Posted by JanetK_CA on 9/15/08 8:18pm
Msg #264307

Cell phone outage

I heard that Sprint and T-Mobile are down and was wondering how widespread the problem is. I hadn't noticed it, but realized earlier that I hadn't received one single call today. I was chalking it up to slow business until I received an email from a friend advising of the problem. I have plenty of bars, but no signal.

I guess this is why I like to keep a land line with a "plain-ole-telephone" that doesn't need electricity. I'd guess cell towers can lose power as easily as the rest of a neighborhood, but the phone company central offices have generator and other back-up systems.

[Grrrrrrrrrrr. Just got pinged that I have a voice mail message, but I can't retrieve it. Bummer!!!!]

The friend just advised that this was a major cable that was cut...and they HOPE to have it fixed by this evening. Not good! I hope this is just a local problem and that not too many of you are affected...

Reply by John_NorCal on 9/15/08 8:40pm
Msg #264310

I have Sprint here on the San Mateo coast, no problems that I'm aware of. Did you do something to get them mad at you? jk :-)

Reply by ZeeCA on 9/15/08 9:43pm
Msg #264313

if you have a landline why can't you retrieve your cell

messages? I can retrieve from any phone........

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/16/08 2:23am
Msg #264320

Re: if you have a landline why can't you retrieve your cell

Wish I'd thought of that!!! It's been so long since it's even entered my mind - and I virtually ALWAYS have my cell with me. (What do you dial to get messages vs. just calling yourself?)

Service finally came back on just before 8:00 pm - and found out I missed a last minute appointment for a RE attny client with a signing they needed done tonight. Definite bummer!!!

Reply by GF_CA on 9/16/08 11:03am
Msg #264346

Re: if you have a landline why can't you retrieve your cell

(What do you dial to get messages vs. just calling yourself?)

Dial your number, when you hear your voicemail dial * then your password.

Reply by MikeC/NY on 9/15/08 11:15pm
Msg #264317

Several years back, we had a major blackout here on the east coast - the entire grid went down, blacking out a number of states. Cell phones didn't work, but if you picked up a land line phone receiver, you got a dial tone and could still make calls (other than to people with cell phones...). There's still a lot to be said for old technology.

Reply by PAW on 9/16/08 7:33am
Msg #264325

Down here where power outages are a typical way of life, cell towers have LP generator backup with enough 'gas' for 8 days. So even if the power goes out for extended periods, we should have our cell phones and other rf communications. (I don't know if it's a state/county/local requirement or simply an excellent disaster plan policy. But it works!)

Reply by qmriley on 9/16/08 1:12pm
Msg #264364

Try forwarding your cell phone ot your house phone so that you can still get calls when at home.