[pct-l] Interesting back country cell phone tip

[Brian Lewis]

Sept of last year, Daniel Smith kindly sent the below tip for using a cell
phone in the back country.

I just tried this out from home, dialed *228, and I got a recorded message
that said "your call cannot be completed as dialed".

I like the idea --- if correct --- of a way to force my phone to have an
updated list of available cell towers, as I recall a few years ago being
able to see a cell tower and yet having no reception.  If there is an
alternate way of doing this, or if perhaps the problem I once had is less or
un-likely to occur with current technology, it would be great to have a
pointer to specifics.

TIA -


	Brian Lewis

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Dcsmith36 at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 11:35 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Interesting back country cell phone tip

I know that not everyone carries a cell phone back country  (please forgive 
me for even bring this up) but here is a useful tip if you  do.
 
Try it out at home first to familiarize yourself,  then:
 
Dial *228 (star 228, then send)
 
You will get a message from your carrier or the carrier that  the phone 
contacts (if yours isn't available in the area)
 
The message will be something like - "Start activation" -  press yes, or 
listen for the prompts.
 
If the carrier is not your own, you will get a message saying  "activation 
failed" or something like this. If it IS your own, you will get a  message 
"Roaming list update complete" or something like that.
 
Going through this simple process will update the internal  information on 
your phone as to what cell towers are available in your present  location.
My 
son in law used to work for a cell company & let me in on this  tip.
 
Even IF the provider your phone contacts isn't your own, your  phone will 
know that the cell tower it "talked to" is available & can then  use it to
make a 
call.
 
Just an FYI thing - try it out some time ( I promise, it won't  melt your 
phone)
 
Daniel Smith



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