Government emergency alert test at 15:00 today?

[Pitlamp]

Wasn't it today that everyones' mobiles are supposed to receive an alarm test message?

I've been waiting over 20 minutes and nowt's happened (yes, I have a signal and everything's switched on including notifications). Has everbody else had theirs?

 

[pwhole]

Mine was a minute late, at 1501, but looking online it seems some got it a minute early and many haven't had it at all. To be fair, I guess this is the point of a test

 

[Pitlamp]

Ah: https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...tem-lads-mobile-26762891#source=breaking-news

 

[Pitlamp]

Or: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...lert-test-uk-time-sound-opt-out-b2325127.html

Still sat here expectantly after 38 minutes . . . .

 

[shotlighter]

Nowt here on either wife or my phone.

 

[Pitlamp]

Still sat here waiting . . .

This reminds me of that classic photo Chris Howes rigged up many years ago, of a cobweb festooned caver sat behind the door. waiting for the old style Descent to arrive (LOL).

 

[Pitlamp]

The BBC's coverage ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-65330397 ) suggests some people got it early, some people got it several times and loads of folk didn't get anything.

As a tax payer, I hope the software company in America which sold the system to our government aren't going to get paid for it. Or at least not until they get it to work properly.

 

[Jim MacPherson]

I've had nothing, not that I really want a squawky noise, It suggests you need 4G or better and Android 11 or better ( or the iPhone equivalent) so not entirely sure their 90% coverage claim is that realistic. No doubt Mr Dowden is using his "laser" focus to clarify the matter as we speak.

Jim

 

[ChrisJC]

I never got one.

 

[pwhole]

Seems it may be related to which company you're with - Three users seem to have been hit particularly hard - if they wanted it!

https://www.theguardian.com/society...ree-looking-into-why-users-failed-to-get-text

 

[Long Drop]

I didn't get one either. I was watching out for it, cos as luck would have it i was just taking a photo of my wife in front of some stalactites at 3.00pm. Useless government.

 

[cavemanmike]

Didn’t get it and didn’t want it so win win

 

[Pitlamp]

Seems it may be related to which company you're with - Three users seem to have been hit particularly hard - if they wanted it!

https://www.theguardian.com/society...ree-looking-into-why-users-failed-to-get-text

Yep. I'm not with Three though.

 

[mikem]

I didn't get one either. I was watching out for it, cos as luck would have it i was just taking a photo of my wife in front of some stalactites at 3.00pm. Useless government.

Sounds like you wouldn't have signal. Of 4 people in room with me, 1 didn't get it, 1 was one minute late. 1 had sound turned off but still heard it, another got it but silently.

 

[Jopo]

When the s hit the fan in NZ recently landlines, internet connection and mobile phone/repeater masts went down and the only comms were satellite phones for some emergency services - unfortunately those with them could not talk to their troops who only had cell phones.
BTW I (EE) had no alert or text).

 

[kay]

Mumsnet ran a poll, which suggested 67% of those wo had the alerts enabled actually received one. There was another poll elsewhere which gave a similar result.

 

[mikem]

From The mirror:
"According to the gov.uk website, the emergency alerts "work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK" and you do not have to be connected to mobile data or wifi at the time to receive it.

However, you will not receive an alert if your device is:

• turned off or in airplane mode
• connected to a 2G or 3G network
• wifi only

Some devices simply may also not be compatible with the alert service - so how can you tell if yours is one of them?

It is said that the emergency alert will only work on iPhones running iOS 14.5 or later and Android phones and tablets running Android 11 or later. If your device is not running the latest software updates, be sure to install them on your phone or tablet.

If you have an earlier version of Android, you may still be able to receive alerts.

To check, search your device settings for 'emergency alerts'."

NZ: https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/16-02-2023/why-did-new-zealands-cellphone-network-fail-so-fast

 

[mikem]

Several people along the English side of Bristol channel received the severe alert in Welsh!

 

[ChrisB]

My Android 11 phone and I were underground at 3pm, I wondered if it would show some indication when I returned to the surface, as it would if I missed a text or phone call, but nothing appeared.

 

[mikem]

The messages can be locally targeted, so you only get them if it's in signal at the time, based on where you are (friend of mine was in US when they got an armed robbery/ pursuit warning). Having said that, numerous people around here have been receiving them this morning (including those who also got it yesterday)