Can Cingular handle emergency loads?

G

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We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell
service basically stopped for 2 hours.

Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that Cingular and all the other providers have been selling
phones and plans with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for emergencies.

AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many
areas? Is there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for
some folks are only means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.
 
G

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It's possible they may have had a tower out. Cingular is native to that
area and they just bought AT&T so there could have been a network anomoly.
If the problem persist, I would call customer service and complain. But as
far as the spare bandwidth, that will not happen becuase bandwidth is money.
"N Hamilton" <no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off
> work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell service
> basically stopped for 2 hours.
>
> Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that
> Cingular and all the other providers have been selling phones and plans
> with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for
> emergencies.
>
> AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell
> service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many areas? Is
> there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free
> market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for some folks are only
> means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.
>
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

In 2001 in the wake of the Nisqually quake in Seattle, cellular circuits
were all tied up and it took 3-4 tries to get a call through. However,
attempts to do so were even more futile using land circuits. I wonder if
the cell calls were routed somehow through an unaffected area...

In any case... from my experience both land- and cellular-based
communications can get balled up in the wake of a big event.

Josh



"N Hamilton" <no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com...
> We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off
> work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell service
> basically stopped for 2 hours.
>
> Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that
> Cingular and all the other providers have been selling phones and plans
> with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for
> emergencies.
>
> AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell
> service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many areas? Is
> there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free
> market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for some folks are only
> means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.
>
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

John Navas wrote:
> >We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and ... cell
> >service basically stopped for 2 hours.
> Perhaps some part of the infrastructure was knocked out by weather.

I was in Charleston, SC, during the hurricane Floyd evacuation. No
weather, but the cellular network was saturated to the point where you
couldn't even register on the network. Everybody sitting in traffic
must have pulled out his phone to see who he could bore. That was in
the pre-Cingular days, and they haven't picked up any bandwidth down
here since then.

> I think you're being unrealistic. Even wired systems get overloaded
in
> emergencies.

Yep. During that same evacuation I couldn't get a dialtone on the
landline until well into the evening after everybody had left town (and
got stuck on the interstate).

> >If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service get so
overloaded that it would stop working in many
> >areas?

In a word, YES.

tg.
 
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H''mmmmm my ham radio and did not go down,

The 442.150 and other repeaters with phone pacthes were up in the
Raleigh area.

Get a tech liscense and a handy talkie for these situations

Works great. I am a cingular customer and noticed no problems in the
triangle area.

Chip
KF4WBK

HC wrote:
> It's possible they may have had a tower out. Cingular is native to that
> area and they just bought AT&T so there could have been a network anomoly.
> If the problem persist, I would call customer service and complain. But as
> far as the spare bandwidth, that will not happen becuase bandwidth is money.
> "N Hamilton" <no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>
>>We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off
>>work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell service
>>basically stopped for 2 hours.
>>
>>Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that
>>Cingular and all the other providers have been selling phones and plans
>>with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for
>>emergencies.
>>
>>AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell
>>service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many areas? Is
>>there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free
>>market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for some folks are only
>>means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.
>>
>
>
>
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

yes, they do. You can only put so many calls in the air in at the same
time. If you want real emergency comunications capability, you have to
get a HAM radio liscense.

Otherwise, as people in Raliegh found out today, the system get flooded.

Chip

J.J. wrote:
> In 2001 in the wake of the Nisqually quake in Seattle, cellular circuits
> were all tied up and it took 3-4 tries to get a call through. However,
> attempts to do so were even more futile using land circuits. I wonder if
> the cell calls were routed somehow through an unaffected area...
>
> In any case... from my experience both land- and cellular-based
> communications can get balled up in the wake of a big event.
>
> Josh
>
>
>
> "N Hamilton" <no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com...
>
>>We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off
>>work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell service
>>basically stopped for 2 hours.
>>
>>Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that
>>Cingular and all the other providers have been selling phones and plans
>>with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for
>>emergencies.
>>
>>AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell
>>service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many areas? Is
>>there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free
>>market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for some folks are only
>>means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.
>>
>
>
>
 
G

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"Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
news:10utq039jfrg032@corp.supernews.com...
> H''mmmmm my ham radio and did not go down,
>
> The 442.150 and other repeaters with phone pacthes were up in the Raleigh
> area.
>
> Get a tech liscense and a handy talkie for these situations
>
> Works great. I am a cingular customer and noticed no problems in the
> triangle area.
>
> Chip
> KF4WBK
>
Do you still have to know code to take the tests? I had a Tech license years
ago and would like to get one again.

Surely I could pass theory, I have a commerical general radiotelephone
license now.

bamp
old expired call WA5TZG
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

No, to get a tech liscense, you do not have to take a code test.

To get a general and extra, you just have to pass a 5 wpm liscense,
which is not to hard. Ham sure comes in handy when the cell phones
get overloaded.

Chip

bamp wrote:
> "Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
> news:10utq039jfrg032@corp.supernews.com...
>
>>H''mmmmm my ham radio and did not go down,
>>
>>The 442.150 and other repeaters with phone pacthes were up in the Raleigh
>>area.
>>
>>Get a tech liscense and a handy talkie for these situations
>>
>>Works great. I am a cingular customer and noticed no problems in the
>>triangle area.
>>
>>Chip
>>KF4WBK
>>
>
> Do you still have to know code to take the tests? I had a Tech license years
> ago and would like to get one again.
>
> Surely I could pass theory, I have a commerical general radiotelephone
> license now.
>
> bamp
> old expired call WA5TZG
>
>
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

In article <mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com>,
"N Hamilton" <no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote:

> We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off
> work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell
> service basically stopped for 2 hours.
>
> Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that
> Cingular and all the other providers have been selling
> phones and plans with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity
> for emergencies.
>
> AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service
> get so overloaded that it would stop working in many
> areas? Is there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a
> free market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for
> some folks are only means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some
> day.

It's not cost effective to have such large amounts of spare capacity as
your desires would require. If you have government mandate it, and
you're willing to have your bill double, then it could happen.
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com> on Wed, 19 Jan 2005
21:51:14 GMT, "N Hamilton" <no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote:

>We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell
>service basically stopped for 2 hours.

Perhaps some part of the infrastructure was knocked out by weather.

>Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that Cingular and all the other providers have been selling
>phones and plans with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for emergencies.

Why should they do so? Are you paying more for unused capacity?

>AM I being paranoid?

I think you're being unrealistic. Even wired systems get overloaded in
emergencies.

>If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many
>areas?

Perhaps.

>Is there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free market?

Free market.

>Cause if the latter, since cell phones for
>some folks are only means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.

That's their choice.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>
 
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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <10uu5a17mleqd01@corp.supernews.com> on Wed, 19 Jan 2005 21:19:44 -0500,
Ralph Blach <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote:

>yes, they do. You can only put so many calls in the air in at the same
>time. If you want real emergency comunications capability, you have to
>get a HAM radio liscense.

So you can take advantage of underutilized free spectrum. ;-)

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>
 
G

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John,

When the tsuamias wiped out all the commuications infrastructure,
and the only radio transmitter left was a ham station, I'll be the
people there did NOT think it was under utilitized.

Anyway, I am a ameatur radio Bigot, I must admit. I love it.
I opperate Morse code, yes Morse code, that outdated, boring,
hard to learn language. But I can work the world on 5 watts or less.

I also do a huge amount of red cross work. When ever we have really bad
weather condition here that knock down trees, and thus power lines and
phone lines, I drive around with a red cross volunteer to check on
people. Very satisfying work. (when this happen here, we end up with NO
cell coverage to)

Anyway, for everybody outthere listening, become a ham and have a great
time.

Chip
kf4wbk





John Navas wrote:
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <10uu5a17mleqd01@corp.supernews.com> on Wed, 19 Jan 2005 21:19:44 -0500,
> Ralph Blach <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote:
>
>
>>yes, they do. You can only put so many calls in the air in at the same
>>time. If you want real emergency comunications capability, you have to
>>get a HAM radio liscense.
>
>
> So you can take advantage of underutilized free spectrum. ;-)
>
 

johnf

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Apr 27, 2004
22
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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

I'm not sure how "underutilized" the ham bands are but it's "free" because
having working ham stations in place is the last best way to get
communications out of a disaster area when all else fails. I have not had an
opportunity participate in any emergency situations but would be able to if
I was needed to in my area. I have listened into a lot of the traffic that
comes out of disaster areas and a lot of humanitarian information gets out
that otherwise wouldn't if the ham operators weren't able to use these
"free" bands. Without having ham stations already in place in these
locations it might take a long time to set up a system to get information
out.

It also happens to be a very rewarding hobby. Morse is my preferance but
voice communications is a lot of fun as well.

Navas, is there anything you won't argue about? It just makes you come
across as an idiot. If you know nothing about a topic you're not required to
respond to it. Just move on. Just because you "created" this newsgroup
doesn't require you to make an asinine comment on every thread.

No need to respond to this since you're in my kill file and I probably won't
see it anyway unless someone else quotes it in their response.



"Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
news:10uv83m60d68hce@corp.supernews.com...
> John,
>
> When the tsuamias wiped out all the commuications infrastructure,
> and the only radio transmitter left was a ham station, I'll be the
> people there did NOT think it was under utilitized.
>
> Anyway, I am a ameatur radio Bigot, I must admit. I love it.
> I opperate Morse code, yes Morse code, that outdated, boring,
> hard to learn language. But I can work the world on 5 watts or less.
>
> I also do a huge amount of red cross work. When ever we have really bad
> weather condition here that knock down trees, and thus power lines and
> phone lines, I drive around with a red cross volunteer to check on
> people. Very satisfying work. (when this happen here, we end up with NO
> cell coverage to)
>
> Anyway, for everybody outthere listening, become a ham and have a great
> time.
>
> Chip
> kf4wbk
>
>
>
>
>
> John Navas wrote:
> > [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
> >
> > In <10uu5a17mleqd01@corp.supernews.com> on Wed, 19 Jan 2005
21:19:44 -0500,
> > Ralph Blach <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>yes, they do. You can only put so many calls in the air in at the same
> >>time. If you want real emergency comunications capability, you have to
> >>get a HAM radio liscense.
> >
> >
> > So you can take advantage of underutilized free spectrum. ;-)
> >
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

In a direct answer to your question, Cingular said no.

see article

http://www.wral.com/news/4112661/detail.html

Both verizon and Cingular admit they do NOT have the capacity to
cover these kinds of condition. Furthermore they state they have NO
intention of building it out.

Cell phones are a convience, NOT an emergency communication device.

Chip

N Hamilton wrote:
> We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off work early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell
> service basically stopped for 2 hours.
>
> Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that Cingular and all the other providers have been selling
> phones and plans with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for emergencies.
>
> AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many
> areas? Is there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for
> some folks are only means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.
>
>
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

"Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
news:10uu55ei18ksh7e@corp.supernews.com...
> No, to get a tech liscense, you do not have to take a code test.
>
> To get a general and extra, you just have to pass a 5 wpm liscense,
> which is not to hard. Ham sure comes in handy when the cell phones
> get overloaded.
>
> Chip
>
> bamp wrote:
>> "Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
>> news:10utq039jfrg032@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>>>H''mmmmm my ham radio and did not go down,
>>>
>>>The 442.150 and other repeaters with phone pacthes were up in the Raleigh
>>>area.
>>>
>>>Get a tech liscense and a handy talkie for these situations
>>>
>>>Works great. I am a cingular customer and noticed no problems in the
>>>triangle area.
>>>
>>>Chip
>>>KF4WBK
>>>
>>
>> Do you still have to know code to take the tests? I had a Tech license
>> years ago and would like to get one again.
>>
>> Surely I could pass theory, I have a commerical general radiotelephone
>> license now.
>>
>> bamp
>> old expired call WA5TZG

You have prob. already passed the 5WPM code test- if you have some proof you
can show the VE, you can take all the writen test, all the way through Extra
:)
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

On 1/19/05 4:51 PM, in article
mDAHd.40225$fE4.4956995@twister.southeast.rr.com, "N Hamilton"
<no_spamham@no_spamnc.rr.com> wrote:

> We had a small snow fall in Raleigh area today and with folks getting off work
> early and schools letting out early, Cingular's cell
> service basically stopped for 2 hours.

Same thing happened on Verizon during a pile-up on the highway last
summer.

> Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that
> Cingular and all the other providers have been selling
> phones and plans with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity
> for emergencies.

Of course they all are. You don't think all 46 million of us can be
talking at the same time, do you? Or all the 41 million Verizon customers.

> AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service
> get so overloaded that it would stop working in many
> areas? Is there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free
> market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for
> some folks are only means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some
> day.

What did we do before cell phones? Hint: Nothing. Another hint: Always
have a backup.
 
G

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Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

> Coincidence? I hope. And maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried that Cingular and all the other providers have been selling
> phones and plans with reckless abandon without providing sufficient capacity for emergencies.
>
> AM I being paranoid? If we had a minor or major emergency would cell service get so overloaded that it would stop working in many
> areas? Is there any govt authority that is overseeing this or are we in a free market? Cause if the latter, since cell phones for
> some folks are only means of communication, we are gonna be in a mess some day.

Well, I can't speak for everyone everywhere, but during Hurricane Season
2004, in Central Florida, I had absolutely no problems with my Cingular
service. We had legal "lockdown" three times where I live. Of course,
I wasn't jabbing on the phone to wear out the battery as fast as I
could, but signal was strong and constant. Verizon Wireline was down
for over two weeks where we live...but I've heard Verizon has a pattern
of being down here.

TH
 
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Ralph Blach wrote:
> In a direct answer to your question, Cingular said no.
>
> see article
>
> http://www.wral.com/news/4112661/detail.html
>
> Both verizon and Cingular admit they do NOT have the capacity to
> cover these kinds of condition. Furthermore they state they have NO
> intention of building it out.

I didn't see any mention of Cingular in that article. I noticed a
mention of BellSouth, then later a mention of "the same goes for
wireless networks." I would assume that the BellSouth wirelines were
overloaded (in reference to that article).
 
G

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"Paw-Paw" <pawpaw@granpa.com> wrote in message
news:bMfId.78660$zy6.4857@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
>
> "Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
> news:10uu55ei18ksh7e@corp.supernews.com...
>> No, to get a tech liscense, you do not have to take a code test.
>>
>> To get a general and extra, you just have to pass a 5 wpm liscense,
>> which is not to hard. Ham sure comes in handy when the cell phones
>> get overloaded.
>>
>> Chip
>>
>> bamp wrote:
>>> "Ralph Blach" <rblach@NOSPAMintrex..XXXnet> wrote in message
>>> news:10utq039jfrg032@corp.supernews.com...
>>>
>>>>H''mmmmm my ham radio and did not go down,
>>>>
>>>>The 442.150 and other repeaters with phone pacthes were up in the
>>>>Raleigh area.
>>>>
>>>>Get a tech liscense and a handy talkie for these situations
>>>>
>>>>Works great. I am a cingular customer and noticed no problems in the
>>>>triangle area.
>>>>
>>>>Chip
>>>>KF4WBK
>>>>
>>>
>>> Do you still have to know code to take the tests? I had a Tech license
>>> years ago and would like to get one again.
>>>
>>> Surely I could pass theory, I have a commerical general radiotelephone
>>> license now.
>>>
>>> bamp
>>> old expired call WA5TZG
>
> You have prob. already passed the 5WPM code test- if you have some proof
> you can show the VE, you can take all the writen test, all the way through
> Extra :)

WOW!! thanks, I've still got my old license.

bamp
 
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[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <CIYHd.7929$8u5.5624@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net> on Fri, 21 Jan
2005 01:15:14 GMT, "JohnF" <u8721@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I'm not sure how "underutilized" the ham bands are

Then you must not be paying much attention.

>but it's "free" because
>having working ham stations in place is the last best way to get
>communications out of a disaster area when all else fails.

The spectrum is actually free as a matter of historic public policy that had
little or nothing to do with disaster communications.

>It also happens to be a very rewarding hobby. ...

It can be. I no longer have time for it.

>Navas, is there anything you won't argue about? It just makes you come
>across as an idiot. If you know nothing about a topic you're not required to
>respond to it. Just move on. Just because you "created" this newsgroup
>doesn't require you to make an asinine comment on every thread.

That you disagree with many of my opinions is no call for a rude personal
attack.

>No need to respond to this since you're in my kill file and I probably won't
>see it anyway unless someone else quotes it in their response.

How childish.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>