Internet Backup service for its fiber and eligible postpaid wireless customers is also available.
What if my internet is still down even though my power is back on?
Your equipment may have malfunctioned during a power outage, but a simple router restart should help. However, there are instances where a quick fix might not be enough to connect to the internet even if your power is back on. If an electrical storm caused the power outage, your equipment could be damaged.
Larger network and infrastructure disruptions could also occur. In addition, your ISP could be facing an outage. In this case, there's not much you can do but wait until service is restored.