Navigation expert Lyle Brotherton explains the magic emergency phone number 112. This connects you to the emergency services on any available network - a good way to get around patchy mobile coverage in the hills
This is superb. I had no idea. I will be letting my children know. Really, this is stuff everyone should know. There should be public service ads about this on tv.
In reply to UKC News: I'm pretty sure it won't matter for 112 calls, but it's always worth having your phone set to use any network type (2G, 3G, & 4G) if possible - not all base sites have 3G. If you have a phone for emergency use then it may be worth getting a SIM from one of the channel island networks like Sure which can roam across all UK operators. It won't make a difference for 112 calls, but it will for normal use where not all networks have decent signal in remote areas. In terms of getting through when cell sites are busy, I'm pretty sure 112 calls will not 'kick off' a normal voice call, but I'll check with one of my colleagues who's senior mobile engineer for one of the CI networks.
AWR23 Feb 2013
In reply to UKC News:
So, in the UK, what does a call to 112 do that a call to 999 doesn't?
> (In reply to UKC News)
> So, in the UK, what does a call to 112 do that a call to 999 doesn't?
Absolutely nothing, in the UK they do exactly the same. 999 will also search for any network signal if your provider has none.
The bit about turning if you get no signal because your head could be blocking it also sounds like crap. So a phone signal can pass through brick walls but not your skull?
Of course it can pass through walls, as well as your head, but it gets attenuated. If you already have an extremely low signal level, that could possibly make the difference between barely a call and no call at all.
Cal2404 Mar 2013
Mobile phone signals frequencies are microwaves, albeit very weak and water absorbs these signals, hence your head blocks the incoming/outgoing transmissions
The advantage to using 112 instead of 999 is that becoming familiar with 112 in an emergency means you can use it anywhere in Europe and much of the rest of the world.
Fri Night Vid Finding Focus - Life Behind The Lens of a Climbing Photographer
This week's Friday Night Video is a portrait of a prolific climbing photographer from Wedge Climbing. Sam Pratt is well known in both the outdoor and competition scene but if you haven't heard of him, you've likely seen...