On 28/12/2013 10:16, Artic wrote:
Dave Liquorice scribbled...


On Fri, 27 Dec 2013 18:21:53 +0000, robert wrote:

With smart phones accessing such information has become feasible as long
as the local Mobile network is not down.

Which in the event of a wide area power outage the mobile networks
are very likely to be down. Very few cells have much, if any, backup
power.

The more we rely on technology and get used to resilient services ...

The mobile networks are anything but resilient. If they were
resilient they would stay working short of the aerials/masts failing.
A simple loss of mains power should not be a problem for *any* half
decent resilient system.

... the more we are unprepared and suffer when they do occasionally
fail.

Agreed, I wonder how many people have a reliable, non-tech, backup
for their satnav, in the car where they are most likely to need it?
And of those how many would know how to use that backup?


Exactly why would someone be travelling to a unknown destination in such
bad weather?

The destination might be well known - but the route not. A number of
years ago I needed to go from London area to mid-Wales - a route I know
very well, and both ends I know very well. The heavy rain was causing
such bad delays on the M40 that I went off across country. Satnav would
have been most useful - but I made do with my memory, signs and maps
because I did not then have satnav. Despite that I arrived many hours
ahead of a friend who decided to stay on the motorway at the same time.
Despite having to drive carefully to avoid abandoned vehicles along a
lot of the route.

--
Rod