Epirus question

sorry, it should have read Epirb question.

Hi Rambler,

This doesn't sound right to me.
How can a call be made if you're out of range?

More likely to be that an emergency call can be made if you're within range of any provider, but not necessarily you own provider.

Cheers
Alan

Can you explain what you mean "activate anywhere in Australia whether in phone range or not" ?
If your phone, which only transmits a relatively short distance, can only reach tower within range, how is the signal expected to be received by 000 or any emergency service if you are much further away. ie 150 km away.

What caused you to "understand" this can happen. If it can by satellite systems we should all know about it because it seems to be a good secret.

Ross M

If there is no mobile coverage from any network you're dead in the water Rambler.

An activated EPIRB/PLB with GPS will send an exact position without the need to speak to anyone or read coords from a GPS.

Same again. I cannot see how a message can get out if there isn't anything either a cell or another phone to receive it and pass it on. Maybe a satellite but then again you can be out of contact with a satellite as well. (in a deep valley).

Strange. Maybe a comment from someone who doesn't believe in anything west of the Blue Mountains.

Phil

Rambler, you have either been misinformed or you have misunderstood.
Clearly, a mobile phone cannot connect to the network if it is 'out of range'.
However, if the caller's home network is out of range, the phone will attempt to use other carrier's networks to relay the call. Even this will only work if there is an alternative carrier within range of your phone and only applies to 000 calls.


Next time you are well away in the bush and your phone is showing no connectivity bars, try dialling 000 and you will confirm that it does not work.

someone was away with the faries during your discussions with Telstra

"Confirmed by Telstra"..........you both weren't on the same page during the discussions

Wouldnt surprise me at all if the Telsta rep had no idea what you were asking...or confused you with the following

It is my understaning that all cell phones will allow a call to an emergency number (within a signal coverage area) irrespective of the following

No SIM card present
No Credit left
Any carrier network within range....(providing the cell phone has the frequencies of the "other carriers"...)

no signal = no cell phone range = no call out to any one = to any number any where.....simple as that

away from cell phone coverage you have three choices to call / make contact for help

EPIRB
Satellite Phone
HF radio

To be fair rambler, Telstra have told me that my I phone 4s uses satellites to connect to the Telstra network too..... Tech support fail.....

If "normal" phones had the capability of connecting to an orbiting satellite then why are sat phone antennas so big?

Tim

To help clarify (or confuse).
My phone is connected to the vodafone network and in the house I am currently living in there is no coverage from vodafone. There is however coverage in this area with telstra though it is not reliable.
Consequently my phone shows "emergency calls only" (or SOS ?) most of the time, but sometimes it shows "no service". I dont intend to try, but I am quite sure that emergency calls mean 000 access and it would be carried by the telstra network (no vodafone here), but no service means I cant call anyone.

I think we have been a victim of a malady currently sweeping the customer support section of the telecommunications industry at large, First and most important credential for a position in customer support is the ability to apply the principle " If you can't dazzle them with brilliance then baffle them with bulls***". I have no idea what criteria the Telcos use to determine these, mostly, kids suitability for the job but it's sure as hell not technical knowledge or experience. I suspect the same system as used by the hash foundries ( Maccas, KFC and co ) and that is ,knowing the kids have buckleys of getting a meaningful job, they employ them, give them 2 hours training and then pay them peanuts to deal with us real technically disadvantaged plebs. But always bear in mind that at least you got to talk to a person in the flesh who could probably speak intelligible English WITHOUT the Asian/Indian inflections and the pseudo American accent. I never knew the meaning of the word 'hate' unl I had to deal with a Telco call centre.,Cheers,

I intend calling and checking myself today. I believe it should be stressed that the is no network coverage from any mobile service provider. Seems that we may have an over zealous salesman or badly informed customer service (will never call them an engineer) character who does not listen.

A radio, which a phone is, needs another radio (mobile phone or cell tower) to communicate to. It ain't a single device unity system. A bit like the string and two tin cans. Take one away and ithe system (network) will not work.

Paul Hogan once made a joke about all the TV signals that weren't picked up. He reckons, jokingly, that they are gathering and coming back to get us one day. Looks like the Telstra bloke believes the same.

Phil

Unfortunately Rambler you're not alone with you thinking and the information you may of had given to you.

There are many misconceptions regarding mobile phones and out back comms.

As most have said before you can not use 000 on a mobile phone if there is no carrier within range.

Getting back to why can't you just phone someone (000) and give them your location with a cheap GPS...... thats great if you're capable of doing that but if you had a stroke, fall, a serious car accident or some other injury whereby you were not able to ....first make the call, secondly use your GPS to obtain the co-ords and then thirdly relay them correctly to the person on the phone whereby with an PLB (epirb) it is a simple as hitting one button for help.

There is a simple reason why I spend big money on a PLB, satellite phone, and HF radio....... I value my life and my life is worth more than the $6500 I have spent.

If you only bought a PLB the cost would be under $400...... do you think that is too much money and not worth it?