JJ ) writes:
William wrote:


Many, many, many, many, many people claimed to have successfully used
their cellular telephones fleeing from the Twin Towers. It was in the
news.

Post 9/11, sales of cellular phones skyrocketted. It was in the news.

That is why the cell network was no good for any emergency assistance
communications, it was people overloading the network to call someone to
say they got out alive, calling everyone they knew to turn on the TV,
ect. The cell network can't be counted on for emergency aid in such a
crisis as everyone wants to use their phone for non emergency aid type
calls. That is what I meant when I said in my post that cell networks
tend to become overloaded so that they are practically useless for
emergency aid, so of course there were many, many, many people making
calls, that is why the network was overloaded - DUH. And the
skyrocketing sales of cellular phones after 9/11 will assure that in the
event of another such disaster, the network will be even more overloaded.

That holds for virtually any "service".

Electric companies do not want to invest in too much equipment that will
sit idle most of the time, so they can have problems when there is a sudden
temporary surge in useage. But such surges are uncommon, so it would be a
waste to have capacity at all times to deal with them.

The phone companies do pretty well most of the time, but on peak days,
like holidays, they may suffere a lack of bandwidth. Again, it's not worth
having that much bandwidth available at all times when it would usually sit
unused.

Many ISPs offer "unlimited" hours, but if everyone tried to get on for
all those hours, it would break down. Likewise, they will not have a phone
line for every single user. It works because not everyone uses as much
time as others, and not everyone wants to call in at the same time.

And that's where amateur radio comes in. Emergency preparedness is
always a gamble. Do we spend money on something that will see little
or no use, just in case of an emergency, or do we spend the money on
necessities, and risk not being able to handle emergencies?

If there is an "auxiliary" who have their own radios (saves money)
and has some ability in using those radios (saves staff) then that
money does not have to be spent "just in case". If there is never
an emergency, hams will go on because their interest is not primarily
in providing emergency communication. It is a hobby, which means they
should get more practical use with the radios than if they took a training
weekend once a year. They want the radios for their hobby, so they gladly
pay for the equipment.

But just as an electric company can usually buy power from another company
on the grid when there is a surge in demand, amateur radio is there to
draw on when an emergency comes up that cannot be handled with regular
equipment and staff.

Michael VE2BVW

Dave Heil ) writes:
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

Dave K8MN

This was discussed in CQ in the mid-sixties. The phone company wanted
to set up an alternative to amateur radio, including sending equipment
to rare countries for DXpeditions. But it would be all done over phone
lines.

I can't remember which year, 1965 or 1968 somehow ring a bell, but I
can definitely tell you it was in the April issue.

Michael

In article ,
(William) writes:

JJ wrote in message
...
William wrote:

Would you estimate that in the last decade more cellular telephones
have saved the day than all of amateur radio in the last century?

One a daily basis such as reporting traffic accidents, calling for an
ambulance, and other minor emergencies, probably, but in a major
disaster cell networks tend to become overloaded and useless. Ask the
emergency officals in NYC about 9/11. The cell phone networks were so
overloaded they were practically useless for any emergency efforts. That
is why the hams were called in. Your point is?

Many, many, many, many, many people claimed to have successfully used
their cellular telephones fleeing from the Twin Towers. It was in the
news.

Post 9/11, sales of cellular phones skyrocketted. It was in the news.

Go easy on the Anonymous Advanced...

He isn't fully checked into the Witness Protection Program... :-)

LHA / WMD

Dave Heil wrote:
William wrote:


The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.


Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?


Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!


How does a cellphone contest work?


The first annual cell phone contest:

March 6-7, 2004

The object of the contest is to demonstrate as many cell phone
activities as possible during the 24 hour period of the contest.

The exchange is "I am (give location), I am going to (give location(,
and I will be there in (give estimated time) minutes. Buh-bye!" Of
course, all the contacts must start with "can you hear me?...Can you
hear me now?


Points are scored by number of contacts, but what really pumps the score
up is the multipliers:

X2 multiplier for operating while driving.

X2 Multiplier for driving at least 15 mph over the speed limit while driving

A multiplier is achieved for each red light you drive through while talking.

Accidents you cause while talking achieve a X5 multiplier!

If you use your cell phone to send pix of the accident you caused while
on the phone, you get an X10 multiplier!!!

No artificial aids are allowed. This means no headsets. Use you phone
like God meant you to Right up to the ear.

Anyone found using a voice dialer is instantly disqualified. Besides,
those artificial aids interfere with you collecting the really big mult's!

William wrote:


The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

The NYC emergency officials sure were not relying on individuals with
cell phones and the cell network to handle emergency communications,
that is why they called the hams to assist.

Dave Heil wrote in message ...
William wrote:

The fact remains that many emergency calls were placed and got through
using cellular telephones.

Does that upset you or do you find it some sort of validation for your
latest peculiar theory?

David, there is no theory. I merely stated a fact.

Heaven forbid an emergency happens during a contest weekend!

How does a cellphone contest work?

Dave K8MN

David, now you're being obtuse. What's new?

Len Over 21 wrote:



The answer is painfully obvious...except for mobile installations
and shacks in the deep woods, there is very little emergency
preparedness by radio amateurs...in everything from equipment
to individual training.

Lennyboy you are so far off base it isn't even funny.

In article ,
(William) writes:

Lennie's insistance that Amateur Radio "always" saves the day is
his way of skewing the results in his favor.

Oh, contraire!

Larry Roll has set up many a scenario where not only is amateur radio
the ONLY means to save the day, but only ONE particular mode is
suitable to save the day.

He's done it again and again.

Are we Not to believe Roll?

Billy:

My "scenarios" are always built around a simple premise: That there is, in
fact,
a licensed (and CW-capable) radio amateur at the scene of my "scenario," that
he has functional radio equipment at his disposal, and prevailing operating
conditions preclude the use of voice modes such as FM or SSB. I don't recall
making any inference that CW is the "only" mode that can "save the day" ...just
that unless you know the code, you can't use it when you may need it!

73 de Larry, K3LT