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Posted By Nigel Hammond
I’m afraid there has been an urban myth going around which I fell for and put in one of the inhouse newsletters last year.
The myth is that if you have no reception on your mobile phone, it will dial through to a satellite or another network provider when you dial 112 (The European equivalent number of 999).
Sorry but this is not the case. I have checked this out with Vodaphone and various urban myth sites on the web and it is an urban myth. Basically, if you haven’t got a reception on your phone, neither 999 or 112 will work.
Please note that the ICE (In case of emergency) scheme – where you programme your next of kin number in your phone address book under ICE - for paramedics to call if they find you unconscious or worse, is NOT a myth. There was an urban myth going round that the ICE scheme was a myth – a sort of double bluff. So make sure you programme an ICE number into your phone.
P.S. In light of the above I think I better add a disclaimer: There are no guarantees that the above information is correct – I can only base it on the information and sources I have available at this moment in time. Realities can go down to myths, and myths can become realities and turn back into myths again etc etc! I think this is a symptom of this internet age where journalists and ‘experts’ often get their information from the net without getting it from the original source.
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Posted By Jane Blunt
Yes, you are right - no signal = no call.
However, 112 does have advantages over 999 since it works anywhere in Europe (where you can get a signal !!!).
I am also told that if you are lost, a 112 call is slightly easier to pinpoint by satellite than a 999 call, so you are more easily found - would anyone like to tell us if that is a myth or reality?
Jane
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Posted By John Webster
Mobiles have nothing to do with satellites. They communicate via a network of radio masts. It is possible to locate which mast is nearest to the phone, and roughly how far the phone is from that mast, but nothing more. In urban areas, with masts every few blocks, they can get quite close, but in rural areas each mast may cover a radius of many miles.
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Posted By Jane Blunt
I was told that all masts, regardless of network, respond to 112, but not to 999. If this is the case the triangulation from a 112 call will be better than from a 999.
Don't the ambulances navigate by satellite? Is the location as measured from the mobile mast reception output in a form that can be fed directly into the satnav? Or does someone have to open the OS map and find it?
Jane
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Posted By Nigel Hammond
Hi
I just wanted to keep this thread alive because I am now not 100% sure about this. Our I.T. man is convinced that when you dial the emergency number you are routed to other network providers that use the same frequency. Can anyone give a catorical yes or no to this that is based on reliable source of information? I did ask Vodaphone but I am wondering now if the person I spoke to was more into sales than technical.
Thanks
Nigel
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Posted By Nigel Souster
Not sure about the technical side of this, but when I have no signal on my phone the screen displays 'Emergency Calls Only'! I haven't tried it to see what happens yet!
Nigel
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Posted By Smiff
I understood that when signal strength is low emergency calls went through the strongest local provider, hence the "EMERGENCY CALLS ONLY" when your own network won't support a call, but there's a bit of signal on another network. Also, normal calls are not using all the bandwidth, they're chopped in with other calls. Bandwidth priority goes to emergency calls.
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Posted By John Webster
Jane
My understanding is that triangulation cannot be done. The mobile locks into the mast providing the best signal for the provider network, so can only be pinpointed to a signal strength determined radius of that mast.
Where your network is not available, I think an emergency call can be handled by any network which your phone can raise - but I'm not sure on this point.
All 999 and 112 calls are received by a BT emergency operator, who will pass it to the control for the appropriate emergency service. The emergency service controller directs the emergency vehicles to the given location. They are aided in this by electronic maps (which work best with a postcode entry) and often by trackers in the emergency vehicle. However guidance is still done by a controller talking to the emergency vehicle.
P.S. Were there not some plans to introduce a new, non emergency number, 101, for the 70% of 999/112 calls which are not emergencies?
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Posted By Simon Birks
In response to no signal, no call thats right. but 112 only works in certain parts of the country at the moment as it has not been fully extended to cover all the UK. As for pin pointing a call, any mobile phone can be triangulated and with police permission some faster than people think. Most mobiles are connected to several mast at one time. And that you for mentioning ICE, we press it on out FA courses, but am glad to hear other people passing it on.
Gus
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Posted By Simon Birks
Spot the mistake, i did mean 'thank you for mentioning'. Gus
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Posted By John Murgatroyd
If you dial 999 you go through to a general call centre that questions you then routes your call to the area you require.
112 from a landline goes through to the area local to where you call from.
The "cellphone" system means that your mobiles signal is being received by several "masts" around you and the one receiving the strongest signal is the one you will be routed through....until your signal strength falls at one and rises at another...
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Posted By Frank E. Davidson
As others have responded it does not go over satellite. It will disconnect someone elses call.
BT operate the emergency services network and it was in the late 90s re-structured.
112 is to become the de-facto emergency services number for two reasons:
1 - Harmonisation with Europe.
2 - Reduction in false calls to emergency services. The digits 999 are too easily dialled by a cellphone in the pocket or by someone polishing their home or desk telephone.
112, 911 and 999 of course all route to the emergency services call centres.
There is also now a nationwide non emergency number. This is aimed at reducing the number of non emergency police calls which are handled by emergency services. Not too many people knew the non emergency number for their own area, let alone that of another area they are visiting.
Frank E. Davidson
(ex BT Labs)
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