Some, like Tracphone, can ride multiple networks. I have always assumed that the underlying network is going to prioritize its own customers over the third parties roaming on their system. That's an assumption, but if I'm paying a premium for Verizon I'd actually be more upset if they didn't give me priority over the Cricket wireless guy paying $19.99/month.
So I know you could get a phone that would give you hotspot data on multiple networks, but I'd assume it sucks a little bit. I have no empirical testing of this. Maybe Consumer Reports has something. Are they still around? -Adam ________________________________ From: AF <[email protected]> on behalf of Ken Hohhof <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 2:56 PM To: 'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group' <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] mobile and 5G Home Internet when a cell tower is offline Well, that kinda sucks. If you’re a prepper, do you need to have 3 cellphones then? From: AF <[email protected]> On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:43 PM To: 'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group' <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] mobile and 5G Home Internet when a cell tower is offline No your Vz phone would not roam to a T-Mobile or AT&T tower. Now that they are not CDMA voice 3G it is theoretically possible but not their business model. Then there is the matter of frequency / bands. Think “in network” all the time. From: AF <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> On Behalf Of Ken Hohhof Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 2:37 PM To: 'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group' <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: [AFMUG] mobile and 5G Home Internet when a celltower is offline Who here knows more than I do about how cellular networks work during a celltower outage? Would I be correct to assume that if, for example, a Verizon tower is offline, your mobile phone would connect to another nearby Verizon tower? And that you could not only make voice calls and send text messages, but also use your phone as a hotspot for Internet? And that if there was no other Verizon tower in range, your phone would roam to a T-Mobile or AT&T tower? And in that case, could you still use the hotspot feature? Now, what about Home Internet service? Would I be correct to assume no roaming and probably not even another Verizon tower? If your designated tower is down, no home Internet? One last question, if the tower has power and all the electronics is running but the backhaul to the tower is down (like a fiber cut), do phones still connect to the tower but have no service? Or will they move to another tower?
-- AF mailing list [email protected] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
