I question the reliability of using the internet to alert you, but it certainly could be the cheapest route. Here is what I would do:
1) run a reliable computer on a UPS (i would suggest an old machine running linux, but windows xp should work as well)
2) make sure all internet equipment is on a UPS (ie. router, modem, etc.) so that a power outage will not kill your computers connection to the cable line/DSL
3) when the power goes out, the UPS has a USB/serial interface to the computer that can run an alert program. you can write a program that will send an email to your cellphone number. for example, if i send a message to
5555555555@verizon.com, it will send a text message to my phone number. now, my cell phone is alerted via text message. i am assuming that most cell phone carriers have this internet text messaging capability.
4) for redundancy, you can have the computer dial-in via phone line if the broadband cable connection goes out. often times the phone will be active while the cable and power are out.
In addition, you can use the "heartbeat" methods (or active browsing systems like webcams or webpage status indicators) described above to alert you when the internet goes out. this will cover you even when the power goes out and the UPS/email is unable to send out the warning message. These warning suffer from false positives, but at least you could get a neighbor to check on these types of alerts.
By the way, if your ISP changes your IP address (many do), you can register with a free service like no-ip.com and get a dynamic DNS. you can then run a program on your computer to update the dynamic DNS with your IP information on a set interval (ie. every 10 minutes). then, you never need to worry about your IP address changing.
this is what I plan to do with my new set-up. It will be a 24g nano, so I do not want to spend $500-$1000 on a more reliable system if my livestock is only worth $500. This system should be reliable enough for me. yes, it does require some computer known-how, but RC-geeks tend to be good at these sorts of things. :bum:
good luck! and let us know what you go with.
