The Random Question of the Day Thread...

[Hairs]

Be a good place to build a nuclear power station.

Don't give the numpties any ideas.


You don't use magic to disappear, ya use a 4x4 & Swag.

[Bird]

Are you ready for 3G to be shut down

https://amta.org.au/3g-closure/check-my-device/

[jclures]

I don’t have any coverage at present, no 3g, 4g let alone any 5g. A land line is still working luckily, as a ambulance was needed in town, so that is what was used.
I have two elderly people with alarms and neither is working now.

[Bird]

I have two elderly people with alarms and neither is working now.

thats still a major concern for many people..

Personal Alarms?
surely the companies supplying them would have upgraded their hardware by now???

[db]

thats still a major concern for many people..

Personal Alarms?
surely the companies supplying them would have upgraded their hardware by now???

They probably have, and many will happily charge you to swap over the old (or not so old) device to the new one. Our fire brigade has a donation point in the local pub, through the only provider of such service in Australia. Our old one was purchased in 2020 for about $600. They have happily sold us a new one that is 4G capable for just under $1k (after some phone calls we got a 15% discount). Their argument was that 3G closure didn't have a date at the time of sale of the first device. Telstra was telling the world it was coming since 2019 https://itbrief.com.au/story/farewell-to-the-3g-network. The cynic in me thinks that marketing saw this as a good opportunity.

[jclures]

Telstra has shut the mobile phone system down completely, I think they have been upgrading the tower, maybe to 5g? so until they fix it no phones. It has been down for the last week, no idea when it will be fixed.
The alarms are 4g but with no phone service they do not work.

[Bird]

Telstra has shut the mobile phone system down completely, I think they have been upgrading the tower, maybe to 5g? so until they fix it no phones. It has been down for the last week, no idea when it will be fixed.
The alarms are 4g but with no phone service they do not work.

Thats strange but lets be honest its Telstra  ... as they are telling everyone they will shut it down 28 October

https://www.tio.com.au/news/3g-network-shutdown
On 14 August 2024, Telstra and Optus announced the 3G network shutdown will happen on 28 October 2024.
Both telcos will conduct a public safety awareness campaign and ensure that Australians still using the 3G network know what steps they must take to move across to 4G and 5G networks.

[Bird]

The cynic in me thinks that marketing saw this as a good opportunity.

100% without doubt.

[Fizzie]

The really scary bit is the comment I saw on Whirlpool when we were discussing that same thing last week.

One bloke said that, regardless of what the phone uses to make normal calls, a lot of manufacturers set it that emergency calls are made using 3G

I replaced my phone early August, as it was telling me that it probably wouldn't work anymore, but last week, we went up t Binna Burra in the GC Hinterland, & as we drove it, the phone binged with a "Network Message" to say that "This is a 4G only area & your phone may not be able to make calls". But everything - JBHiFi, online reviews, the Nokia website, the checking site that Bird mentiooned & the phone itself say that it's 4G

Honestly, I don't think anybody will really know for sure what's going to happen until 29/10 (which I reckon is going to be an incredibly busy day in ever phone shop in the country!), & you'll only know about Emergency calls when you try to make one! (Which may just be too bad for the poor person lying on the ground in front of you)

[Bird]

Honestly, I don't think anybody will really know for sure what's going to happen until 29/10 (which I reckon is going to be an incredibly busy day in ever phone shop in the country!), & you'll only know about Emergency calls when you try to make one! (Which may just be too bad for the poor person lying on the ground in front of you)

It has a Y2K feel about it to me..  The world will end...


What sad is
think of the millions of GOOD phones out there that will just be launched to the bin..