Quote:
Originally Posted by swaghauler
The disruption occurs from THREE sources...
1) Fried telephones that got surged when the EMP came down the lines. This partially saves the lines because the telephone "grounds out" the surge. The phone is killed but the line will be spared as a result of this grounding. This is why you are advised to NEVER talk on an analog telephone during a lightning storm. YOU ARE THE GROUND!
2) Loss of grounding in periodic junctures along the line. Since the lines carry a small electric charge to power the phones, there are grounds every so many miles as well as booster stations to keep the current flow steady. These would be "shorted" during a power surge. In fact, they sort of act like "surge suppressors" by channeling excess voltage out of the system to mitigate damage.
3) Switching Stations. These replaced the old "operator system" with computerized switching that allowed you to call regionally or nationally. These stations also contained the power boosters to keep the lines current stable. These would be HEAVILY DAMAGED by EMP due to the number of phone lines coming in and the fact that many switchers were already operating at or above recommended capacities to provide the needed communication services. Here is where the real work would be.
A typical phone system will have one switching/booster substation and perhaps three or four connector boxes (which also act as boosters) in a 10-mile radius. You've probably seen the boxes situated along the road near intersections. They are about 3ft tall by 4ft wide and collect the lines coming from side roads before sending a larger line up the pole they are mounted on
Some have no visible pole because the lines are underground. This commonly done in cities. In fact, cities may place the switching/booster stations and the lines in underground vaults. PGH PA does this as well as Cleveland and Philly.
I hope that helps
Swag.
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I'm from the Pittsburgh area although I reside in Eastern Ohio, just north of Wheeling. I know just down the street from me, Frontier Communications has their central office for their lines. Also, back during the Cold War, Ma Bell used Pittsburgh as one of their major communications hub.