Mobile 911--Cel phone for 911 only

[Ledbetter]

Check this out. It's a Magnavox cel phone that only dials 911. Federal regs require cel carriers to accept all 911 calls, so you don't pay monthly charges because you're not a subscriber. All you pay is a one-time charge for the phone.
http://www.mobile911.com/all_about/item.asp

[Mike Baugh]

I was told that you can do the 911 call with any cell phone , it does not have to have a service agreement . So if this is true you can buy an old cell phone at a garage sale for $10 , or use your old one when you upgrade , and as long as the battery is charged you can dial 911 , just no other number . Someone jump in if this is incorrect . Good luck , Mike...

[Gopher .45]

Mike Baugh is correct on this. If you go the garage sale rounte, just make sure the phone works by dialing any number other than 911 and hit the SEND key. If you get the system error recording saying there is no service provided...yaddy yaddy yaddy, then the phone functions and 911 calls will work.

[TomMarker]

This may sound like an odd question, but I'm just grossly unaware of how the 911 system works. :)

If you're travelling away from home, and you dial 911, how does it know which 911 to connect you to? Will it connect you to the closest one, or the one on the other side of the nation where your phone was programmed?

[Mike Baugh]

I believe 911 calls go to the 911 switchboard nearest the cell you are in . The mobile phone company can tell exactly where you are at when you place a call , I was having trouble with low signal in a certain area on my way to work and when I called the providers help number they told me the exact intersection I was at and what direction I was heading . Good luck , Mike...

[funinsun]

Tom, to answer and confuse you some more...

If you are familiar with cell phones and calling out of state, you "roam" or "ride" on another service provider in that area so that is how you would connect with 911. If you are from FL and you are in TX and dial 911 you would be riding on texas' service so it would connect w/911 there. To confuse the piont more, when you do dial 911 you are directed towards the STATE POLICE not local city police. This has been a problem for them since they are inadated w/calls and its not their area. The state police have no idea were you are you have to tell them and then they connect you with the local police in that area. I have done this a few times, witnessing car accidents, one theft, and some other stuff. Its a great service and I would no sooner want to leave my cell phone @ home than my permit and gun. Hope this helped.

[Billy Sparks]

Cell calls go to what the phone feels is the closest tower. I have dialed 911 and ended up with a different counties 911 center.

[TomMarker]

you guys rock..
thanks for the info :)

Tom

(I'm going to have to charge that ol phone)

[Ledbetter]

Thanks for the educational responses.

Ledbetter

[bk40]

IMO, a cell phone should be considered an essential part of everyone's defensive gear for home, vehicle and carry.
Check pawn shops for good deals also.

[Gopher .45]

Here in Texas, I keep a cell phone as part of a "storm pack" next to the bed with the flash light, and a few essentials. While storms (and sometimes BGs) may knock out normal land lines, cell phones will often work. bk40 is right in that they would be an essential part of a home's defensive gear, and for the car as well.

[Ledbetter]

After hanging out here for a while now, I see that you guys are right about a cel phone being essential. My wife and I didn't want to incur monthly charges etc., so I went ahead and got one of these Magnavox phones last week. My wife now carries it in her purse at all times, and her purse stays in our bedroom at night. And it feels good knowing that she has it when she leaves for work.

[Mal H]

This is one of those LSNED (learn something new every day) things. I had an old cell phone that isn't registered for any service. I called 911 to see what would happen. I got the 911 operator and told her I pressed the wrong button. That phone is now my permanent bedroom 911 connection. Thanks all.

[G50AE]

Federal regulations require all celluar cariers to accept 911 calls from any cell phone, even if it does not have any service. IMHO the FCC made a big goof when they insituted this rule and should change it. Because of free-loaders who don't want to pay their fair share, all celluar bills contain a 911 tax. This tax is to pay for all of the free-loaders who don't have service but still call 911 from their cell phones.

[TEXAS LAWMAN]

I believe Enhanced-911 is soon to include a feature where the location of cellular 911 callers will be pinpointed for dispatchers.

I appreciate hearing of the "no fee" 911 ability. I see cheap used cell phones at garage sales frequently.

[G50AE]

Actually I would like to see the FCC allow carriers to request a major credit card when a non-seviced phone calls 911 through their towers. That way they can charge a fair market fee for the call instead of stiffing the paying customers with the bill.

[Erick Gelhaus]

FYI- In California, and possibly some other states, cellular 9-1-1 calls go the nearest Highway Patrol (state police) dispatch center, not the local sheriff / police department.

In the San Francisco Bay Area the center is in Benecia. While working a day shift, I listened on the scanner, for an hour, while officers and a dispatcher tried to figure out if the reported traffic accident was: Highway 101 in Healdsburg or Hwy 101 in Hillsborough. The two towns are about 80 miles & 4 counties apart.

My humble suggestion is have the direct dial numbers for the agencies whose areas you are frequently in written down.

Erick

[Ledbetter]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by G50AE:
This tax is to pay for all of the free-loaders who don't have service but still call 911 from their cell phones.[/quote]

The airwaves are public property. Don't you want people to be able to report crimes, regardless of their status as a cellular "subscriber?"

A Freeloader,

Ledbetter

[G50AE]

The 800 MHz cellular band was allocated for use by mobile telephone carriers for providing a service to their subscribers. If you want a publicly alocated band you can use FRS or CB. Allowing freeloaders to use the cellular carriers without paying is like allowing people to fly on an airline without buying a ticket, who do you think pays for it?

[45King]

It should be noted that this is not only true of cellular phones, but standard phones as well. Any place which has a phone jack that is properly wired will allow 911 calls, even if there is no regular phone service.

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Shoot straight & make big holes, regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center (http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=45acp45lc)

[Mal H]

I'm not so sure about that. I think you need to have a dial tone (indicating a connection to an exchange) in order to complete any call on a wire line. You won't have a dial tone if the service has been disconnected.