BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| reply to Jim Gurd
Re: Sterilize and Jail the Parents...
said by Jim Gurd  :I would never be without a POTS line until VoIP can provide me with the same level of service for 911. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it true that VoIP 911 calls go to a different call center and are not E-911 capable (i.e. they don't show your phone number and address automatically if you can't talk)? Right now I don't trust VoIP. I can get (reasonably) cheap POTS service from Talk America. No and Yes. Different call centers yes , e-911 incompatible no (at least in most cases)
VoIP providers maintain a database of your info which when the server that holds your number to ip translation is checked also checks if it is a 911 call if so all your billing info is sent to the call center which fills in their screen like caller id. Which is then transferred to the local emergency service to you.
E-911 does the same with cell phones, except now with cell phones they triangulate off many towers around you to get the spot where you are. The more antenna's respond the closer they can come to finding you.
VoIP however does not have that ability. What is done is a trace to the router/gateway ahead of you and ping plotted to make sure it's not a bad call and as that is being done your VoIP provider sends them your billing info which is assumed to be your street info.
Vonage however has the system in place but you must double check to make sure it's right and to set it up properly since Vonage doesn't know your specifics. This is why there is 80 pages on Vonage web site with the big red label.
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"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!" |
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dispatcher21
join:2004-01-22
united state
| Only a different call center if 911 and non emergecny are handled by different centers. I work for a dispatch center that handles all calls, emergency and non emergency. So in this case, we would get it no matter what. Granted, if the non emergency line and 911 rings at the same time, the 911 gets priority, but the dispatcher should still answer the non emergency line to make sure they indeed dont have an emergency after the 911 call is done with or at least stablized. And I wouldnt trust a cell phone for 911. Depending on where you are, and other factors, you could reach a PSAP that is not even close to where you are. Not only that but depending on the cell providers network conditions or tower problems, sometimes we cant understand you because of the call dropping or severe static, and if you cant tell us where you are, we cant help you. Now yes phase 2 wireless with lat/long is out there but very few PSAP's have been upgraded to use this. Not only do we need a phase 2 compliant phone system, but also a phase 2 CAD system and a mapping program, all of this is big bucks. We use Positron Power 911 for 5 consoles and that was over $150,000.00. The CAD cost over $250,000.00 (for initial cost, I believe upgrade to phase 2 was a lot cheaper) and mapping was over $35,000.00. As you can see, not many agencies will have the money to upgrade. Add to this the fact that cell companies are not even close to having even 80% success rate with phase 2 info and cell phones start to look as bad as VoIP. The safest bet is a landline period. |
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BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
·Comcast
| I am surprised that they have not upgraded the mapping systems yet. Our area already has it set up and running. Maybe just my area/market is phase 2 set but i know right now optimization of the market here is nearly complete for 2 providers.
I also do a gree landline is the safest.
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"It's always funny until someone gets hurt......and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!" |
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sektor1952
join:2001-02-28
Palm Coast, FL | reply to BosstonesOwn
You forgot about the e-mails vonage sends you when you first sign up for the service to remind you to setup 911 service. |
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