Question for LEO or anyone who might know

[billius]

As most know, I moved back to Indiana from Alabama last fall. I don't have a house phone, just my Droid. I have kept my Alabama number, a 251 area code. If I was to call 911, would the calls be directed to the local 911 dispatcher, or to the one in my county in Bama? The reason I ask, back in 2008, my wife and I still had our Indiana cell phone numbers. When were were in an accident, my wife called 911. The call went to the Wayne County, Indiana dispatcher. When the dispatcher found we were in Baldwin County, Al, she had to transfer us to the Baldwin county, Al dispatcher. That took about 5 minutes. I hate to change my number again, but it would be worth it, should I ever need to call 911. 5 minutes could be the difference in life and death in some cases.

[C R]

Good question, I've wondered how that works also. Feel free to grade my response

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by C R &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Good question, I've wondered how that works also. Feel free to grade my response </td></tr></table>

A

[jaycount]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_9-1-1

Long answer ^^^

Short answer: new cell phones have E-911 features that allow a dispatcher to determine your location within 300 meters via GPS or radio location techniques. This is used in two ways: 1. For the cell provider to determine what emergency services to connect you to and 2. To determine your location if you don't know it or are unable to respond.

Technology is awesome

[billius]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by jaycount &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_9-1-1

Long answer ^^^

Short answer: new cell phones have E-911 features that allow a dispatcher to determine your location within 300 meters via GPS or radio location techniques. This is used in two ways: 1. For the cell provider to determine what emergency services to connect you to and 2. To determine your location if you don't know it or are unable to respond.

Technology is awesome </td></tr></table>

The phones we had when we made that call in Bama had the gps feature too, but the call still went to Indiana.

[arjone01]

Not sure. Mine is an Eastern KY number however this Fall I had to call 911 because of a brush fire on a median on a parkway (just south of evansville). The lady who picked up had to be local because I said I was just North of Hopkinsville on the Pennyrile and she said, "Yes Madisonville, that's my town, I'll alert the FD." No clue, I have a 606 number which is eastern KY.

[hawgsnatcher]

Im Leo in Alabama, in our county which is Walker this is the way it works. If you look at a cell tower there are three antenna's on it. When you make a call the signal goes out and bounces off or is received from the nearest antenna to you. Keep in mind the signal goes out in a circular motion and hits more than just one tower. When the signal connects or bounces off more than one tower your location can be marked between the towers. Note: It gives a area not a precise location. It's called triangulation. Feel free to chime in cell technicians.

[jaycount]

Well dad gum I didn't build the system, I just know how it's supposed to work.

To my knowledge, the FCC is very strictly enforcing these new E911 policies and fining service providers who don't adhere. Maybe it's something you should quiz your provider on and test yourself. Call the local emergency services center and ask to schedule a time to make a non-emergency test call. Most of the time they have no problem with this and in fact prefer it, after all they want the system to work too. We do it all the time when setting up new voice circuits at my current job.

IMO it shouldn't be your duty as a consumer to test and verify this stuff but it could be a problem with your phone(s) or service and it's always better to be proactive.

[jaycount]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by hawgsnatcher &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Im Leo in Alabama, in our county which is Walker this is the way it works. If you look at a cell tower there are three antenna's on it. When you make a call the signal goes out and bounces off or is received from the nearest antenna to you. Keep in mind the signal goes out in a circular motion and hits more than just one tower. When the signal connects or bounces off more than one tower your location can be marked between the towers. Note: It gives a area not a precise location. It's called triangulation. Feel free to chime in cell technicians. </td></tr></table>

You're on the money. If the device is not GPS equipped or has no GPS signal, this is the method they will use. It does give an approximate area but according to the above article it has to be accurate within 300 meters so that's not too bad (better than nothing).

[blackram]

How about if you are fishing in a marina above the 750 line?

[jaycount]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by blackram &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">How about if you are fishing in a marina above the 750 line?</td></tr></table>

As long as you can drive 80 miles in 58 minutes @ 80mph, you're ok.

[hunt22-250]

I called 911 and they conected me with a pizza hut.

[Swerve-n-Protect]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by hunt22-250 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I called 911 and they conected me with a pizza hut. </td></tr></table>

The dispatcher was monitoring your blood sugar and knew it was gettin low.......

[fmm1]

Calls now go to the nearest tower location and rebounds into the nearest 911 call center.

[billius]

Mike do you know if that's the case nationwide?

[haveme1]

I think there is a setting on the phone that allows the phone to connect to the closest detected either by wireless or GPS.

[TomM]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by hawgsnatcher &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Im Leo in Alabama, in our county which is Walker this is the way it works. If you look at a cell tower there are three antenna's on it. When you make a call the signal goes out and bounces off or is received from the nearest antenna to you. Keep in mind the signal goes out in a circular motion and hits more than just one tower. When the signal connects or bounces off more than one tower your location can be marked between the towers. Note: It gives a area not a precise location. It's called triangulation. Feel free to chime in cell technicians. </td></tr></table>

My company does the 911 location services for T-Mobile and ATT using the "triangulation" method though it's a bit more involved. Carriers like Verizon and Sprint use the teeny, tiny GPS unit inside your phone for your GPS location (very inaccurate).

To answer the OP, the carriers equipment routes 911 calls to the PSAP based on the where the call was made from not the phone number of the phone.

Tom

[Mr205]

I am a 911 dispatcher here in WV. In our area, which right on the Ohio River, i recieve tons of 911 calls from cell phones that are located in Ohio. Their 911 call hits the closest tower which is right across the river in WV then routed to me since i'm the closest 911 center to that tower.

Our area also has tons of gas drilling going on and there are all different kinds of area codes that come into this office.

[fmm1]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by billius &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Mike do you know if that's the case nationwide?</td></tr></table>

I am almost positive that it was part of a federal law change so i would believe so.

[cjtr186vmax]

Call your local 911 dispatch office and ask them to help. They may tell you to make a 911 call and see where it goes.