Dialing 911

[1930]

Someone told me a couple weeks ago that if I was out on my property where there is no cell phone signal that if I dial 911 it would still bounce off some other carriers tower and the call would go through?

A local firefighter I was talking to told me this.

I have no cell phone signal on my property no internet no nothing.

I've had other people on my property who have various carriers and there is no signal to be found.

The first time I had seen anyone get a signal was last weekend when someone came out that had Verizon and their phone did work intermittently.

Anyway I tried dialing 911 just to see if it would work and nothing at all happened.

The firefighter told me that some sort of legislation was passed a few years ago that it was supposed to work no matter where you were?

Can someone clarify on this situation?

 

[RandyT]

Cell phones even without a service plan can still be used to dial 911 but if you don't have a signal it would be like trying to dial 911 with a landline phone with the wires cut. Couple that with the fact if you did have service and actually got the call to go through there is a 20% chance that they could properly locate you without a physical address. If you want close to 100% chance of finding you, you need to use an app to order a pizza with a side order of fire department because the pizza delivery is close to 100% without an address.

 

[BRMyers]

RandyT hit it, you have to have a signal from a carrier, maybe not your carrier, but a carrier. All carriers have to accept a 911 call even from phones with no plans. Yet without a signal, you aren't getting any help.

 

[RNeumann]

Sounds like you need to switch to Verizon. And don’t trust firefighters.......haha

 

[CADplans]

At my shed, there is zero cell "call" capability,,, BUT,,,
I can 100% of the time send a text message,,,

Maybe the OP needs to try to send a text pizza order, with a side of PD,,,?? :thumbsup:

 

[snymat68]

This is completely dependent on the hardware in the cell phone. Not all carriers use the same technology. Some are CDMA and some are GSM. Those required different sets of hardware and can't communicate with each other, whether you're in range or not. Some phones have both technologies incorporated and MIGHT be able to connect across any carrier's towers when calling 911.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I mentioned this a while ago. Everyone, especially in rural areas should make a 911 check. Two reasons, signal and location.
As mentioned here if no signal, regardless of the service, it won't work. If that's the case you would have to utilize something else like amateur radio to get out.
At my Mom's place as well as here I made a 911 check. To do that you call your local non emergency sheriff's office. You'll get the same dispatch, explain you're doing a 911 non emergency test.
At Mom's I was told is was within a 1 mile radius of that tower. I spoke with my friend the sheriff who fixed the problem linking her phone number to exact location. I then checked her medic alert system and all was well.
Here the test gave the general location. Again they fixed the problem so our three phones are linked to this address.

 

[snymat68]

I mentioned this a while ago. Everyone, especially in rural areas should make a 911 check. Two reasons, signal and location.
As mentioned here if no signal, regardless of the service, it won't work. If that's the case you would have to utilize something else like amateur radio to get out.
At my Mom's place as well as here I made a 911 check. To do that you call your local non emergency sheriff's office. You'll get the same dispatch, explain you're doing a 911 non emergency test.
At Mom's I was told is was within a 1 mile radius of that tower. I spoke with my friend the sheriff who fixed the problem linking her phone number to exact location. I then checked her medic alert system and all was well.
Here the test gave the general location. Again they fixed the problem so our three phones are linked to this address.

I'm a licensed operator. Just so everyone knows, for normal use of ham radios, you need to be licensed by the FCC. (The test to get your basic (technician) license isn't that difficult.) HOWEVER, for EMERGENCY purposes, it is legal for anyone to use ham radio, even without a license. But there IS a little bit of knowledge required to familiarize yourself with the technology and practices, so getting licensed is a good way to get practice.

Edit: To clarify, anyone can listen to ham radio. You only need a license to transmit (for non-emergencies).

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would hardly DARE call our local snarky, talk down at you, 911 operators to make a test. I'm sure they would chew you out for tying up the service. Too bad there wasn't a similar number for non emergency stuff, or tests. Maybe even automated. Or Dial 911 and press something to initiate a test.

I remember when you could dial "0" and an operator would answer immediately. Always friendly, helpful with infinite patience it seemed.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I would hardly DARE call our local snarky, talk down at you, 911 operators to make a test. I'm sure they would chew you out for tying up the service. Too bad there wasn't a similar number for non emergency stuff, or tests. Maybe even automated. Or Dial 911 and press something to initiate a test.

All emergency services I'm aware of have a non-emergency number. No one should ever dial 911 saying this is a test!