DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN) (07/28/90)
And yet ANOTHER question: Does a Cell phone actually send out the system ID code (5 digits) to the switch? I've used various ID codes in various systems (leaving the number the same) and the systems never seem to even notice. IE, if I go to New York, I program in 00025 for Metro One (the "A" carrier), so that I'll know when I leave the Metro One system becuase the ROAM light comes on. This way, I won't get ripped off for a $3 "Daily access charge" becuse I briefly entered into another system that is adjacent to the New York system. I've done this lots of times, and the cellular systems never seemed to "mind" or to lock me out, yet the delightful (yeah, right...). Customer (dis)service people at Metro One New York told me "Oh, it is VERY dangerous to switch ID numbers ... You phone continuously sends that out, and if we see the wrong system code in our system, we lock your phone out of the entire nationwide system." Well, I've changed it maybe twenty times in Metro One's service area (as well as Cell One San Francisco, Sac/Reno/Stockton, Boston, etc.) and I've never been locked out yet. I asked someone in the switchroom at Cell One-Stockton, and he told me that all the phone sends out is the phone # and the ESN #. He said that the System ID code really makes no difference to the switch. Most other systems that I've used freely give out their ID Code, and realize that knowing when you leave their system is a good way to avoid missing calls and/or unecessary Roam charges from systems that "spill over". Is Metro One correct that the ID number is sent out, or did I get the right info from Cell One in Stockton? Thanks, Doug dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu dreuben@wesleyan.bitnet
john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) (07/29/90)
"DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN)" <DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu> writes: > Is Metro One correct that the ID number is sent out, or did I get the > right info from Cell One in Stockton? Stockton wins. The ID code is sent by the system, not the mobile. If the numbers don't match, the mobile knows that it is roaming. Not only does this make the roam indicator come on, but possibly changes the way the phone behaves. For instance, a company car unit may be programmed to disallow user-dialed outgoing calls if in a roam state. The system has no idea what you have set the ID field to. It isn't transmitted by your mobile. It's the SYSTEM ID, not the MOBILE ID. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !