Burner phone for 911 backup

[KevinC]

During the hurricane that hit our area last year we couldn't make cell phone calls or text or use data. We had "bars" so our phones wouldn't go into SOS mode. We also lost our home phone after my backup power ran out* as it's a VoIP phone** and relied on our ISP and dependent on us having power.

Any thoughts on getting a burner on a different carrier than we currently have and using that for backup 911 usage? I understand a phone doesn't have to be activated to be able to call 911, so I wouldn't buy any minutes or however they do that.

* I've rectified the power issues and we'll positively have power next time this happens.
** We had a POTS line until around 4 months before the hurricane, but it died and AT&T no longer repairs them in out area so we ported to a VoIP carrier.

 

[GTR8000]

Go to Walmart or Target or Dollar General etc. and pick up a Tracfone or Straight Talk or any other prepaid carrier cheap phone. Even a $20 flip phone would do the trick. You can dial 911 on it which seems like your only concern. Verizon bought out Tracfone and all of its subsidiaries, so pretty much all of those brands are going to be on the VZW network, not ATT. Although frankly I'm not sure it really matters when you dial 911, as the phone should find a cell site on any band that it's capable of operating on.

 

[KevinC]

Go to Walmart or Target or Dollar General etc. and pick up a Tracfone or Straight Talk or any other prepaid carrier cheap phone. Even a $20 flip phone would do the trick. You can dial 911 on it which seems like your only concern. Verizon bought out Tracfone and all of its subsidiaries, so pretty much all of those brands are going to be on the VZW network, not ATT. Although frankly I'm not sure it really matters when you dial 911, as the phone should find a cell site on any band that it's capable of operating on.

Yeah, I'd need to find one NOT on AT&T as that's what we now have and I need a backup carrier.

 

[Hdc30474]

Read up on T-Mobile Satellite. Uses Starlink Cellular. I joined the Beta. My primary carrier is Verizon. Currently text only is available, with voice and data coming later as it rolls out. After the Beta it will cost me $10/mo. I had to create a T-Mobile account and download an eSIM to my current phone.

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service#sign-up-beta-form

 

[trentbob]

Go to Walmart or Target or Dollar General etc. and pick up a Tracfone or Straight Talk or any other prepaid carrier cheap phone. Even a $20 flip phone would do the trick. You can dial 911 on it which seems like your only concern. Verizon bought out Tracfone and all of its subsidiaries, so pretty much all of those brands are going to be on the VZW network, not ATT. Although frankly I'm not sure it really matters when you dial 911, as the phone should find a cell site on any band that it's capable of operating on.

That's what I did years ago when I finally got rid of my landline and only used a smartphone.. went to Walmart bought a TracFone, I bought a card for 60 minutes that last for 3 months but rolls over if you don't use it. But it won't work unless you buy another 3 months.

I thought if my smartphone breaks or lose it, I wanted a way to be able to call my family and friends and let everybody know I'm okay..

In those days, I bought the phone with cash, I bought the card with cash and all I have to do every 3 months is buy a new card for $19.95 for another 3 months and 60 minutes. My name is not attached to the phone in any way, probably today when you sign up you probably do have to give all your information and email address etc etc.

That's because organized crime used to purchase the phones in the same manner to have remote sit-downs and when they were finished they'd snap the phone in half and throw one half in the river and the other half in the creek.

God knows with the rollover how many minutes I have now but the problem is it only lasts for 3 months. You can buy cards that last a year and have a different denominations of allotted time but they're expensive.

I never turn the phone on unless it's an emergency and I need it, it's not for incoming calls. I did give the number to people so that it would be in their contacts so they would pick up the phone. I never set up the voicemail because I can go weeks without turning it on. If you don't have a voicemail no one's going to leave a message. Once you set up a voicemail you can't undo it. So you're kind of stuck with it.

The reason I do turn it on every couple of months is it's great if you lose your smartphone. Just call it from your TracFone and wait for the ring LOL

 

[KevinC]

Read up on T-Mobile Satellite. Uses Starlink Cellular. I joined the Beta. My primary carrier is Verizon. Currently text only is available, with voice and data coming later as it rolls out. After the Beta it will cost me $10/mo. I had to create a T-Mobile account and download an eSIM to my current phone.

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service#sign-up-beta-form

I had seen that, but 2 things nixed it for me. 1) It requires a newer phone than any we have in the household and 2) It's $10 a month for a limited time with no hint of how much it will be after that.

But I do appreciate the suggestion.

 

[KevinC]

Just saw this on the T-satellite...

When you are in an area without traditional or roaming cellular services, your satellite-optimized device will automatically connect to the T-Satellite network if you are part of the T-Satellite beta. Manually selecting the T-Satellite network will not work while other cellular connection options are available. When connected to T-Satellite, your device will display T-Mobile SpaceX at the top-left side of your screen.

So just like last year, our phones had bars so they thought they had service so they wouldn't have switched to sat. And that was the issue, it wouldn't go into SOS mode since it thought it had service.

 

[KevinC]

That's what I did years ago when I finally got rid of my landline and only used a smartphone.. went to Walmart bought a TracFone, I bought a card for 60 minutes that last for 3 months but rolls over if you don't use it. But it won't work unless you buy another 3 months.

I thought if my smartphone breaks or lose it, I wanted a way to be able to call my family and friends and let everybody know I'm okay..

In those days, I bought the phone with cash, I bought the card with cash and all I have to do every 3 months is buy a new card for $19.95 for another 3 months and 60 minutes. My name is not attached to the phone in any way, probably today when you sign up you probably do have to give all your information and email address etc etc.

That's because organized crime used to purchase the phones in the same manner to have remote sit-downs and when they were finished they'd snap the phone in half and throw one half in the river and the other half in the creek.

God knows with the rollover how many minutes I have now but the problem is it only lasts for 3 months. You can buy cards that last a year and have a different denominations of allotted time but they're expensive.

I never turn the phone on unless it's an emergency and I need it, it's not for incoming calls. I did give the number to people so that it would be in their contacts so they would pick up the phone. I never set up the voicemail because I can go weeks without turning it on. If you don't have a voicemail no one's going to leave a message. Once you set up a voicemail you can't undo it. So you're kind of stuck with it.

The reason I do turn it on every couple of months is it's great if you lose your smartphone. Just call it from your TracFone and wait for the ring LOL

And this helps me how?

 

[Hdc30474]

Just saw this on the T-satellite...

When you are in an area without traditional or roaming cellular services, your satellite-optimized device will automatically connect to the T-Satellite network if you are part of the T-Satellite beta. Manually selecting the T-Satellite network will not work while other cellular connection options are available. When connected to T-Satellite, your device will display T-Mobile SpaceX at the top-left side of your screen.

So just like last year, our phones had bars so they thought they had service so they wouldn't have switched to sat. And that was the issue, it wouldn't go into SOS mode since it thought it had service.

When you have 2 SIMs, you can disable either one of them. This is how I tested texting. I turned off the Primary ( Verizon) and left the T-Mobile SIM on. I was able to do this on my Samsung S24 and my wife's iPhone 15.

 

[Hdc30474]

I had seen that, but 2 things nixed it for me. 1) It requires a newer phone than any we have in the household and 2) It's $10 a month for a limited time with no hint of how much it will be after that.

But I do appreciate the suggestion.

It is not a contract and you can cancel at any time. I have not seen anything yet about any increase. Voice and data will apparently be available ony to T-Mobile subscribers when rolled out. I am assuming T-Mobile is trying to get customers over from other carriers with this. I am hoping a cheap text only will be available for a good while. I am rather discouraged with Verizon coverage lately. T-Mobile has my attention, but if I move it will be after much investigation.

 

[KevinC]

When you have 2 SIMs, you can disable either one of them. This is how I tested texting. I turned off the Primary ( Verizon) and left the T-Mobile SIM on. I was able to do this on my Samsung S24 and my wife's iPhone 15.

Unfortunately the newest phone we have is an iPhone 12 (not supported) and $700 minimum for a compatible iPhone isn't in the budget for the foreseeable future.

 

[Hdc30474]

Unfortunately the newest phone we have is an iPhone 12 (not supported) and $700 minimum for a compatible iPhone isn't in the budget for the foreseeable future.

Understood. I still like the burner phone idea as a backup in case a phone gets lost or broken. I kept a couple of old phones that could be used for 911 only. A Samsung S6 and an iPhone 13 that were not traded in.

 

[speedway_navigator]

First I've heard of an RF path to the site but apparently no phone system access to the CO. I can remember my teenage days if we had a snow day there were times where we got no dial tone with so many of us trying to call each other.

 

[mmckenna]

You just need a working Verizon phone. I bet if you went on Facebook marketplace or E-Bay you could find one cheap. Or if you asked around, get an old one for free. We tend to end up with a few of them at work when someone swaps out their phone for a new one. If you were local, I'd give you one.

$10/mo for Satellite service is higher than the $7/mo I pay for my Garmin InReach service. Not exactly comparable services, but either one would get the job done.

 

[KevinC]

You just need a working Verizon phone. I bet if you went on Facebook marketplace or E-Bay you could find one cheap. Or if you asked around, get an old one for free. We tend to end up with a few of them at work when someone swaps out their phone for a new one. If you were local, I'd give you one.

$10/mo for Satellite service is higher than the $7/mo I pay for my Garmin InReach service. Not exactly comparable services, but either one would get the job done.

If I had unlimited funds we'd get new iPhone 16's and do the T-satellite thing for $10 a month. My wife and I are still waiting for our ship to come in, but at this point in our lives we'd be happy if it was a dinghy.

 

[Hdc30474]

You just need a working Verizon phone. I bet if you went on Facebook marketplace or E-Bay you could find one cheap. Or if you asked around, get an old one for free. We tend to end up with a few of them at work when someone swaps out their phone for a new one. If you were local, I'd give you one.

$10/mo for Satellite service is higher than the $7/mo I pay for my Garmin InReach service. Not exactly comparable services, but either one would get the job done.

I looked into getting an InReach. The monthly is cheap, but the device is a bit pricey. I would prefer the Mini 2. No more than I expected to be out of range, I have not yet justified the cost for myself. If the T-Mobile Satellite tests out useful, I will stick with it for now. If I switch to T-Mobile as my primary carrier, Satellite will be included at no extra charge. But I still would consider the InReach depending on my experiences with the T-Mobile satellite.

 

[K9KLC]

Read up on T-Mobile Satellite. Uses Starlink Cellular. I joined the Beta. My primary carrier is Verizon. Currently text only is available, with voice and data coming later as it rolls out. After the Beta it will cost me $10/mo. I had to create a T-Mobile account and download an eSIM to my current phone.

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service#sign-up-beta-form

Have you actually ever gotten it to work? I've been on that beta since it came out and even in an area where there's zero bars I've never gotten it to connect to anything.

 

[Hdc30474]

Have you actually ever gotten it to work? I've been on that beta since it came out and even in an area where there's zero bars I've never gotten it to connect to anything.

It works on my Samsung S24 and my Wifes iPhone 15. I get some signal even inside and full bars outside. Try going into the SIM manager and turn off your primary SIM to force it onto the T-Mobile SIM. Maybe it will not try to connect if the primary SIM is on. If it sends on satellite it will be from the phone number of the T-Mobile SIM. If you can get that to work, you may have to try some of the SIM options to get it to switch automatically. Also, even if there are zero bars on the primary line, there may still be usable signal to connect and therefore prevent switching over.

 

[trentbob]

And this helps me how?

I thought it might fit the bill for you. Gave you current billing cost and how the plans work.

 

[BinaryMode]

If it were me in that area I'd gravitate more towards Starlink and use your VoIP or Ooma with that. T-Mobile's roll out of Sat phone service sounds promising though. Or you can buy a Sat phone on eBay and the calling card too...

I wouldn't trust the cellphone infrastructure to be up during a hurricane.

https://www.perplexity.ai/search/can-i-plug-ethernet-into-starl-ryVstwitSXOranvdBhA3eQ