All ours look like this...............
Posted on 02/11/2022 5:55:40 AM PST by Red Badger
If your mobile phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device before your mobile provider shuts down its 3G network, to avoid losing service. For more information on your mobile providers' plans for 3G retirement and how you can prepare, contact your provider directly.
What is happening?
Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks, which rely on older technology, to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. As a result, many older cell phones will be unable to make or receive calls and texts, including calls to 911, or use data services. This will affect 3G mobile phones and certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice over LTE (VoLTE or HD Voice).
Learn more about other connected devices, such as medical devices and home security systems that may be impacted below.
When is it happening?
As early as January 1, 2022, though plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change. Consult your mobile provider's website for the most up-to-date information.
AT&T announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022.
Verizon announced that will finish shutting down its 3G network by December 31, 2022.
T-Mobile announced that it will finish shutting down Sprint's 3G CDMA network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint's 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022. It also announced it will shut down T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network by July 1, 2022, but has not yet announced a shutdown date for its 2G network.
If your mobile carrier is not listed here, you may still be affected. Many carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize AT&T's, Verizon's, and T-Mobile's networks.
Note: These are dates for completing the shutdowns. Carriers may begin retiring parts of their networks sooner.
What do I need to do?
Contact your mobile provider or consult your provider's website for more information about their 3G retirement plan and whether your phone, or other connected device, may be affected. It is important to plan now so that you don't lose connectivity, including the ability to call 911.
Some carrier websites provide lists of devices that will no longer be supported after 3G networks are shut down. You may need to upgrade to a newer device to ensure that you can stay connected, and carriers may be offering discounted or free upgrades to help consumers who need to upgrade their phones.
Some devices may only require a software update to enable VoLTE (HD Voice) or other advanced services. If you purchased your phone independent of a mobile provider, you should be able to check whether your device is 4G LTE (with VoLTE or HD Voice) enabled by checking your phone's settings or user manual, or by searching your phone's model number on the internet, to determine whether you need to purchase a new device or install a software update.
Does this just impact phones?
No, other devices, such as certain medical devices, tablets, smart watches, vehicle SOS services, home security systems, and other connected products may be using 3G network services. And don't forget about devices that use cellular connectivity as a back-up when a wired internet connection goes down. If the device is not labeled, contact the monitoring company or other service provider to confirm how the device connects and whether your device may be impacted.
Why are 3G networks being phased out?
As mobile carriers seek to upgrade their networks to use the latest technologies, they periodically shut down older services, such as 3G, to free up spectrum and infrastructure to support new services, such as 5G. Similar transitions have happened before. For example, some mobile carriers shut down their 2G networks when they upgraded their networks to support 4G services. Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands.
Need Other Help Staying Connected?
As mentioned above, your mobile service provider may be offering special deals on new devices, including some deals that might include a free cell phone.
In addition, although they do not cover the cost of new devices, other FCC programs may be able to assist eligible consumers with the cost of phone or internet services:
The FCC's Lifeline program may be able to assist eligible consumers in getting connected to phone and internet services. The program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services. You can learn more about the Lifeline Program and find out if you may be eligible here. In addition, The FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, what it covers, and find out if you may be eligible here.
Additional Resources
To learn more about 5G, visit our FAQs page.
For more on the FCC's 5G strategy, visit the FCC's America's 5G Future.
For more information on consumer issues, visit the FCC's Consumer Help Center at www.fcc.gov/consumers.
Alternate formats
To request this article in an alternate format - braille, large print, Word or text document or audio - write or call us at the address or phone number at the bottom of the page, or send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov.
It seems the Chinese may have co-opted the promise of the technology, either that or they are simply the main ones pushing the envelope of the technology that’s published.
You can take a look at the names of the researchers most heavily involved with Lieber who is considered the primary pioneer of injectable brain interfaces, and was recently found guilty of collaboration with the Chinese.
http://meshelectronics.org/references.html
Recent stories like this next link leave one wondering exactly how far along they are with mind control of not only their own military troops, but their adversaries as well, which would be contactable only by radio waves.
My guess is it may not be as much about actual control of someone, but rather disabling and destroying them by activating trojan horses that may exist or could be activated somehow inside their brains or bodies. At least at this point.
I view the world a little differently.
I believe we are faced with sociopath elites of many different nationalities.
A closed society like China is an excellent place to hide their dirty deeds—but the funding and staffing often turns out to be international in scope.
The beta testing of the concept of “social credit” is one example—and of course nanotechnology would have many uses in enforcing “social credit”.
I have 3 old phones that I keep around just for games and proximity to the Bluetooth speakers for nothing else. Even if they aren’t phones anymore.
Cool
No, there is a dedicated GPS signal from a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites for GPS nav.
But some cars do use 3G to update maps, update traffic and weather conditions, display current fuel prices at nearby gas stations, etc. Others offer the ability to use a phone app to remotely lock, unlock, and start the car, and receive text alerts if tire pressure is low, or if service is required. I think the Mopar name for these services is UConnect.
Most often this is a paid subscription service after your first year or so of ownership.
I'm sure you've heard of Tesla and other cars that get 'over the air updates' to their onboard systems? Those sorts of updates in older cars (don't ask the cutoff date, I'm sure it varies by manfuacturer) would use 3G for that. Newest cars use 4G LTE or similar.
I agree completely on those points. I’ve heard from many who have been there that at this point most mainland Chinese have had the fight taken from them, and do not resist anymore and just go with whatever they are told by their masters. The would be dictators of the world see that breaking of free will and forced compliance of such a huge mass of humanity and want the rest of the world to be controlled, by them, in a similar way.
So the Chinese model is the target for all other societies. The lockdowns and vaccine mandates are just the start of their plans for us.
Use an older android for various engineering and other apps as well as camera/ video recorder.
Still have two others...came across a free app to repurpose as security camera. Given that phone resolution is far better than most security cams sounds like a project. a best of all free.
called AlfredCamera....several reviews and how-tos on yt.
Shutting down 3G (I don't think) will not affect On*Star, since they can still fall back to digital voice and 1x data.
I was disappointed when 8-track devices replaced 4-track. I had to buy adapters to allow using my 4-track cartridges in 8-track players. I still have some 4-track cartridges, along with vinyl LPs, cassette tapes, and lots of CDs and DVDs. Although it's much more convenient to stream content from Internet and satellite radio. I put off switching from flip-phones to smart-phones for a while, but was amazed at how convenient the new tech is. Old people like me are trying to adapt.
I know of one retiree who was given a new iPhone SE by AT&T, just to get him off of 3g service.
T-Mo’s 2G service is floating around in the guard band, to cover things like vending machines or devices where there isn’t a lot of data being sent & the modems haven’t been upgraded.
If those poles look like three large bricks, look to see if there’s power meter nearby. On the meter, you’ll find the carrier’s information.
Verizon has installed 5g poles all around the old Sprint HQ in Kansas.
All ours look like this...............
We had 3G Motorola phones that AT&T replaced with with 4G phones for free. My wife thinks they are internationally bad to temp us to buy better phones.
“Old people like me are trying to adapt”
At 75. by the time I adapt will be too old to remember why
it was necessary; dead and gone, unable to use what was learned. Adaption days are over; refuse to waste my time.
LOL often wondered why older folks were so cranky. The answer has been found! :-)
Adaptation is hard. My wife is after me to give up old tech stuff, and I'm tossing out old stuff. Spools of CAT5 Ethernet cable; I worked hard stringing them into my walls throughout the house. Finally went wireless with my devices and am enjoying the change (google routers and repeaters, smart TV's, wireless speaker, etc.). Lots of old devices and manuals to toss out. Still have to adapt because old stuff stops working when companies make them obsolete. Sigh... Will be happy when I can buy a humanoid robot that will take care of new tech (and me).
“But PNM executives say the problems it is facing this summer and next year could have been avoided if the PRC had accepted PNM requests to expedite replacement power approvals.”
Hard to feel sorry for a state that relies on the PRC for approval to do things. This is AMERICA and there is no reason for having China in the decision loop.
Thanks. I give it a go.
The trick is, they are actually “free” to do a lot of the things that younger people like to do - post Internet videos, worship pop stars, travel within the country, spend on luxury brands. Just don’t talk politics - the government is here to keep you safe, so don’t criticize it. Since Xi Jinping doesn’t issue mean Tweets, that seems like a good deal to many young Chinese. They are not so much broken of free will as not even able to understand why free will is important.
post Internet videos (except anything that’s remotely controversial)
worship pop stars (but not make their own rebellious band)
travel within the country (better not take an extra day off)
spend on luxury brands (so long as they’re available inside the country)
Not trying to say you don’t have a point that they have some forms of freedom, but even those are limited. They lead to a life with blinders on, and the inability to think and dream of what the world has to offer, making them much more subservient, and obedient. Just work, live within the boundaries, and don’t challenge anything. Americans are nothing like that, thankfully, at least we haven’t been.
Sorry to have taken the discussion so far off thread!
“It goes beyond profit. We are talking about control.”
It started with the subliminal radio messages a long time ago.
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