Every fall the North Bay runs the same script. The grass goes gold, an offshore wind picks up, and a notice from PG&E lands in your inbox. If your internet arrives through a small antenna on your roof, here is what a shutoff does to it, and what you can do so it costs you the lights and not the workday.
This post stays on your side of the antenna: your equipment, what it needs, and what to check when the power comes back.
What a PSPS actually is
A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a planned outage, not a fault. In PG&E's own words: "Severe weather, such as high winds, can cause trees or debris to damage equipment. If there is dry vegetation, this could lead to a wildfire. That's why we may need to turn power off to keep you safe." The conditions behind it, listed on PG&E's PSPS page, are low humidity, forecasted high winds, dry material on the ground, vegetation near power lines, and a Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service.
Two things there are worth acting on now:
- PG&E says it will "always do our best to alert you before a PSPS via email, phone call and/or text," and also that "in some cases we may not send the first alert until the same day your power is shut off."
- PG&E asks you to keep your contact information current, and offers Address Alerts for places you do not live at.
Why your internet goes dark with the lights
A WebPerception connection has three pieces at your property, and all three run on house power.
- The outdoor antenna, aimed at one of our tower sites.
- The PoE injector, a small indoor adapter that powers the antenna over the outdoor cable and feeds your router.
- The router, which turns that one cable into WiFi and wired ports.
There is no modem, and nothing in the chain has its own battery. When the outlet behind the injector goes dead, the antenna and the router go dark together. The connection simply has nothing to run on. That is also why the injector needs an outlet that is always on: a switched outlet, a bumped power strip, or a tired surge protector can drop the antenna on an ordinary day.
A small battery backup, and a phone as the fallback
The most useful thing you can do takes about ten minutes: a small UPS, the battery backup sold for desktop computers. The injector and router are small loads next to a computer, so a modest UPS will usually carry them for a useful stretch. How long depends on the model and what else you plug in, so check the maker's runtime chart for a light load.
Four habits:
- Plug only the injector and the router into the battery-backed outlets. Leave the TV and the desktop off it.
- Plug the UPS straight into the wall, not a power strip or a switched outlet.
- Test it once by pulling the UPS plug from the wall; the injector and router lights should stay on. Repeat each September.
- Keep a laptop charged. The UPS only needs to run the connection.
If the connection is up on our side, this keeps you online for as long as the battery lasts. If it is not, the router's internet or WAN light will stay off.
A phone hotspot is the second layer. It does not depend on your house power, and it covers email, messaging, and a voice call. Two caveats: cellular signal in the hills of Marin, Sonoma, and Napa varies from one driveway to the next, so try the hotspot on a normal day where you actually sit, and it drains a phone quickly, so keep a car charger or a power bank with the go-bag.
What to check when the power comes back
Power often returns in a flicker or two, and a dip too short to notice can still leave the injector or the router confused. Wait a few minutes, then go in order.
- Look at the PoE injector. It should show a light. If it does not, check that its outlet is live.
- Look at the router. The internet or WAN light should come on within a couple of minutes.
- If either is wrong, power-cycle in order. Unplug the injector for 30 seconds and plug it back in. Then do the same with the router. Wait a few minutes before judging the result.
- Push every plug until it clicks. Both cable ends at the injector, and the WAN cable at the router.
- Still down? Call or text us at (415) 892-7711. Phone support and network monitoring are available 24/7/365, and we can see the link to your antenna from our side. Office and sales hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific.
If a flicker leaves you offline at the same hours more than once, tell us. Our connection drops guide covers the rest of that checklist.
The short version
- A PSPS is a planned safety outage. PG&E may not alert you until the same day.
- Your antenna, injector, and router all run on house power. No power, no internet.
- A small UPS on the injector and router keeps them up while the battery lasts; a phone hotspot covers the essentials after that.
- When power returns: injector light, router light, then restart the injector first and the router second.
Peter Bacigalupi described the goal in a Google review: "Installation and all communication was professional, pleasant, and courteous. Very satisfied with the available options, consistent speeds, and haven't been disconnected since installation. Very satisfied". Being ready for the power to go is how you keep it that way on the days it matters.
Not a customer yet, and wondering whether a rooftop antenna could reach your address? Check availability and we will survey your property before anyone commits to anything, or contact us with a question. You can also call or text (415) 892-7711.
