do satellite phones call 911 without a service plan?

[OrganizedChaos]

anyone know for sure? thinking about getting a cheap old used one to keep in the glovebox

 

[wfbberzerker]

probably not...

 

[yukichigai]

Yes, I think they do. They have to, at least if they're made in the US. Same is true for cell phones and car phones. The phone that came in the used Explorer I have is so outdated I doubt I could actually get a service plan on it with any of the companies out there, but I keep the phone in the car on the offchance my cell phone dies and I need to make a call.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: yukichigai
Yes, I think they do. They have to, at least if they're made in the US. Same is true for cell phones and car phones. The phone that came in the used Explorer I have is so outdated I doubt I could actually get a service plan on it with any of the companies out there, but I keep the phone in the car on the offchance my cell phone dies and I need to make a call.

you'd be surprised. i believe verison still supports AMPS with no plans to take down the towers. i was told by a verizon tech once that the old ANALOG car and bag phones are popular with people who live in mountains, deserts, and other places in the middle of nowhere. they lswear by them for there full 5w legal limit output and external antennas

 

[BadNewsBears]

Originally posted by: OrganizedChaos

Originally posted by: yukichigai
Yes, I think they do. They have to, at least if they're made in the US. Same is true for cell phones and car phones. The phone that came in the used Explorer I have is so outdated I doubt I could actually get a service plan on it with any of the companies out there, but I keep the phone in the car on the offchance my cell phone dies and I need to make a call.

you'd be surprised. i believe verison still supports AMPS with no plans to take down the towers. i was told by a verizon tech once that the old ANALOG car and bag phones are popular with people who live in mountains, deserts, and other places in the middle of nowhere. they lswear by them for there full 5w legal limit output and external antennas

Hmmmm. The ones with the big HUGE battery. My dad had one when he was GC.

 

[DeeKnow]

i believe all cell phone companies are required by law to allow calls to 911 irrespective of any plans you have or even IF you have a plan

 

[gsaldivar]

Wait a minute...

There is a big difference between a cell phone and a satellite phone.

Which are we talking about here ??

All cell phones are required to allow callers free access to the 911 system.

Satellite phones? Who knows... I doubt they are even tied into the 911 system to begin with.

 

[oogabooga]

i'm not sure that sat.phones are. I believe cellphones the company has to let you, but knowing america, you'll probally see a roaming, long distance, and airtime/connection fee for a 911 call somewhere (probally on your medical stuff ).

Unless you're going into REALLY rural areas, any old cell phone should work...

 

[Goosemaster]

Isn't 911 just an american emergency number anyways? I thought it was different in europe? Either way, if you were to dial 911, where would the call even go unless previously configured?

 

[OrganizedChaos]

ttt maybe theres a globalcom dealer on here that knows

 

[wfbberzerker]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Isn't 911 just an american emergency number anyways? I thought it was different in europe? Either way, if you were to dial 911, where would the call even go unless previously configured?

in europe its 999 (in england at least)

as for where the call goes, im not sure, although people i know have called 911 and it has gone to the correct 911 dispatcher. i think they either have ways to locate where you are calling from, or they'd just use what location you got the phone from.

 

[nuonce]

probably

 

[variab1e]

I know this is long dead, and I'm not a necromancer I swear, but this was one of the first results in just the same query [and I've been on/love Anandtech for a while]...

So.
911 calls WILL NOT be routed without a paid service plan for satellite phones [as there is no number].
Source

Cell phones are a different matter entirely, and are regulated differently - they are required to reach 911.

 

[Darwin333]

i'm not sure that sat.phones are. I believe cellphones the company has to let you, but knowing america, you'll probally see a roaming, long distance, and airtime/connection fee for a 911 call somewhere (probally on your medical stuff ).

Unless you're going into REALLY rural areas, any old cell phone should work...

Even a cell phone that has been turned off for years and has no sim card whatsoever can still dial and connect to 911. Not only is this the law but I know from personal experience.

 

[jumpncrash]

In canada, you can definitely call 911 without service, even without a sim card. One of my friends from work purchased a used samsung galxy s2 for his daughter to use to play games. There was no plan on teh phone and he removed the sim card just to make sure she didn't get into any trouble. Well sure enough, she called 911 something like 14 times, when he finally caught on to what was going on he grabbed the phone and called back and got through. He supposedly had an interesting time explaining that one.

 

[blackangst1]

Isn't 911 just an american emergency number anyways? I thought it was different in europe? Either way, if you were to dial 911, where would the call even go unless previously configured?

(participating in necro thread)

Yep 911 for emergencies is country specific. I kinow in Manila Philippines you fial 911 (kind of) for pizza hut delivery lol

 

[HeXen]

Yes because cops kept showing up at our door saying 911 was called repeatedly and they tracked it to our house. Eventually, we discovered my wife's daughter had her old phone stuck in the couch which wasn't in activation anymore and the dog was butt dialing it.

 

[Kaido]

in europe its 999 (in england at least)

as for where the call goes, im not sure, although people i know have called 911 and it has gone to the correct 911 dispatcher. i think they either have ways to locate where you are calling from, or they'd just use what location you got the phone from.

It's scarily accurate too. I've called into 911 a good half-dozen times this year to either report accidents or report debris on the highway & they pinpointed the exit I was approaching, pulled up the camera, and confirmed what I was seeing within seconds of picking up the call. Amazing!

 

[variab1e]

I updated my post -- to make clear that I was specifically answering the original question which was - "do satellite phones call 911 without a service plan?"

Cell phones are a different matter entirely, and are regulated differently.

 

[rockyct]

in europe its 999 (in england at least)

as for where the call goes, im not sure, although people i know have called 911 and it has gone to the correct 911 dispatcher. i think they either have ways to locate where you are calling from, or they'd just use what location you got the phone from.

Strange, I thought it was 0118 999 881 99 9119 725...3

 

[JEDIYoda]

I updated my post -- to make clear that I was specifically answering the original question which was - "do satellite phones call 911 without a service plan?"

Cell phones are a different matter entirely, and are regulated differently.

yawn!! Who actually cares about a 12 year old thread???

 

[HeXen]

yawn!! Who actually cares about a 12 year old thread???

Probably the guy that posted in one obviously.