Turn off those touch tones.

[rainbowbob]

Tonight I was thinking through a couple of threat scenarios (we all do that occasionally, don't we?).

Scenario 1.
My wife and I are in the bedroom and we awaken to the terrible sound of a breaking window or door. I want her to take the cell phone and lock herself in the bathroom and immediately - and quietly - call 911, while I take cover and aim my .38 at the bedroom door.

Scenario 2.
I enter a store and see an armed BG holding up the clerk. I want to draw my .38, and my cell phone, and take cover or back out of the store and call 911 - quietly.

It occurred to me that those pesky touch tones could give away my/our position and/or alert the BG. So I went into my phone set-up menu and turned them off. No more beep! beep! beep! when I make a call. What good are they anyway?

Anyone reading this might want to consider doing the same to your cell phone. Just a thought.

 

[rrruuunnn]

all my speed # dials are 911.

 

[NukemJim]

Just so you know, some cell phones make a special noise/tone when dialling 911.

This was brought up in another thread a few weeks ago. I'll search for it when I get home tonight.

When I tested my cell phone it did make a special noise for 911 calls.

NukemJim

 

[Ric in Richmond]

And your safe!!!

 

[Pax Jordana]

No more beep! beep! beep! when I make a call.

Just a thought - does your phone speak mime? If the guy can hear your phone beep (excepting that weird 911 tone) why can't he hear you whispering?

Jim - how do you test your phone for that without actually dialing 911?

 

[Trebor]

You do 911 and when they answer just say, "I just wanted to make sure this new phone worked with 911. What dispatch center did I reach?"

They'll understand.

Don't just hang up though as then they'll wonder and may send a response.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

You do 911 and when they answer just say, "I just wanted to make sure this new phone worked with 911. What dispatch center did I reach?"

They'll understand.

No, I don't think so. Tieing up a 911 operator for a non-emergency test is not considered appropriate. Some departments actually require an officer to verify the call in person so as to determine whether the call was actually a non-emergency or if the reported non-emergency was coerced. In some jurisdictions, non-emergency 911 calls can earn you a misdemeanor citation.

In Hopkins County, Texas in 2002, a nearly 1% of their 911 calls were test calls. http://www.hopkinscountytx.org/sheriff/call-stats-2002.htm Now Hopkins County doesn't have a lot of people as so the 1% figure may not have resulted in the wasting of much resources or may not have resulted in a delayed response, but in busiers jurisdiction, it can. Anybody who has been put on hold by 911 understands this. Do you really want to be on hold with 911 as your emergency is happening because there are other folks calling in to 911 to make tests calls?????????

If you do want to to test your 911 feature on your phone and don't want to do something illegal or potentially tie up 911 personnel who need to be handling real emergency calls, FIRST...

...contact your 9-1-1 call center on their non-emergency line. Confirm that you are in their 9-1-1 jurisdiction and then ask if you can place a test 9-1-1 call. Many 9-1-1 call centers will comply with this request as long as they are not too busy with other emergency calls at the time. They may ask you to place your test call at a certain time.

 

[jsconnelly]

I agree with Spy. Afterall, what if the bad guy in your scenario DOES hear you make a 911 call, quickly grabs the phone and says: "Hi! How ya doin'? I was just testing this new phone. I knew you'd understand."

Also, have you thought about getting a pump action shotgun for the bedroom? That's a noise the BG doesn't want to hear.


Jeff

 

[TallPine]

BG isn't going to hear phone beeps over the racket of the dogs barking

 

[stevemis]

I've done 911 tests with new telephone installations. It's always a good idea to call the non-emergency number and ask if there is a procedure or time for 911 test calls. I've always been told that I am welcome to call anytime.

 

[rainbowbob]

Pax -

Good question. My phone doesn't pick up mime - but I think whispering is less audible than the loud beeps my phone was making before I disabled the tone. If whispering isn't an option because of the close proximity of the BG, at least the operator may send someone out for the non-response - or - hear me shouting "Get the F*** out of my house or I'll shoot" - or - hear the gunshots.

 

[Kingcreek]

My phone is always on silent/vibrate. There may be situations when I don't want my presents or location known and that would include an incoming call.

 

[gdvan01]

It occurred to me that those pesky touch tones could give away my/our position and/or alert the BG.

The same goes for digital watches that are set to beep at the top of every hour.

 

[Autolycus]

Be careful as some phones (Nextel) beep when they lose signal and pick it back up.

 

[larry_minn]

Turn off the ring tones as well. (be polite)
Yep 911 does make a number of unique sounds when I dial it.
BTW to (test) your cell phone just wait. How long before you see debries on the interstate (its not LEGAL for me to stop and remove hazzards so I have to report it) Or a driver who is (likely) drunk? Say going wrong way down interstate? (all legal reasons to call 911)

 

[CryingWolf]

No, I don't think so. Tieing up a 911 operator for a non-emergency test is not considered appropriate. Some departments actually require an officer to verify the call in person so as to determine whether the call was actually a non-emergency or if the reported non-emergency was coerced. In some jurisdictions, non-emergency 911 calls can earn you a misdemeanor citation.

In Hopkins County, Texas in 2002, a nearly 1% of their 911 calls were test calls. http://www.hopkinscountytx.org/sheri...stats-2002.htm Now Hopkins County doesn't have a lot of people as so the 1% figure may not have resulted in the wasting of much resources or may not have resulted in a delayed response, but in busiers jurisdiction, it can. Anybody who has been put on hold by 911 understands this. Do you really want to be on hold with 911 as your emergency is happening because there are other folks calling in to 911 to make tests calls?????????

If you do want to to test your 911 feature on your phone and don't want to do something illegal or potentially tie up 911 personnel who need to be handling real emergency calls, FIRST...

I wouldn't make a habit of it but test calls are made by the phone companies including cell phone companies, nothing illegal about it. I have made them in the past you just announce that you are making a test call, of course all mine have been work related so YMMV. I wouldn't want to say you can't get in trouble but I wouldn't say you can't make them either.