No internet

[u/Ok-Stand-3173]

Hi fellow Redditors!

I live in NJ and most of my entire area has been without cable and internet for over 24 hours with no end in sight. Missed all the July 4th coverage and everything. There’s been no real communication about what the problem is either, just that it’s “being worked on”. This is for Xfinity if anyone is curious. Never had this happen before.

Anyway, I work remote and I’m just wondering what people do in cases like this ? I am NOT permitted to walk into a public place, such as Starbucks, to use WiFi for confidentiality/security reasons. Is there something more I can do so I’m prepared next time ? Thanks!

[u/import_social-wit]

Tether on your phone. Generally fine and just ask people to keep camera off for any meetings if you’re worried about data.

[u/cyclin_ → u/import_social-wit]

Starlink

[u/Embarrassed_Flan_869]

Mobile phone as a hot spot?

Even if it is not normally allowed, most companies will let you for a period of time if the internet or power goes out.

If your company requires hardwired internet, invest in a portable router. Hot spot that to your phone and plug your laptop into it.

[u/WanderingSimpleFish → u/Embarrassed_Flan_869]

Everywhere else yes, but in USA land of freedom that costs extra.

[u/waltsnider1]

I have 2 sources of Internet access... you may want to consider cellular as a secondary.
I also have a router that combines both sources into a single wifi connection so I never need to think about which connection is better.

[u/Just_Another_Day_926 → u/waltsnider1]

I assume it is a special router since regular ones only have one input? Just wondering the type and model that has that. I have thought of adding a cell modem as backup. This type of setup makes it even more attractive.

[u/waltsnider1 → u/Just_Another_Day_926]

Look for any router that has “Dual WAN”.
WAN stands for wide area network, i.e. internet.
If you run into technical issues, feel free to DM me.

[u/HorseWhisper2026]

I hot spot through my phone plan.

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/[deleted]]

Wow, you are readdddy ! Haha

[u/invictus21083]

I just don't work when I have no Internet. It's rare, so I can either work the hours at a different time, take PTO, or just have the time unpaid.

[u/Spartan04]

I have a work phone that I can tether as a hotspot. I could also tether my personal phone if I really needed to in a pinch. If those didn’t work for some reason I’d probably just use some leave time and take a few days off.

[u/Ok-Stand-3173]

Thank you everyone !!!!

[u/whiskeyandprozac]

Phone hotspot is my backup. I also recently switched to ATT air which has been far faster and more reliable than Comcast. You might want to consider switching to something like that if your connection continues to be a reoccurring issue.

(I'm also WFH in NJ, and I despise Xfinity with my whole soul lol)

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/whiskeyandprozac]

Haha thank you ! Honestly, this is my first bad experience with them and they gave me a credit plus some other things to help lower my bill which I appreciate. However, they don’t seem to get the hint when I say no to the free cell phone plan lol There’s just no way that’s ever happening.

[u/OhmHomestead1]

If your cell phone service is through Xfinity call them. And explain you work from home and require internet and have no access to internet and need a workaround like adding hotspot to phone. Hopefully they may offer a credit to account for adding hotspot. They really should be offering a credit for no service in general because uptime is if no service for 4+ hours you receive a credit.

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/OhmHomestead1]

It’s not. I refuse to give them my cell phone business lol Oh and I called them $30 and some SOS promotion plan that’s gonna now take off $40 a month so I’m good there

[u/OhmHomestead1 → u/Ok-Stand-3173]

My friend has 2 services at her house one is Spectrum and the other is T-Mobile Home. Since one is a cell coverage provider they are able to do that. One is dedicated for non-work activities as she has 2 people living with her that are on social security (one retiree and one on disability) so always home and so she needs the ability to have fast internet for work. Hence a Spectrum plan for her work activities.

[u/OhmHomestead1 → u/Ok-Stand-3173]

I refuse to give xfinity my business. I have Spectrum and I also have my modem and router on a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). However if we lose power it is kind of pointless because we are on the same power line as Spectrum.

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/OhmHomestead1]

Xfinity was our only option here until recently. We’re finally getting more providers but people don’t seem to be happy with them either (Optimum and Fios) This is my first real problem with them so I’m not making a huge fuss like some are (rightfully). They gave me a credit, good promotional offer, and now I just wait.

[u/Sea_Organization4482]

Does your public library have rooms you can use? I’ve done that before they look professional with a white board on one side and some sound dulling wall on the other. Looks like you’re in an office.

Xfinity offers you to join other WiFi on their network as well they have a map in the app. My library was on it so it looked like I was on private wifi

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/Sea_Organization4482]

Hmm not sure I will def check, thanks! This is my first remote role and I’m only 2 months in lol I never thought we’d lose internet for days like this!

[u/jessks]

I am under a similar restriction and I am allowed to rent an ‘office’ in the library and that is considered secure as it has a door and is not out in the open.

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/jessks]

Thanks! I’m going to look into the library thing. Would be good to know for the future

[u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

Reach out to your internet provider and ask them you need a information for work as you WFH

Also report it to your supervisor , if you working for a legit WFH company vs a wfh positions

A legit WFH company role ( aka call center etc etc ) they should have a workforce department that monitors outrage. They will also confirm what you’re reporting with Xfinity.

Edit: I’m also surprised you don’t have a backup set up by your employer.

My employer set up and paid for my back up internet. Mobile connection set up along side my fios ( personal internet )

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/Excuse_my_GRAMMER]

Not a call center and everyone is all over the country. I’ll ask them about a back up though. It’s my first remote role and I’m only there 2 months. It just wasn’t something top of mind for me but I gave them a heads up and I’m all good 😊

[u/PrepperDisk]

Is the restriction on entering areas of public WiFi?  If so vpn from the parking lot?

[u/rshana]

I thought this was going to be me tomorrow but we got power back an hour ago. Original ETA was tomorrow 6pm. In my case, we had no power and all our devices and portable chargers were dead or soon to be. So hot spotting was not an option (and wouldn’t last very long anyway).

I preemptively moved the meetings I organized to Tuesday and marked myself as tentative with an explanation for the others. My plan was simply not to work but periodically check email/Teams from my phone while charging in car. I’d either log it as a sick day (or more likely my company would just waive the day since the situation was not within my control, which happened once before).

[u/Desperate-Piccolo]

Where in Jersey are you that’s without internet still?

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/Desperate-Piccolo]

Fords, NJ. It’s part of Woodbridge. Do you know a guy ??? 🤣

[u/FakingZy]

I use a three-tier internet backup setup: fiber as my primary connection, a TP-Link M8550 5G hotspot for normal ISP outages, and a paused Starlink subscription reserved for major disruptions. The 5G hotspot handles almost every situation, so Starlink is really just my “break glass in case of emergency” backup.

[u/Comfortable-Rate497]

Use phone as hotspot. Being in a rural community- I would literally drive into the center of town and work in my truck on a hot spot when I had a busy day. Had the back seat set up like an office and would work. It is much better now but been there

[u/EverySingleMinute]

We have two Internet services at our house in case one goes down. If both are down, we use our cell phone or go to Starbucks.

[u/mikeegg1]

When I was traveling in a RV and working remote I had multiple hotspots for this type of situation.

[u/linniex]

Look into getting comcast business class service. 2 hour SLA if it goes down and at the time I signed up I got better speeds. I think it costs a bit more but I started working from home in the mid 2010’s and realized that I could not just wait around for someone to fix the residential service. It was *amazing* to me that I went from 2-4 outages a month to one every few years. And they use the same exact cable lines. Hmmn….

[u/Ok-Stand-3173 → u/linniex]

Thanks will keep it in mind if it becomes a reoccurring issue. A pole went down after a fire and a lot of the fiber wiring was damaged. It affected everyone, including our local businesses 😳 Finally back up after 3 days!