Posted: 12/31/2007 10:44:36 PM EDT
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OK So tonight by no means was SHTF BUT this just makes you wonder about those of you who rely on cell phones. 1) I am on Verizon, the top cell service in Metro Detroit (and US) I NEVER have issues with getting calls out. 2) Midnight, of course everyone is calling their friends to wish a happy new year and all of that BUT I can tell you it took me 7 minutes to get any call going to my local area to go through, took 7 min for the first one (kept giving me all circuits are busy or fasy busy. Calls out of state went smooth. Text messages were no issue either.... 3) Have backup plans set up for getting in touch with the family make sure your plan does not "block" text messages as you may need to rely on these and make sure your family knows how to . use them. Also, have 3 out of state contacts set up that you can all call in hopes of getting info relayed to eachother as for some reason this issue only seems to be wiht calls in your own area... I noticed this when I was in Las Vegas in the Midwest Blackout a couple years ago as no one in Detroit could get anyone else in town. As I was in Vegas I was able to contact everyone and served as a relay station for friends and their family. Tell me what other plans you guys have??? This really makes me think, the recent rush of doom movies has me wondering if we need to start to worry a bit more so I am starting a plan and storage for me, my father, my GF and her parents and siblings.... I do not worry about TEOTWAWKI but I do think we are going to have some things which shut us down for a few days or even weeks and those who are not ready will die.... My fears are chem weapons, germs like Bird Flu etc, and who knows what else... |
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For disclosure, I'm a land line telco switching systems tech & back up for a couple cell sites. Jyogi the congestion (all ckts busy) you experinced was because the way cell companies divide call traffic. Most of the trucks (ckts) are dedicated for local in state use. A small percentage are set aside for interstate calls. As you described, the spike in volume occurs about 11:56pm & continues until about 12:15am for local then fades back to normal volumes. The other concern I have about cell service in a SHTF incident is that most cell towers do not have back up power systems in place to run anything more than the becon lights. This is especially true in rural areas. Often the cell techs will haul portable generators to a sight from a hundred or so miles away. That is if they don't expect power to be restored within about a 6hr window. If power is out in a very widespread area, like Oklahoma recently, rural cell service will be neglected in favor of those areas with higher population centers. |
Yea cell phones can be a tool, but dont completely depend on them, Here in SC Ice stoms are the ocassional biggies. I have seen our cell service fall off for several days. |
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As a back up plan, I picked up a Coba 2-way radio, 8 mile range for each member of the family.. I know I won't get that kind or range, but even a mile or 2 will work for me... the kids keep the radio and their cell phones with them all the time. My instructions to them are "if anything happend... anything outside of normal... turn on the radio and just listen for me." The correct frequency is maked on the radio and they carry an extra set of batteries. Might not work, but better than depending on only a jambed cell system... |
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I tried to call my girlfriend after work at 12:10 EST, and was unable to get through. I figured the cell system was maxed out. I have amatuer and GMRS radios for backup, but she is not a radio person. If the power and cell phone systems go down for any length of time, she will join the zombies since watching TV and talking on here cell phone is about all she does in her spare time. As for the GMRS/FRS radios, good to have something for a backup plan. Most people have nothing. RS |
Well that answers a few questions! My family's secondary backup plan is using my Wife's parents who are out of state to relay messages back and forth. Its good to hear this may actually work! What about the Nextel type talking? I believe pretty much every carrier has that option now (Like Walkie Talkies.) How does that stand in the realm of this situation? Would they potentially be better If TSHTF? (Sorry for the slight Hijack but I thought it may fit in.  )Thanks! |
ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=607817 ar-jedi |
the limitations are usually not at the class 5 (local) or 4 (tandem/toll) CO switch, but at the cell site node and interconnect. the BSC has just so much call capacity, the backhaul has just so much call capacity, the MSC has just so much call capacity, and so on. ar-jedi <-- former 5ESS HW developer |
I have digital phone service thru the cable company. I would lose it all when the power goes out if i did not have batterry back up. The fiber node on my street has abut 8 hours of batterry backup before the street goes down for good. But if someone where to deploy a back up generator at the sight/ street it could stay up indefenetly the main hubs are always on back up power mostly NG and LP. But I still have a verison and nextel as standby. ( I may or may not work for a cable provider.)
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