Burner Phones

[jamin]

Keep that sim and a spare phone. When your phone disappears, (stolen, at the bottom of a lake, etc) , contact your carrier and let them know you need to move service to a new sim. within 20 mins you will be back in business on your old number.

I get what you are saying for a general spare or backup plan. But, if your phone is at the bottom of the lake how are you contacting your carrier?

I’m thinking about what I would do if in an emergency situation either myself or someone else needed help. How would I contact help. Assuming no cell phone because of mechanical failure, lost, in the lake. I would most likely try reaching out on 2m. After that I’m at a loss in my plans.

 

[Salmonslice]

I get what you are saying for a general spare or backup plan. But, if your phone is at the bottom of the lake how are you contacting your carrier?

I’m thinking about what I would do if in an emergency situation either myself or someone else needed help. How would I contact help. Assuming no cell phone because of mechanical failure, lost, in the lake. I would most likely try reaching out on 2m. After that I’m at a loss in my plans.

Usually you can activate from a dead phone with *228 or various other methods, also call emergency line without a sim and have them foward you if u get the right dispatch and know how to talk like a gentleman

 

[Cameramonkey]

Usually you can activate from a dead phone with *228 or various other methods, also call emergency line without a sim and have them foward you if u get the right dispatch and know how to talk like a gentleman

THIS. 911 is REQUIRED to work on ALL phones, activated or not. Its a safety feature. If you have a phone and a signal, you can call for help.

One of the side effects is womens shelters can take donated cell phones and give them to victims for free. They dont need to pay for service if the ONLY reason for the battered woman to need a cell is to call police when the ex shows up.

But as to calling your carrier, my scenario is you drop your phone overboard, you motor back to the truck, load up the boat, and go home. Then use the home phone or a buddy's phone to call them. I didnt mean it in a SHTF/dangerous accident scenario.

 

[bwframe]

THIS. 911 is REQUIRED to work on ALL phones, activated or not. Its a safety feature. If you have a phone and a signal, you can call for help.

One of the side effects is womens shelters can take donated cell phones and give them to victims for free. They dont need to pay for service if the ONLY reason for the battered woman to need a cell is to call police when the ex shows up.

But as to calling your carrier, my scenario is you drop your phone overboard, you motor back to the truck, load up the boat, and go home. Then use the home phone or a buddy's phone to call them. I didnt mean it in a SHTF/dangerous accident scenario.

I've haven't tried it recently, but can't you use WIFI calling without an active SIM? If you have a service like Google Voice or the like?

 

[Cameramonkey]

I've haven't tried it recently, but can't you use WIFI calling without an active SIM? If you have a service like Google Voice or the like?

yeah, if you are using a voip provider that doesnt use a cellular number, you betcha.

I can call either one of my kids on their simless iphones by placing a facetime audio call. As long as they are on wifi whether home or public wifi it rings their facetime app.

 

[jamin]

Sorry for my ignorance, but can the card be activated through an automated system. Simply by installing the card into a phone? I understand it can’t be given the old phone number without the help of the carriers customer service.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Sorry for my ignorance, but can the card be activated through an automated system. Simply by installing the card into a phone? I understand it can’t be given the old phone number without the help of the carriers customer service.

I think bundled carriers that sell phones at big box stores will do new service online. Tracfone, Straight Talk, etc. But that requires you to buy the phone and sim together. BYOD makes it a bit trickier.

 

[jamin]

I think bundled carriers that sell phones at big box stores will do new service online. Tracfone, Straight Talk, etc. But that requires you to buy the phone and sim together. BYOD makes it a bit trickier.

Gotcha. The movies make it look much easier. No, I’m not that ignorant.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Gotcha. The movies make it look much easier. No, I’m not that ignorant.

No implication of ignorance intended.

Basically if its any of the big carriers, forget it. They rely on reps, resellers, etc.

You want a cheap 2nd tier carrier. They rely on automated systems for activation.

In theory I think you could buy a sim from straight talk to keep on standby for a later activation. But avoid Straight talk because they are sketch AF. I abandoned them due to them trying to screw us over repeatedly. I think I covered it here before, but this isnt the thread to rehash the story.

 

[Salmonslice]

No implication of ignorance intended.

Basically if its any of the big carriers, forget it. They rely on reps, resellers, etc.

You want a cheap 2nd tier carrier. They rely on automated systems for activation.

In theory I think you could buy a sim from straight talk to keep on standby for a later activation. But avoid Straight talk because they are sketch AF. I abandoned them due to them trying to screw us over repeatedly. I think I covered it here before, but this isnt the thread to rehash the story.

STRAIGHTTRASH

 

[fullmetaljesus]

Best way to get one


Have a friend ask their friend you don't know to meet you in a corn Field.

Make sure you both leave your normal phones and any gps device at home.

Give them cash. Ask them to ask a hibo to buy a burner phone for a cash reward.

Have the phone passed to you through a series of friends of friends in a sealed unmarked box.

Once received only turn it on when away from home and with out any other gps devices.


Then stock pile cash.

Then one day walk away from home with out any devices other than your turned off burner phone pay cash for a used car. Drive car out of state. Ditch it buy a used rv. Drive for a long time.

Find a new city. Introduce yourself with a new name. Use burner phone to get a job. Live in RV . Stack cash.
Get an apartment.

Boom you're a new man.

 

[Dorky_D]

I'm shopping for a newer phone. I'm noticing that Amazon has renewed phones for comparable pricing to other resellers and eBay. Anyone had experience buying an Amazon renewed phone? Amazon seems like a go to when there is a choice in the matter?

I got a Pixel 6 Renewed from Amazon. It has been fine. I realize you may have moved on from this post by now.

 

[Creedmoor]

I've haven't tried it recently, but can't you use WIFI calling without an active SIM? If you have a service like Google Voice or the like?

When mine are deployed they both turn service off. We shift over to Whatsapp. If they have wifi, they have phone

 

[bwframe]

Thanks for the input folks!

I believe I have my search narrowed down to a Samsung S22 Ultra. I'm watching eBay to see when they get toward the $400ish range. I could still change my mind, but that phone seems to be the best bang for the buck.

 

[bwframe]