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National Alert system - finally!
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By *rFunBoy OP Man
over a year ago
Longridge |
Good to see some proactive planning by the UK Government, 20 years late though, but at least it will be active in time for Winter - power cut and shedding planning!
This idea was conceived at the birth of GSM Networks, but like all bad planning and saving money in the wrong places, they finally realised it was worth the cost.
I wrote to my MP after the Asian Tsunami to introduce this here, bluffed response that the UK has other forms of communications.
This system was developed during GSM to warn of disasters such as Tsunamis, Earthquake, Terrorism and can be National, Regional and per Cell master specific to unconditionally alert any connected mobile phone.
About time and very long overdue.
I hope its put to good use, especially local events such a missing child to alert every phone in an area to help the search.
It was a similar system that gave way to SMS we all use today. SMS was originally developed for network engineers to communicate with each other.
https://www.techradar.com/news/the-uk-is-launching-an-emergency-alert-phone-system |
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By *rFunBoy OP Man
over a year ago
Longridge |
"What makes this better than the mobile apps like whatsapp, twitter, news apps and more traditional radio or TV?"
Not everyone goes to the shops carrying a Television or a Radio and many have no interest in the news so dont have apps installed.
TV and Radio infrastructure is fallible and easily damaged.
People covered by the Bilsdale transmitter fire will tell you as many had no TV for months because, oh yeh, government privatised TV in this country who didn't carry spare equipment in case of an event.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-61526371.amp
Another reason NOT to switch off FM radio, no elaborate receiver required to inform populations.
Direct to mobiles via Cell Broadcasting has saved many lives in other countries.
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By *otMe66Man
over a year ago
Terra Firma |
"What makes this better than the mobile apps like whatsapp, twitter, news apps and more traditional radio or TV?
Not everyone goes to the shops carrying a Television or a Radio and many have no interest in the news so dont have apps installed.
TV and Radio infrastructure is fallible and easily damaged.
People covered by the Bilsdale transmitter fire will tell you as many had no TV for months because, oh yeh, government privatised TV in this country who didn't carry spare equipment in case of an event.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-61526371.amp
Another reason NOT to switch off FM radio, no elaborate receiver required to inform populations.
Direct to mobiles via Cell Broadcasting has saved many lives in other countries.
"
Very strange answer... Did you really think I meant people would be carrying a tv and radio around with them? So what is so good about this tech, is it forcibly messaging all phones? |
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By *rFunBoy OP Man
over a year ago
Longridge |
"What makes this better than the mobile apps like whatsapp, twitter, news apps and more traditional radio or TV?
Not everyone goes to the shops carrying a Television or a Radio and many have no interest in the news so dont have apps installed.
TV and Radio infrastructure is fallible and easily damaged.
People covered by the Bilsdale transmitter fire will tell you as many had no TV for months because, oh yeh, government privatised TV in this country who didn't carry spare equipment in case of an event.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-61526371.amp
Another reason NOT to switch off FM radio, no elaborate receiver required to inform populations.
Direct to mobiles via Cell Broadcasting has saved many lives in other countries.
Very strange answer... Did you really think I meant people would be carrying a tv and radio around with them? So what is so good about this tech, is it forcibly messaging all phones? "
Nothing strange.
It's a direct in your pocket warning system for emergencies with devices we all carry. My response meant that unless you are near a TV or Radio or an app on your phone, you'd be oblivious to events.
No doubt you'll see it in action over Winter. Yes, a no opt out service that sends urgent info directb to every phone, Smart or Not to warn of impending events.
Would have been useful in many UK events, bombing of the London Underground, Manchester Arena, Storms, Fires, Floods and soon to be seen more regularly in this country - Tornadoes.
SOS = "Switch Off Something" to avoid a Blackout.
It's a very useful, interesting system, shame UK government decided it had no value here 20 years ago.
Play with any mobile, you'll find "Cell Broadcast". The only one ever implemented in the UK was Code 050 which made your old phone look clever as it displayed the Town and Cell master you were on.
Many uses. Remember the 4 days to text every UK mobile and only known active numbers when COVID began, this system is instant and real time. It also works with phones visiting from outside the UK, they just need a "top antenna" signal on the mast. |
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"Good to see some proactive planning by the UK Government, 20 years late though, but at least it will be active in time for Winter - power cut and shedding planning!"
It's a complete waste of time and money.
In countries affected by natural disasters, like tornadoes and tsunamis, it's a great idea. It allows the authorities to get a message out to those that need to know quickly and efficiently.
In the UK it's pointless. We simply don't have any need for it. We recently had an 'emergency' heat wave warning. Did lots of people die because there was no way to get the message out? No.
"I hope its put to good use, especially local events such a missing child to alert every phone in an area to help the search."
If that's what they start using it for, I expect that most people will just turn it off. |
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By *otMe66Man
over a year ago
Terra Firma |
"What makes this better than the mobile apps like whatsapp, twitter, news apps and more traditional radio or TV?
Not everyone goes to the shops carrying a Television or a Radio and many have no interest in the news so dont have apps installed.
TV and Radio infrastructure is fallible and easily damaged.
People covered by the Bilsdale transmitter fire will tell you as many had no TV for months because, oh yeh, government privatised TV in this country who didn't carry spare equipment in case of an event.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-61526371.amp
Another reason NOT to switch off FM radio, no elaborate receiver required to inform populations.
Direct to mobiles via Cell Broadcasting has saved many lives in other countries.
Very strange answer... Did you really think I meant people would be carrying a tv and radio around with them? So what is so good about this tech, is it forcibly messaging all phones?
Nothing strange.
It's a direct in your pocket warning system for emergencies with devices we all carry. My response meant that unless you are near a TV or Radio or an app on your phone, you'd be oblivious to events.
No doubt you'll see it in action over Winter. Yes, a no opt out service that sends urgent info directb to every phone, Smart or Not to warn of impending events.
Would have been useful in many UK events, bombing of the London Underground, Manchester Arena, Storms, Fires, Floods and soon to be seen more regularly in this country - Tornadoes.
SOS = "Switch Off Something" to avoid a Blackout.
It's a very useful, interesting system, shame UK government decided it had no value here 20 years ago.
Play with any mobile, you'll find "Cell Broadcast". The only one ever implemented in the UK was Code 050 which made your old phone look clever as it displayed the Town and Cell master you were on.
Many uses. Remember the 4 days to text every UK mobile and only known active numbers when COVID began, this system is instant and real time. It also works with phones visiting from outside the UK, they just need a "top antenna" signal on the mast."
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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It's funny here if your shopping and there is a sms alert all you hear is the alert sound throughout the entire store people instantly stop what they are doing and freeze in place
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By *rFunBoy OP Man
over a year ago
Longridge |
"Good to see some proactive planning by the UK Government, 20 years late though, but at least it will be active in time for Winter - power cut and shedding planning!
It's a complete waste of time and money.
In countries affected by natural disasters, like tornadoes and tsunamis, it's a great idea. It allows the authorities to get a message out to those that need to know quickly and efficiently.
In the UK it's pointless. We simply don't have any need for it. We recently had an 'emergency' heat wave warning. Did lots of people die because there was no way to get the message out? No.
I hope its put to good use, especially local events such a missing child to alert every phone in an area to help the search.
If that's what they start using it for, I expect that most people will just turn it off."
That's the point. I cannot be turned off, it is at network level and part of the protocol within the cellular module.
There are plenty of times it would have been useful in this country not natural disasters. Children missing in certain areas, flood warnings, mass communication during a terrorist attack such as Manchester.
And just in time for Winter, no doubt to tell us to lighten grid loading.
So, we'll see.. |
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"If that's what they start using it for, I expect that most people will just turn it off."
"That's the point. I cannot be turned off, it is at network level and part of the protocol within the cellular module."
You clearly know more about the technicalities than me, but there is definitely a setting on my phone to turn these messages off.
"There are plenty of times it would have been useful in this country not natural disasters. Children missing in certain areas, flood warnings, mass communication during a terrorist attack such as Manchester."
Getting alerts about missing children would piss me of immensely. Flood warnings I can see the point of, but I can't see what anyone can do once they have the warning. As for the Manchester Arena, what could anyone possibly have texted that would have been useful? And do we really think that the authorities could get themselves organised in time to be in any way helpful? |
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By *rFunBoy OP Man
over a year ago
Longridge |
As for the Arena..
Yes, to let people know its safe to move, where to go to a safe location is just a few. Responders don't have individual numbers of those present so being able to blast messages to all phones in a local would have many uses.
Many reasons getting blanket info direct to those involved in a situation.
Police, local and national government and others will have direct access via terminals in control rooms.
Prior to SMS roll-out, I've used similar in Utilities Industry to use like a local paging system.
Write message on a PC, click dial. The 14k modem picked up and within seconds all crews were notified to contact to start a response to an emergency. Much similar to the old BT Pagers.
2 years later, SMS was launched. We lost the facility to dial direct into the Vodafone or Cellnet networks to relay messaging. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Honestly the alerts is not that horrible. It's beneficial. I been unaware of life threatening tornadoes that have popped up the beneficial aspects outweigh the annoyance others perceive. |
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"As for the Arena..
Yes, to let people know its safe to move, where to go to a safe location is just a few.
Write message on a PC, click dial. The 14k modem picked up and within seconds all crews were notified to contact to start a response to an emergency."
I don't doubt that the system is quick and easy to use. My doubt is that government, or local authorities, will have the ability to come up with useful things to say within the time period that they would be useful.
For the Arena example, it would have been hours before they managed to organise a safe location. By the time they were ready to send a message, most of the people would already have gone home, all of the injured would be in hospital, and the only people receiving the message would be the news crews.
But I'm a cynical old git. Let's see what they use it for and judge how annoying it is then. |
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By *ddmanMan
over a year ago
Norwich |
"Good to see some proactive planning by the UK Government, 20 years late though, but at least it will be active in time for Winter - power cut and shedding planning!
It's a complete waste of time and money.
In countries affected by natural disasters, like tornadoes and tsunamis, it's a great idea. It allows the authorities to get a message out to those that need to know quickly and efficiently.
In the UK it's pointless. We simply don't have any need for it. We recently had an 'emergency' heat wave warning. Did lots of people die because there was no way to get the message out? No.
I hope its put to good use, especially local events such a missing child to alert every phone in an area to help the search.
If that's what they start using it for, I expect that most people will just turn it off.
That's the point. I cannot be turned off, it is at network level and part of the protocol within the cellular module.
There are plenty of times it would have been useful in this country not natural disasters. Children missing in certain areas, flood warnings, mass communication during a terrorist attack such as Manchester.
And just in time for Winter, no doubt to tell us to lighten grid loading.
So, we'll see.."
My phone might receive it, but it currently won't show it to me... mostly because the first thing I do with a new phone is hobble the operating system with a blunt laptop, and I think the cellbroadcast receiver service is one of the components that went on the bin list. |
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By *rFunBoy OP Man
over a year ago
Longridge |
BBC News - Emergency text averted possible California power cuts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-62832775
An emergency text message helped to prevent possible blackouts in the state of California on Tuesday.
Good job ours is live in October to prevent our Blackouts - Hopefully!! |
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By *ackal1Couple
over a year ago
Manchester |
"As for the Arena..
Yes, to let people know its safe to move, where to go to a safe location is just a few.
Write message on a PC, click dial. The 14k modem picked up and within seconds all crews were notified to contact to start a response to an emergency.
I don't doubt that the system is quick and easy to use. My doubt is that government, or local authorities, will have the ability to come up with useful things to say within the time period that they would be useful.
For the Arena example, it would have been hours before they managed to organise a safe location. By the time they were ready to send a message, most of the people would already have gone home, all of the injured would be in hospital, and the only people receiving the message would be the news crews.
But I'm a cynical old git. Let's see what they use it for and judge how annoying it is then."
I had female friends travelling in the region of Canada where those two nutters with knives were running amok. The ladies received texts on what specific areas to avoid. It’s was very re-assuring. If it saves only a few lives it’s very much worth it. I can’t see anyone being inundated on a daily basis and I think managed correctly it will be a positive thing. Knowing the U.K. we will pay billions to someone to develop it although it will probably cost a few hundred thousand to actually develop.
I’m still trying to work out how £37B was spent on track and trace. Paying a fabulous salary to a hundred techies for a year wouldn’t reach £1B. Was it ever confirmed that £37B was actually handed over? |
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