Chapter 19 · Communications without a cell phone
19.1 Why networks fail
Understanding how the network fails tells you what to try first.
| Cause | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Overload | Everyone calls at the same time. The network has limited capacity per tower; calls don't connect or get dropped, even though the tower is working. | Send texts. Call only for what's vital and hang up quickly. Keep the network free for 911. |
| Power outage | Towers and exchanges have backup batteries or generators that last a limited time; in long blackouts they shut down one by one. Internet routers and many modern landline phones also depend on your home's electricity. | Charge everything before a storm. Save battery. Have a battery-powered radio. |
| Physical damage | Wind, flooding, or fire knock down antennas or cut fiber-optic cable. | Move to another area or to high ground; try again at another time. |
| Internet failures | Messaging apps, email, and Wi-Fi calls depend on the internet working from end to end. | Don't depend on a single app. Regular SMS uses fewer resources. |
Why texts get through better: a text message uses the network for a fraction of a second and, if it doesn't go out, the phone usually retries on its own. A call needs a continuously open channel. The FCC recommends texting instead of calling in non-emergency situations and letting your family know you will communicate that way.
