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Cell phone idea

Old 09-20-05, 05:01 PM
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Cell phone idea

Recently I heard of a man who bought a cell phone, for emergencies only, at a garage sale . He didn't sign up for any service because cell phones are supposed to work on the 911 network regardless if you have a service provider or not. If true this would be a cheap safetly device on a long US tour.

Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
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Old 09-20-05, 05:04 PM
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sounds like a good idea, but I carry my regular cellphone anywhere I go, anyways. When it's raining, I just put in a ziplock bag.
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Old 09-21-05, 12:19 PM
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911 service is not available in all areas.

Sans ones regular cell, a better option would be to buy a "disposable" cell with prepaid time. An "emergency" on tour need not be of the immediate medical nor personal safety type. A prepaid phone card is also handy.
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Old 09-21-05, 05:14 PM
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All phones here in Los Angeles have 911 even if not activated. I believe the law says all cell phones must be able to dial it. Problem is dead areas where there is no service
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Old 09-21-05, 06:09 PM
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Good thought! I remember dialing a friend's "glove box phone" some time ago. It was out of service but we got the operator and she said if it were an emergency she could connect us anyway.

Q for Camel: can you get "disposable" phones that have non-expiring time? Last time I dealt with a "pay as you go" phone, you had to "charge" it with time each month or all of your time disappeared and it went off the air. (a real rip - they either get you on a plan or the get on with monthly fees on "pay as you go"...) I'm in Canada so maybe we don't have the cell provider selection you guys do in the USofA.
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Old 09-21-05, 09:55 PM
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Originally Posted by af895
Good thought! I remember dialing a friend's "glove box phone" some time ago. It was out of service but we got the operator and she said if it were an emergency she could connect us anyway.

Q for Camel: can you get "disposable" phones that have non-expiring time? Last time I dealt with a "pay as you go" phone, you had to "charge" it with time each month or all of your time disappeared and it went off the air. (a real rip - they either get you on a plan or the get on with monthly fees on "pay as you go"...) I'm in Canada so maybe we don't have the cell provider selection you guys do in the USofA.
T-Moble is that way. YOu do get a year to use it if you buy a $100 recharge.
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Old 09-21-05, 11:22 PM
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That's good to know but still seems like "pay-as-you-go" from the other local providers. (Fido, Bell, Telus) The Fido $10 fill-ups seem to expire in a month - $20 two months etc. $100 is a LOT of change to fork out for something used MAYBE once a month for 5 minutes. ("got a flat - Somerset at Bank street - pick me up" *click*)

I'll take a look at what T-mobile's got for other options... I'm still hoping there's something that would fit the bill.

I'm starting to think about HAM radio... you used to be able to dial a phone number using a HAM by locking in a repeater that had a land-line. Free...
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Old 09-22-05, 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted by af895
Q for Camel: can you get "disposable" phones that have non-expiring time? Last time I dealt with a "pay as you go" phone, you had to "charge" it with time each month or all of your time disappeared and it went off the air. (a real rip - they either get you on a plan or the get on with monthly fees on "pay as you go"...) I'm in Canada so maybe we don't have the cell provider selection you guys do in the USofA.
I've no idea, sorry.

It would seem better than just relying on the "good will" of an operator to connect you (in a non life threatening situation) though.
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Old 09-22-05, 04:55 AM
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Originally Posted by taylor8
T-Moble is that way. YOu do get a year to use it if you buy a $100 recharge.
As of lately, you only have to put out $50. Using cc, dc, or pre-paid phone card.
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Old 09-22-05, 07:51 AM
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if you are in europe the emergency number is 112 and it works that way too, you don't need to be signed up with a service provider to use it.
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