Calling 911 on a Cell not a good idea.

[squidvt]

Why Calling 911 On Your Cell is Not Always a Good Idea - NBC News

This is actually something that I agree with. If you know what GPS requires it does not always work. This is why I've chosen to have a land line at my house. It's easier to get emergency services to my place if my phone tells 911 my exact address.

 

[looney2ns]

And in my case, I shut off the GPS if I'm not using it because it sucks battery life.

 

[Mark 1911]

The only reason I have a land line is for the cable TV and internet service. The cable also provides phone service, and I pay for it simply because it allows me to call my Canadian relatives for free - otherwise I wouldn't even have a land line. I don't even really need the land line for the alarm system anymore, as it has cellular back up. I know a few people who have eliminated their land lines without issue.

 

[indykid]

When they explain to me how to keep a landline on my bicycle then I will not use my cell phone if I either need assistance or see someone who does.

I know the title says not always a good idea, just had to say the above.

 

[patience0830]

And in my case, I shut off the GPS if I'm not using it because it sucks battery life.

If you dial 911 your GPS will power up and start telling the world where you are in spite of having it turned off.

 

[ilitical]

If you dial 911 your GPS will power up and start telling the world where you are in spite of having it turned off.

Bingo, And itll work off getting a general location off the towers as well.

 

[BrewerGeorge]

There's some serious BS in that article in suggesting that cell phones hit the GPS satellites. While I'm sure there are exceptions available, the vast majority of cell phones "GPS" is actually triangulated position from cell towers, NOT information from the GPS satellites. Those triangulations are based on calculating distance from the time of signal travel between the tower and phone, and when the signals bounce around walls that does throw off the data. But, inside a house, it's no less accurate the calling on a cordless handset connected to your land line. Not to mention that the newest phones will typically switch their location finding functions to WiFi when inside a house.

Long and short: If you need to call 911, just call it. It's not the time to be worrying about intricate differences in technology between phone types.

 

[Denny347]

We get incomplete cell phone 911 calls ALL THE TIME. They give us a "best guess" address which is never a legit address. It is a very rare case when we actually find the person calling 911 and hanging up on a cellphone. TV shows are BS, if you think we can track your phone if you call 911 and hang up or not able to tell us your address, you are dangerously wrong. Of course the technology exists, just not cost effective to equip Communications with it. We have to bring it in from out of town if there is a cell phone we want to track.

 

[kalboy]

It's interesting to note, as I'm sure the dispatchers here know all too well, how many of these calls get routed to the wrong call centers. We have a scanner going 24/7 at our home and it's eye opening how many 911 incomplete calls are never located.
Many of these are relayed from nearby localities, often across the river in Ky.
Bottom line is regardless of how you call your odds of getting timely help are vastly improved if you can give your address.

 

[saleen4971]

step 1 is cell site triangulation, then the GPS (which is transmitting, like it or not) will give a more precise location

 

[indykid]

It's interesting to note, as I'm sure the dispatchers here know all too well, how many of these calls get routed to the wrong call centers. We have a scanner going 24/7 at our home and it's eye opening how many 911 incomplete calls are never located.
Many of these are relayed from nearby localities, often across the river in Ky.
Bottom line is regardless of how you call your odds of getting timely help are vastly improved if you can give your address.

I can't believe how long it took for this to be stated. Just tell the dispatch where you are!

Rep'd

 

[indiucky]

We get incomplete cell phone 911 calls ALL THE TIME. They give us a "best guess" address which is never a legit address. It is a very rare case when we actually find the person calling 911 and hanging up on a cellphone.

Well sir I happen to know that Chloe was ALWAYS able to get Jack Bauer an address within 10 seconds so I must respectfully disagree.....


Maybe if your dispatcher chewed her lips real hard and banged real hard on the keys like they do on TV that would help????

 

[DoggyDaddy]

When they explain to me how to keep a landline on my bicycle then I will not use my cell phone if I either need assistance or see someone who does.

I know the title says not always a good idea, just had to say the above.

Long cord... Really, really, really long cord...

 

[ModernGunner]

State the address / location immediately when the Dispatcher answers. At least you'll know the 'cavalry' is on the way. Don't bother with anything else until you've gotten out that location.

I wholeheartedly disagree that it's not 'cost effective', as the ability to locate and provide assistance to the citizenry is the primary function of police and fire services. If need be, start cutting salaries, etc. for those top City / County / State jobs to 'find' the money. The funds are most likely there, they're just being used for some political b.s.

There should be NO Indiana government employees making over $100,000 / year. NONE. Start digging into those pockets and budgets of those fat-cats, and that technology will 'suddenly' become immensely affordable.

 

[Crbn79]

New smart phones actually activate your GPS when the 911 call is initiated. It will then lock out your phone allowing no other calls or data connection from 5 minutes after the call, nor will it allow the phone to be turned off. With most phones going to built in batteries you can't even pull the battery to kill the connection.

The biggest issue with Cells happens on Interstates where you could be hitting a tower 15 miles away in another jurisdiction. Always give a location first, even if only a mile marker.

 

[Jack Burton]

New smart phones actually activate your GPS when the 911 call is initiated. It will then lock out your phone allowing no other calls or data connection from 5 minutes after the call, nor will it allow the phone to be turned off. With most phones going to built in batteries you can't even pull the battery to kill the connection.

The biggest issue with Cells happens on Interstates where you could be hitting a tower 15 miles away in another jurisdiction. Always give a location first, even if only a mile marker.

Well, that will be my answer then when they ask why I called my lawyer before 911 if I ever happen to shoot someone.

 

[Bunnykid68]

We get incomplete cell phone 911 calls ALL THE TIME. They give us a "best guess" address which is never a legit address. It is a very rare case when we actually find the person calling 911 and hanging up on a cellphone. TV shows are BS, if you think we can track your phone if you call 911 and hang up or not able to tell us your address, you are dangerously wrong. Of course the technology exists, just not cost effective to equip Communications with it. We have to bring it in from out of town if there is a cell phone we want to track.

There you go with trying to keep the masses misinformed

 

[nakinate]

In all my adult life (only 11 years) I have never had a landline. I have called 911 and received prompt service without issue.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

In all my adult life (only 11 years) I have never had a landline. I have called 911 and received prompt service without issue.

Interesting...I've had a land line my while adult life and have never had to make a 911 call on it. Cell phones must invite danger.

 

[Bunnykid68]

I have called 911 one time, it was with a bag phone, after I watched a guy on a bicycle pull out in front of a car. He must have flown 25-30 feet, got up and walked it off for the most part before EMS showed up.