cell phone signal: True or false?

[Dunckel]

I have heard that regardless of the strength of the cell phone signal, a person will be able to call and reach 911. I would think if you don't have signal, you aren't going to get anyone.

Also, if you have a cell phone, but aren't currently with a carrier, (you aren't paying a monthly bill, or aren't pre-paid) you can still call 911.

Reason is, my dad likes to go hunting way out in the middle of nowhere. He has his location turned on, but if he gets hurt or lost, will the phone still be able to get out, or at least give off a signal?

 

[trucker]

i think you have to have signal to get 911


but any phone that gets signal is supposed to get 911

 

[GrimJack]

You need signal first.

Any cell phone with battery power can call 911, at least in Canada and the USA.

 

[Quin]

They can also GPS track anyone missing/on the run through the cell phone. I don't think that requires a signal like a normal call would, as it's to a satellite and not a tower, but I could be wrong.

 

[suprarx7nut]

They can also GPS track anyone missing/on the run through the cell phone. I don't think that requires a signal like a normal call would, as it's to a satellite and not a tower, but I could be wrong.

Ya. I'm nearly positive the location works regaurdless of "service level"(number of bars).

I thought the location feature was through GPS which has nothing to do with cell phone calls.


As for 911 calling.... gonna need service. But if he's missing for days, the cell should be trackable as long as it's turned on. (from what i understand)

 

[Dunckel]

Yeah, I'm not real sure either. When we bought the phones from Verizon, the guy said that if the location is turned on, and let's say my car is stolen, and the phone is in the car. I would be able to call the police and they would be able to track the car to it's location. On a side note, if anyone is wondering if the VZ Navigator is any good, it is. Very accurate. The only bad thing is, if the phone loses signal (bars), the GPS quits working until you get reception again.

Ehh. I was just wondering. My friend told me that the 911 feature would work even if the phone had no signal. Didn't make sense to me at the time, but I don't know enough about phone towers, cell phones, or satellites to disagree.

 

[Dirgle]

If you dial 911 from a cell phone it's authorized to use ANY cell tower to make the call, not just towers your carrier is allowed to use. If your cell phone has no signal your carrier might not have any towers in the area. There still may be other towers, but your phone is not authorized to be on them so it shows no signal. But If you dial 911 it will allow your phone on that tower thus looking like you can dial 911 even when there is no signal. So long story short, you have to be able to reach a cell tower to call 911, If your hunting in BFE this might not be possible.

Also, GPS satellites only transmit, they do not receive. It is a simple basic timing pulse, nothing fancy. So even if your cell phone receives a GPS signal, it cannot tell anyone where it is unless it has signal with a cell tower. So GPS tracking needs contact with a GPS system as well as cell towers.

 

[Quin]

If you dial 911 from a cell phone it's authorized to use ANY cell tower to make the call, not just towers your carrier is allowed to use. If your cell phone has no signal your carrier might not have any towers in the area. There still may be other towers, but your phone is not authorized to be on them so it shows no signal. But If you dial 911 it will allow your phone on that tower thus looking like you can dial 911 even when there is no signal. So long story short, you have to be able to reach a cell tower to call 911, If your hunting in BFE this might not be possible.

Also, GPS satellites only transmit, they do not receive. It is a simple basic timing pulse, nothing fancy. So even if your cell phone receives a GPS signal, it cannot tell anyone where it is unless it has signal with a cell tower. So GPS tracking needs contact with a GPS system as well as cell towers.

I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing that up.