Internet Connectivity During Loadshedding: How to Stay Online
Internet connectivity during loadshedding is possible with battery backups, UPS, mobile hotspots, and simple router tricks. Learn fast, practical fixes to maintain consistent access and avoid downtime. 🔋🌐
|
Loading tags...
The dreaded beep, then darkness. Loadshedding strikes again. Your game lags out, the stream dies, and your work grinds to a halt. But what if your biggest frustration isn't the lights, but the sudden Wi-Fi blackout? For many South Africans, losing internet connectivity during loadshedding is the real problem. The good news? Keeping your router and fibre box powered up is surprisingly simple and affordable, ensuring you stay online when it matters most. 🚀
Understanding the Problem: Why Your Wi-Fi Vanishes
When Eskom flips the switch, it's not just your lights that go out. Your internet connection relies on two small but crucial devices in your home: your Wi-Fi router and, if you have fibre, your Optical Network Terminal (ONT). Both plug into the wall and need constant power to function.
Even if your Internet Service Provider's network is running on backup power, your personal hardware isn't. This is the critical failure point for your internet during power cuts, and the reason why a solid loadshedding internet solution is essential.
The Simple Fix: Powering Your Router and ONT
The most effective way to maintain internet connectivity during loadshedding is with an Uninterruptible Power Supply, or UPS. Think of it as a smart power bank for your essential devices. A "mini-UPS" is a compact unit designed specifically for routers and ONTs. It sits between your device and the wall socket, and when the power cuts, it instantly takes over, providing hours of backup power. 🔌
You don't need a massive, expensive system just to keep your Wi-Fi alive. Many of these mini-UPS devices are user-friendly and won't break the bank. You can find a range of affordable UPS options under R800 that are perfect for this exact job. They often come with multiple output voltages and adapter tips to fit most routers straight out of the box.
TIP FOR YOU
Check Your Power Specs! 🔧
Before you buy a mini-UPS, flip over your router and ONT's power adapters. Look for the 'Output' details. You'll see a voltage (e.g., 12V or 9V) and amperage (e.g., 1A or 2A). Your mini-UPS must match this voltage to work safely and effectively. Most modern units are compatible, but a quick check saves a lot of headaches!
Beyond Just Internet: Keeping Your Whole Setup Running
So, your internet is sorted. But what if you want to keep your entire gaming rig or work-from-home PC running through Stage 4? That's when you level up from a mini-UPS to a full-sized one. These larger units are designed to handle the much higher power draw of a desktop PC, monitor, and your networking gear all at once.
A proper UPS gives you a crucial window of time to save your work, finish your online match, or simply ride out a shorter outage without interruption. Sizing is key here; a unit's VA (Volt-Ampere) rating tells you how much of a load it can handle. For a typical gaming PC and monitor, you'd look at something in the 650VA to 1200VA range. Evetech has a wide selection of Uninterruptible Power Supplies to suit any setup, from a basic work machine to a high-end gaming beast. 💡
Ready to Beat Loadshedding? Don't let power cuts disconnect you from your game, your work, or your world. A simple UPS is the key to reliable internet connectivity during loadshedding. Explore our complete range of UPS solutions and find the perfect power backup to conquer the blackout.
Use a UPS or battery backup for your router, or switch to a mobile hotspot. These backup power for home internet methods keep you online.
Choose a UPS with 300–600VA or a 100–300Wh battery to run a router and modem for several hours depending on load; ideal for UPS for router setups.
Yes—high-capacity power banks with 12V DC or inverter output can power routers. Look for portable power banks for routers with sufficient watt-hours.
Small solar kits with a battery and inverter can power modems and routers, offering reliable off-grid internet solutions during extended outages.
Mobile hotspots provide instant internet during loadshedding; tethering or dedicated hotspot plans are effective temporary mobile hotspot during loadshedding solutions.
Use surge protectors and quality UPS units to prevent damage. Good surge protection complements UPS for router and modem safety.
Lower LED brightness, disable unused radios, and set sleep schedules. These router power-saving tips reduce consumption when running on battery or UPS.
Related Articles
