Mobile phone emergency alert/siren

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andya700

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So, what is the point of this? Here is the advice you are given, should the alert go off when you are driving. When I am driving, my phone is in my rucksack behind my seat, I have never used my phone whilst driving, so can anyone see the problem with the following advice? So, back to my original question, what is the point? Is an asteroid going to hit the earth? Is a nuclear war going to start, in which case we can kiss our ar**s goodbye in arounjd four minutes? So, a siren/alert goes off and there is absolute chaos and carnage, because nobody knows what the alert/siren is trying to warn us of.
I am just going to turn my phone off on the day.

"The advice listed on the official page instructs motorists to keep driving and not respond to the noise, or attempt to pick up the phone to switch it off."

 
I'm staying off the roads when it's due to go off (15:00, 23rd April). There are enough f***wits around without them all peering at their phones, wondering what the strange noise is.
 
If you do not wish to get the alert, or any future alerts, just turn them off in your phones settings

Search your settings for ‘emergency alerts’.

Turn off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’

In an S23 for example you would go to settings > Safety and emergency > Wireless emergency alerts > Turn emergency alerts off
 
I've turned off the alert thing in apple settings. I don't expect to be bothered with this pointless nonsense. I assume android will have similar.

Knowing how incompetent this government are it will be hacked within a few weeks and folk will be getting all sorts of random messages :rolleyes:
 
srichards said:
I've turned off the alert thing in apple settings. I don't expect to be bothered with this pointless nonsense. I assume android will have similar.

Knowing how incompetent this government are it will be hacked within a few weeks and folk will be getting all sorts of random messages :rolleyes:
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It will override your phone settings.
 
I can't see easily how to turn it off in my iphone; however I'm not that bothered about it, - an alert happens, I switch it off, that's a few seconds of my life wasted but otherwise no biggie. I'm curious about it, to be honest. I do think a lot more public information and awareness should be done before the test though. Why, what for, etc, should be explained. If it's just fopr bad weather, it's a stupid idea.
 
I watched The Last of Us TV show first episode last night. When the outbreak happened, there were TV and radio messages on what to do.

Those disaster films/shows had the radio/TV messages that are repeatedly played on all channels when such thing happens. Problem is, TV's are no longer connected to broadcast, radios are rare these days. So displaying these important messages on the phone is a good modern day alternative.

The March 2020 COVID start of lockdown could use such service.
 
The alert system seems to me to be a sticking plaster over a serious misjudgement: closing down the self powered landline telephone system.

The current system evolved into a hardened communications network over many decades. This is because the telephone cabling has its own power supply, independent of the national grid. Therfor, you should still be able to use a traditional plug-in landline phone during a power cut as long as nothing has happened to bring the phone network down, too. Ofcom's advice on the matter...
If you have a cordless phone, you could consider keeping a traditional corded phone in your house and keep it connected to the phone socket (or stored in a handy place). This will offer the greatest chance of being able to make calls during a power cut.

www.ofcom.org.uk

Will your landline telephone work during a power cut?

If you have a cordless landline phone it’s unlikely to work in a power cut, even if it’s fully charged. Find out more.
www.ofcom.org.uk www.ofcom.org.uk
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As the above page is currently dated "2023", it seems to me a good question whether OFCOM has already realised the dangers to life inherent in removing the self powered copper system in favour of the domestic mains powered fibre optic system. It also raises the question of whether the fibre distribution and routing system is itself powered from the BT network or the general mains.
 
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wyx087 said:
The March 2020 COVID start of lockdown could use such service.
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If only there was something that could notify people if they came in contact with an infected person, that actually worked eh?

srichards said:
Knowing how incompetent this government are it will be hacked within a few weeks and folk will be getting all sorts of random messages
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I agree, that is a concern, that the government can send messages or indeed have control over your phone, even if its off at the time,
as it seems you can't use the phone when you switch it back on, until you acknowledge the message...
 
The real trouble lies in the fact that a nuclear bomb detonated high enough will fry all your electronics anyway . . And know doubt before that satellites would be taken out .
Now all it takes is for someone to figure out how to nullify two tin cans and a length of string .
PS don’t use my hearing aids on the 23rd
 
I agree with Andrew's point. This topic has also been discussed on ham radio discussion boards, the same point about the relative resilience of circuit-switched landline networks over the modern internet-based VOIP facility, or mobile phone frequency switched networks, especially considering power requirements and resilience to nuclear EMF blast. The other point being made by electronics guys being that we should have retained all the old WW2 era siren systems that were addressable through the landline phone system and located on town halls and similar tall buildings in built up areas.
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
The alert system seems to me to be a sticking plaster over a serious misjudgement: closing down the self powered landline telephone system.

The current system evolved into a hardened communications network over many decades. This is because the telephone cabling has its own power supply, independent of the national grid. Therfor, you should still be able to use a traditional plug-in landline phone during a power cut as long as nothing has happened to bring the phone network down, too. Ofcom's advice on the matter...

As the above page is currently dated "2023", it seems to me a good question whether OFCOM has already realised the dangers to life inherent in removing the self powered copper system in favour of the domestic mains powered fibre optic system. It also raises the question of whether the fibre distribution and routing system is itself powered from the BT network or the general mains.
Click to expand...
And this page about (though not described as such) the completion of the change from analogue to digital voice.

www.ofcom.org.uk

Moving landline phones to digital technology: what you need to know

The technology that we currently use to make landline phone calls is being upgraded over the next few years. Here's what you need to know.
www.ofcom.org.uk www.ofcom.org.uk

It seems the onus is entirely on the customer to request and/or obtain battery backup based phone equipment to use with the 'landine' connection.

IIRC there was criticism of the early/current such battery backup phones i.e. the battery life was only about between 6 to 20 hours. Where, frankly it should be more like days of resilient supply!
 
Cobra said:
If only there was something that could notify people if they came in contact with an infected person, that actually worked eh?
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Indeed, but the service wasn't available when pandemic hit. UK govt took their sweet time setting up this service.
Unfortunately that trace service has been shutdown now. When next pandemic hits it'll be repeat of everything, taking months to get any service up and running.

The reason old systems are no longer maintained is due to cost, as with everything driving decisions......



Electricity are easy to come by. There's many local generation options. It is no longer 1990's, solar and battery are incredibly cheap these days. Doesn't need big solar array to power a phone even in cloudy days.

Besides, the purpose of the service is to send emergency messages. The phone does not need to be powered on 24/7.
 
wyx087 said:
the purpose of the service is to send emergency messages.
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I'm struggling to think of anything that requires an emergency message.
I know its its used in some part of the states for tornado warnings, But that's not really applicable here.
Nuclear attack, if its on its way, its too late.
And those in power would have known long before we did, and would be safly tucked up in their bunkers,
Major roads closed? that would have been on the radio, or live sat navs.
Or other routing programmes.

All this is doing is proving the government has more control over our devices than a lot of people thought.
But also that many suspected.
 
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I don't know that we live in a nanny state. In my opinion, such a thing would be much better than the chaotic and incompetent kleptocracy than we actually have to endure.

I think that this particular madness has come about because someone did the numbers. Thinking they can steal a lot of money by mining the vast amount of copper and other metals that make up the telephone network did the rest. When people die due to power cuts blacking out communications, their first response will be: "It was him"!
 
lindsay said:
It's a solution looking for a problem, matched with nanny state (all those Red and Amber weather alerts that everybody ignores)
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Plus, I'm absolutely convinced that someone somehow is going to make a lot of money out of this, one way or another.
 
the black fox said:
The real trouble lies in the fact that a nuclear bomb detonated high enough will fry all your electronics anyway . . And know doubt before that satellites would be taken out .
Now all it takes is for someone to figure out how to nullify two tin cans and a length of string .
PS don’t use my hearing aids on the 23rd
Click to expand...

That last sentence is something I was wondering about too .
 
Cobra said:
Plus, I'm absolutely convinced that someone somehow is going to make a lot of money out of this, one way or another.
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Isn't that how capitalism works?

I'd have to agree it's not much use here. It wouldn't be used for traffic I don't think.
But I think it's better to have this capability than not, whilst we loose phone lines, disconnect TV aerials (in favour for streaming services) and radios disappear.

For my family, we don't have TV hooked up because everything is streamed. We don't have landline. We may have radio but never turned it on. So it is nice knowing this channel of communication exist when those older ones disappear from our and ever increasing people's lives.
 
wyx087 said:
Isn't that how capitalism works?
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I don't disagree, the point I was making, albeit probably not in the best way,
That its not really for "us"

wyx087 said:
So it is nice knowing this channel of communication exist when those older ones disappear from our and ever increasing people's lives.
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And the fact that they can send adverts / instructions direct to your phone, if they want to.
Progress or another measure to bring us a little closer to dystopia ?
 
Sending alert / instructions and sending adverts are 2 entirely different things. I don't believe this system will ever be used for advertising.

Calling sending message to a mobile communication device is dystopian....... that ship has sailed with spam snail mails 100 years ago.
 
Since advertising is making people aware of something (not just trying to sell them stuff), the system is purely for advertising!
 
wyx087 said:
I don't believe this system will ever be used for advertising.
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As Nod said.
As for washing powder or uber / just eats type adverts, time will tell
 
Who am I to argue common use of the word "advertising".

en.wikipedia.org

Advertising - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a specific good or service, but there are wide range of uses, the most common being the commercial advertisement.
Click to expand...

www.britannica.com

Advertising | Definition, History, Objectives, Techniques, Examples, & Facts | Britannica Money

advertising, the techniques and practices used to bring products, services, opinions, or causes to public...
www.britannica.com www.britannica.com
Most advertising involves promoting a good that is for sale, often through brand marketing, but similar methods are used to encourage people to drive safely, to support various charities, or to vote for political candidates, among many other examples.
Click to expand...
 
Cobra said:
Plus, I'm absolutely convinced that someone somehow is going to make a lot of money out of this, one way or another.
Click to expand...

This tends to be my first thought with anything the Government push as being in the public's best interest. I couldn't see if there is any private sector involvement with it other than the networks?
 
Not saying you or Cobra are wrong, just pointing out the reason for my initial reaction (advertise: most commonly associated with commercial advertisement).
Got to remember dystopia is mentioned in the very next sentence.
 
Might not be enough to avoid the alert.

Mine's on... the bedside cabinet and it can stay there today! In theory, I have switched the alerts off but it remains to be seen whether I've actually managed to do so properly!!!
 

Which devices will receive the alerts?​

The alerts will work on all 4G and 5G phone networks and on devices with the following software:
  • iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later
  • phones and tablets running Android 11 or later
Older "non-smart" phones will be unable to receive the alerts, and nor will devices that are turned off or on aeroplane mode.
The alert will sound on phones on silent mode.
The government says emergency services will have other ways to notify those without a compatible device.
The alert is expected to reach about 90% of mobile phones.
 
Forcing the alert on silent mode phones is rather off as well. I've turned off alerts and don't expect to get it.
 
I'm leaving mine on.
If there is a Tornado, Tsunami, earthquake, alien invasion, or a lost kitten, I'll be ahead of the game.
I'm sure I won't be able to do anything about it, but I'll know a few minutes in advance what is about to kill or probe me. (y)

Fuji Dave said:
phones and tablets running Android 11 or later
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TBH Mine is quite an old Android phone, certainly by today's standards, so I maybe disappointed in the above
 
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My wife, who is much cleverer than me, has just shown me how to turn off the alert on my iPhone! :banana:
 
Cobra said:
but I'll know a few minutes in advance what is about to kill or probe me. (y)
Click to expand...


Plenty of time to find Marlon's butter!!!
 
On the Jeremy Vine show a few days ago he was wittering on about this and as per his usual IMO verbal diarrhoea he said "all smartphones and tablets......" would get the alert!

Now, as not all tablets are actually connected via the mobile network his looseness of details might prompt some folk to complain/try to report that the alert system was not working???

IMO he is constantly being argumentative to stimulate discussion by his lack of details in his 'pontifications' :(

As for whether our phones get it, well I surmise they will.......but hopefully those who have very particular needs for their phones not to receive it, have managed to turn off that function AOK?
 
I'm just removing and switching off my hearing aids - they are blue-toothed to my Mobile Phone !
 
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