What is AT&T's policy on this? A Ford F-150 AT&T service truck has been in front of our house idling for 5+ hours. Is there some reason for this, or just a tech wanting to have the a/c on when he returns?
^Nope; couldn't find anything on their website, or forums. Was hoping our resident AT&T guy with the submarine avatar might chime in.
(In my area this happens more in winter) My cable company has generators on it's service trucks, durring power outages the truck may be unable to make service calls as it is running as a generator for some part of the plant (dishes, head end, nodes, etc.) that provides service to customer outsde the failure. AT&T has various equipment in the field (DSLAMs, FRADs, etc.) that may need to be powered. If the truck has enough electrical/electronic gear (lights, radios etc.) the battery may die unless it remains powered on. Or your tech may be addicted to A/C.
I tried it once as a prank - we were all young and foolish once, right? - on a parked car. The next morning, the guy couldn't get his car started and had to call a tow truck. After a jump to restore the dead battery, the potato fired out with quite a force, and the engine ran fine. Off he went, no damage but for the delay and annoyance. Would it work on an engine already running? I don't know - well, I guess mythbusters answered that for us - but it was a funny thought.
Since learning about how little gas is needed to start a car (10 seconds worth or so), I've become very in-tune with idling cars. Jason Bourne secretly notices every license plate in his visual range. Superman can covertly scan women's panties. I stealthily detect idling vehicles while walking down the street. Now I just need a superpower to do something about it.
