😱 What is your BACKUP when you lose CELL SERVICE?

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

Gone are the days when a Landline was around.

Gosh, even the Public Telephone Booths have disappeared.

Thanks,

Nicole  👵

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

Do YOU have a way to make and receive calls "especially" during an emergency IF you LOSE CELL PHONE SERVICE? ‌‌🤔‌‌

If YES, what is it...

Thanks,

Nicole ‌‌👵‌‌

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

CHECK YOUR WI-FI SETTING BEFORE YOU HAVE AN OUTAGE!!!  👍

If your service goes down, your phone will connect to the internet if you’re on WiFi. And, if you make one change in settings, calls and texts will go through.

In settings under cellular, turn on “Wi-Fi” calling. When a wifi signal is stronger than a cell signal, the call will be placed over the internet. But, you’ll need to change this setting when you have a cellular network signal. You may not be able to change the setting in SOS mode.

It’s important to make the changes before there’s an outage. Because all of the providers have had issues in the past, and all will likely have outages from time to time.

https://www.waka.com/2024/02/23/what-the-tech-how-to-prepare-for-the-next-cell-phone-service-outage/

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

ANYONE OWN A WALKIE TALKIE/RADIO OR SATELLITE PHONE?  🤔  I DO NOT!  👵

How to communicate without cell service?

[1] Walkie talkies or multi-pack handheld radios may be an option to communicate short distances.

[2] Satellite phones are an expensive but reliable way to communicate when power is out and can be purchased online.

Thanks,

Nicole  👵

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

@Frozenoem , sounds like I need to move to Maine!!!  Nicole 👵

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[*** @Frozenoem wrote:

In my area rural Maine mountains, we still have 2 pay phones in town, great for AT hikers . And most have landlines as well as, cells that connect through wifi when towers aren’t happy.  

Twice this year towers have stopped working.  

Froze  ***]

[sc10]

I wonder why I am seeing this message everyday for a while now. The same message is also on another thread?

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

And your point is what @sc10 ????

Why does it matter, just IGNORE what posts you I guess DO NOT approve of.

The AARP Moderators are doing their job and letting us (members) KNOW what can be posted.

*** Do you work for AARP - nope, just a regular person like me ***  🙄🙄🙄

Now go ENJOY the rest of your day. 

And I will be posting it again tomorrow just so you can post about it/lol  🤣😂

Do I have the time to TRACK what OTHER members post?

Nope, TOO BUSY...  👍👍👍

[GailL1]

@SpringIsHereSoHappy 

I don’t know how you read and post but many of us use the RECENT POST summary on the opening page so we see all the post regardless of the board it was posted on - we see them all.  I don't subscribe to any of the post or the boards.   I get nothing via email from this site or any other unless it is from management and then they send it directly to me on one matter, whatever that might be.

So the way you are keeping your post at the top of all the boards because you post the same things over and over and over again and make them show up on top - then we see every one of them over and over and over.

Sometimes when I look at this list of RECENT POST in the morning, all I see is post from @SpringIsHereSoHappy - over and over and over - usually asking a question or the same question over, over and over.

I see a whole [ipad] page of post from @SpringIsHereSoHappy - or another of your ID synonyms.  Now some of the boards are the same.  

I understand that your motives might be to encourage others to add into the post but I don’t think that is working - never has since I’ve been here [since 2008].

We see, what we see, day after day; sometimes hour by hour and it just gets monotonous to the eyes [and brain]

No offense

[DirkB349973]

I keep getting the same posts showing up in my emails with no new information. I wondered why that was happening. I thought it was an AARP site bug.

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

HOW TO STOP GETTING EMAILS ABOUT THIS THREAD!!!  👍👍👍

To stop getting emails about this thread, 📸  please see attached picture. 📸 You can UNSUBSCRIBE. Thanks, Nicole  👵

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

Oh my goodness @DirkB349973 , please UNSUBSCRIBE from this thread = NO more emails received!!!  👍👍👍

Now can we please move pass this...  🙃🙃🙃

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

[1] @GailL1 , I had this SAME discussion with AARP Moderator @Underbat when some OTHER members posted this SAME thing.

[2] Any questions ABOUT MY POSTS, please PM him.

[3] And YES you mean't to offend as usual.  👍 My response to you posting NO OFFENSE/lol  😂🤣

[Frozenoem]

In my area rural Maine mountains, we still have 2 pay phones in town, great for AT hikers . And most have landlines as well as, cells that connect through wifi when towers aren’t happy.  

Twice this year towers have stopped working.  

Froze

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

@Tempest332 , @sc10 , @DirkB349973 , @cat0w and OTHER FOLKS! Have you guys heard about this LANDLINE SERVICE? 📸  See attached screenprint from my daily Google News, thanks!  📸

[DirkB349973]

The phone in the picture is sitting right next to a router so it’s probably an Internet phone. I was reading about the copper lines that used to carry our phone calls and how they are being retired. In my area, Century Link owns those lines. I think they’re trying to get everybody onto fiber, which means internet phones. I think the days of the old Bell telephones may be over. if you need a back up, you may need another cell plan. That could mean a second phone or maybe there’s some trickery you can do with Sim cards so that you would have both services in one phone. I know some of them like Mint Mobile are pretty cheap. if you are concerned about health issues, maybe you want one of those necklaces you wear where all you have to do is push the button.

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

Lol @DirkB349973 , the ad said NO internet or copper wires. Anyway, yes I will look into those "necklaces" as I am on my daughter's T-mobile plan. Nicole  👵

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[*** DIRK @DirkB349973 wrote:

The phone in the picture is sitting right next to a router so it’s probably an Internet phone. I was reading about the copper lines that used to carry our phone calls and how they are being retired. In my area, Century Link owns those lines. I think they’re trying to get everybody onto fiber, which means internet phones. I think the days of the old Bell telephones may be over. if you need a back up, you may need another cell plan. That could mean a second phone or maybe there’s some trickery you can do with Sim cards so that you would have both services in one phone. I know some of them like Mint Mobile are pretty cheap. if you are concerned about health issues, maybe you want one of those necklaces you wear where all you have to do is push the button. ***]

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[Tempest332]

@SpringIsHereSoHappy  You keep changing your name.

My dad had something similar to that from AT&T , the box actually was a Cell Phone, then it plugged into a phone jack turning your house wiring & existing landline phones into a cell phone.  It was 19.99/month at the time at the beginning of 2021 when I had to turn it off.   You did use your "copper" house wiring if you wanted extensions but you could plug a single land line type phone directly into the box. 

I would had opted for this, but already had the VoIP installed.  The price of a basic landline with touch tone was nearing $45/month, with call limitations of  5 miles to my south, 8 miles to my east a mile to my north & 12 miles to my west, all else was toll or long distance. I lost touch with a few  over they years because of these limitations. 

@DirkB349973 are you sure that box is a router or possibly what I was speaking about above?

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

Thanks for your feedback @Tempest332   Thanks, Nicole  👵

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[*** @Tempest332 wrote:

@SpringIsHereSoHappy  

My dad had something similar to that from AT&T , the box actually was a Cell Phone, then it plugged into a phone jack turning your house wiring & existing landline phones into a cell phone.  It was 19.99/month at the time at the beginning of 2021 when I had to turn it it.   You did use your "copper" house wiring if you wanted extensions but you could plug a single land line type phone directly into the box. 

@DirkB349973 are you sure that box is a router or possibly what I was speaking about above? ***] 

[Tempest332]

Did you ever inquire on pricing?

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

@Tempest332 , the ad just popped up again for 2nd time on my Google News Feed. They have way too many PRICES, but attaching the 2 MAIN ones. 📸  Screenprint Attached  📸

[Their ad link] 

The link above gave me an "error" message 1st and 3rd time. 2nd time was okay. Not sure why.

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[*** @Tempest332 wrote:

Did you ever inquire on pricing? ***]

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[Tempest332]

Quite a bit more than the deal AT&T was giving my dad, I had it turned off in December of 2020, he had it for at least 2 + years & still was $19.99/month. 

I wonder if it varies by area too. 

Yes, this is the same technology, it converts home phone (and wiring) into the  cell phone network (but you can't use a cell phone, you use your old landline phones).   It also had a battery backup within the box for power outages, but if you were using a cordless that needed base power you would need an additional battery backup. 

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

No @Tempest332 , the ad had all that when clicked. Nicole  👵

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[*** @Tempest332 wrote:

Did you ever inquire on pricing? ***]

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[Tempest332]

I had to google the company, it wanted me to fill in personal info, said it was available in my area, but not at what cost.  

Looking at that ad, I believe that is a box similar to what AT&T, I see a signal bar indicator too. 

Cost may be different in different areas. 

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

@Tempest332 , I have NOT seen the Ad AGAIN in my Google News feed or I would "click" AGAIN. I seem to remember they LISTED several LEVELS of service and you had to "check" for service at YOUR location.

I NO longer enter my address, phone number or email = MORE spam!

In the OLD DAYS, I would enter a FAKE address, phone number and email address.

Lol, NOW their website can tell IF info is valid. Nicole  👵

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[*** @Tempest332 wrote:

I had to google the company, it wanted me to fill in personal info, said it was available in my area, but not at what cost.  

Looking at that ad, I believe that is a box similar to what AT&T, I see a signal bar indicator too. 

Cost may be different in different areas. ***]

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[Tempest332]

Called Community Phone (one word)

Not sure if they want me posting a link here, but I'll try. 

Community Phone 

If they are indeed legit, might be a good reference, per the picture there I believe that is a Cell conversion box, you would need a power backup for it to work with the power down like a true landline. 

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

@Tempest332 , did they "hire" you/lol 😂🤣

On the "serious" side, I am leaning towards @DirkB349973 "suggestion" of the MEDICAL NECKLACE... Nicole  👵

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[*** @Tempest332 wrote:

Called Community Phone (one word)

Not sure if they want me posting a link here, but I'll try. 

Community Phone ***]

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[Tempest332]

No, I'm not a shill. They are probably working with a cell carrier in the area, but since a few inquired I thought I'd do that much to look into it, I was curious myself. I was going to go with the AT&T box if I broke ties with my current carrier that's bundled with my internet with VoIP.  I don't care for mobile phones.  A phone in general is kind of a necessary evil even if you have no social ties, you have to do business on occasion.  Why don't you just hang your phone around your neck then?   What are the chances of your cell service being down & you being hurt? 

If I had to pay $30 + / month for a mobile phone like most people I doubt if I'd have one, but what I'm getting it for, & of course I go weeks without using it at all anyway.   

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

@Tempest332 , life is UNPREDICTABLE and yes T-mobile has had issues like all companies. As I age, commonsense tells me I do need a way to get help IF needed. Nicole  👵

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[*** @Tempest332 wrote:

No, I'm not a shill. They are probably working with a cell carrier in the area, but since a few inquired I thought I'd do that much to look into it, I was curious myself. I was going to go with the AT&T box if I broke ties with my current carrier that's bundled with my internet with VoIP.  I don't care for mobile phones.  A phone in general is kind of a necessary evil even if you have no social ties, you have to do business on occasion.  Why don't you just hang your phone around your neck then?   What are the chances of your cell service being down & you being hurt? 

If I had to pay $30 + / month for a mobile phone like most people I doubt if I'd have one, but what I'm getting it for, & of course I go weeks without using it at all anyway.   ***]

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[Tempest332]

Gee, now how would the telemarketers & scammers call me? 

My mobile phones been off sometimes for a couple weeks, so I wouldn't get too worried, the telemarketers & scammers can call at my pseudo (VoIP) Landline.  

Cell phone is the backup for the Landline.   If it goes down for a few days I'm sure I won't miss it. 

[DirkB349973]

I wish I had an old-school landline. Newer iPhones have the ability to send an "emergency SOS" message using satellite. It's not as easy as a typical call, but it is an option if you are outside with a clear view of the satellites. There is a demo option available in your phone if you care to know more.