[Rainger99]

Depending on the model of your phone, you may be able to call 911 even if cellular service goes down!

How to make a satellite call to 911 during cell service outages

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Depending on the model of your phone, you may be able to call 911 even if cellular service goes down!

How to make a satellite call to 911 during cell service outages

Thanks, works on iOS 18 for my phone.

[asianthree]

Doesn’t all phones have emergency only capability? Two of my old phones with no service connected, I can still use them to make emergency call.

[Mrprez]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Doesn’t all phones have emergency only capability? Two of my old phones with no service connected, I can still use them to make emergency call.

I doubt they would work if there was no cellular service. How would they connect?

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

I doubt they would work if there was no cellular service. How would they connect?

The same as a phone with down towers becomes a sat call, as posted by OP. When you no longer have cell towers, a message on your connected phone will say Emergency Call Only. Both old phone screens have in large print “ emergency calls only” When you donate old phones, they can be given to someone in need to make emergency call only.

I will give you a heads up in certain Government facilities, check your phone, that Emergency Call Only may appear. Also if you are in a medical facility, with lead lined walls for a test or procedure you will also see the same message. In certain lead lined rooms land line is your only communication.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by asianthree

The same as a phone with down towers becomes a sat call, as posted by OP. When you no longer have cell towers, a message on your connected phone will say Emergency Call Only. Both old phone screens have in large print “ emergency calls only” When you donate old phones, they can be given to someone in need to make emergency call only.

I will give you a heads up in certain Government facilities, check your phone, that Emergency Call Only may appear. Also if you are in a medical facility, with lead lined walls for a test or procedure you will also see the same message. In certain lead lined rooms land line is your only communication.

For older phones, Emergency Call Only means the phone will use the cellular network to dial 911 but no other numbers. It can still make these calls even if no cellular plan (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc) is active for the phone. It still requires the cellular network; if cell towers are down, these phones will not work at all.

Some newer cell phones (iphone 14 and up, some Androids) contain hardware and software that can connect to the same satellites that Satellite Phones use. These newer phones can send messages using the satellite networks. These phones provide the possibility of sending and receiving messages even when the cellular network is unavailable. Not all phones will have this capability.

[Mrprez]

Originally Posted by asianthree

The same as a phone with down towers becomes a sat call, as posted by OP. When you no longer have cell towers, a message on your connected phone will say Emergency Call Only. Both old phone screens have in large print “ emergency calls only” When you donate old phones, they can be given to someone in need to make emergency call only.

I will give you a heads up in certain Government facilities, check your phone, that Emergency Call Only may appear. Also if you are in a medical facility, with lead lined walls for a test or procedure you will also see the same message. In certain lead lined rooms land line is your only communication.

I hope you never need to prove your theory. I have a feeling you will be disappointed.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

I hope you never need to prove your theory. I have a feeling you will be disappointed.

My record of Single CPR is 33 minutes, effectively, little downhill after that, but you continue until help arrives, no matter how exhausted.

Onstar in our car for help with medical emergency or an accident. Used 4 times in 9 years reporting 2 accidents, and 2 medical emergency.

Also our home and outside the home we have a device that connects directly to the closest sheriffs department anywhere in the US, for help. (Because sometimes 911 is bogged down.)
Yes it works, even during a tornado event where all communication was down. I have activated 3 times, with Two way communication, with Unprecedented results. My phone is always last resort

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Depending on the model of your phone, you may be able to call 911 even if cellular service goes down!

How to make a satellite call to 911 during cell service outages

Looks like for hurricane Milton, like Helene Starlink is providing emergency texting via T-Mobile for all phones. More details here: https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1843903981480980642

Like this quote: "If a phone connects to a Starlink satellite, it will have 1 to 2 bars of signal and show "T-Mobile SpaceX" in the network name. Users may have to manually retry text messages if they don't go through at first, as this is being delivered on a best-effort basis. The service works best outdoors, and occasionally works indoors near a window."

[JRcorvette]

Newer iPhone just update to ver 18

[La lamy]

Good to know OP. Thanks for the info.

[Girlcopper]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Doesn’t all phones have emergency only capability? Two of my old phones with no service connected, I can still use them to make emergency call.

Yes. They do. And have for many years

[DrHitch]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Emergency Call Only means the phone will use the cellular network to dial 911 but no other numbers. It still requires the cellular network; if cell towers are down, these phones will not work at all.

Some newer cell phones (iphone 14 and up, some Androids) can connect to the same satellites that Satellite Phones use.

EXACTLY.....and, every cellular tower has a bank of batteries in the little house at the base. So, when cellular goes "down" it is not the tower itself, it's all the router equipment at the base of each tower.

[Lanieb]

On a slightly different note I have cell service with T mobile and just moved house close to Chula Vista rec center off Del Mar.

my calls are constantly dropped so I need recommendations for another carrier please. If anyone is familiar with where I live.

Also I have Xfinity for internet which is also lousy here, any recommendations for that please.

Thanks so much,

Lanie

[Janie123]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Depending on the model of your phone, you may be able to call 911 even if cellular service goes down!

How to make a satellite call to 911 during cell service outages

You can also text anyone using satellite with ios18 and iPhones 14 and greater