Is it true that a cell phone with an out of area code will work better when local cell phone lines are jammed?
Friday, September 4th, 2009 at
7:46 am
I read in our local paper (New Orleans) that many businesses and individuals in this area are obtaining cell phone numbers that are from areas outside of this metropolitan area. The logic behind this is that local numbers will overwhelm the cell system, and that these out of area numbers will have a better chance of getting through. I thought that cell phones used local cell towers and that it did not make a difference what area code a phone has, just the actual area that one is calling from.
Filed under: Business Phone Systems
although they use cell towers if you are calling a landline it will use landline trunks (wires that deliver the call.) The other thing is that cellphone towers can get jammed at peak times (5-6pm) but it has nothing to do with the cellphone number or the carrier. just hang up and try again in a few min. also, always dial the full 10 digit number even if the call will go through without the area code. do your over the air program on a regular basis, and power cycle yyour phone every few days.
yahhhhhhhhhh
no they use the same tower.
I would like a link to that publication because they are whacko.
Falls under the category of don’t beleive everything you read.
No its not true,Cell phones do use local towers including out of area code phones.Jammed is jammed no matter what………
The towers that are used are according to the location of the caller, not the area code of the phone.
For example, say you live in Seattle, but are using a Portland prefix. If you call 911 from that phone, you are still going to get a 911 operator in Seattle, not Portland.
You will get a signal from the tower closest to you, regardless of your prefix, see?
This is a very common mis-perception. As a person who has worked in the telecommunications industry for years, I can confidently tell you that this urban myth is FALSE.
You are correct, regardless of where you buy them cell phones have to use the transmission system where they are being used.
The only thing an out of area number will get you is a higher phone bill.
we have simple freedom pay as you go phones that are from out of our area (about 50 miles) because we have much better luck with those than the ones in our local calling area, less dropped calls, etc….the only problem we have is remembering to dial the proper area code when making a call. Problem is pretty much solved now that the numbers are listed in my contacts on the phone.