UK Emergency Alert Tests

[skyhigh]

Just to see what happens I will run my phones battery down to zero just before they do the test to see what happens.

Nothing, presumably, if your phone is dead?

 

[william.martin]

Nothing, presumably, if your phone is dead?

Well most devices have a reserve (usually 0.25%) of battery even when it says it's dead so maybe it will use that?

 

[Jimini]

Well most devices have a reserve (usually 0.25%) of battery even when it says it's dead so maybe it will use that?

They do for express travelcard validation down here for using TfL services once your phone has 'died'.

 

[OscarH]

Leaving the NFC active uses an absolutely miniscule amount of power, whereas maintaining a connection to the phone network is one of the main standby power draws, so I'd be very surprised if it does that when it's dead

 

[william.martin]

Leaving the NFC active uses an absolutely miniscule amount of power, whereas maintaining a connection to the phone network is one of the main standby power draws, so I'd be very surprised if it does that when it's dead

They do for express travelcard validation down here for using TfL services once your phone has 'died'.

Well there's only one way to find out...

 

[Jimini]

Leaving the NFC active uses an absolutely miniscule amount of power, whereas maintaining a connection to the phone network is one of the main standby power draws, so I'd be very surprised if it does that when it's dead

That's a very fair point!

 

[Scotrail314209]

Conspiracy theorists are seriously having a field day with this. (I suppose the ongoing situation in Ukraine probably doesn’t help).

Lots of theories about the government using it to track your movements, that it’s only being done because World War 3 looms.

They all seem to miss the fact that it’s a tried and tested system which works relatively well all over the world… it’s nothing new.

 

[eoff]

Conspiracy theorists are seriously having a field day with this. (I suppose the ongoing situation in Ukraine probably doesn’t help).

Lots of theories about the government using it to track your movements, that it’s only being done because World War 3 looms.

They all seem to miss the fact that it’s a tried and tested system which works relatively well all over the world… it’s nothing new.

Weird, I always assumed tracking data already was available to the authorities.
A broadcast system is hardly a good way to do tracking.

 

[Meerkat]

Weird, I always assumed tracking data already was available to the authorities.
A broadcast system is hardly a good way to do tracking.

It doesn't even know who is receiving it - just tells the relevant cell towers to broadcast to every phone connected to it.

 

[jfollows]

3pm Sunday 23 April
is when this is planned to be tested

 

[birchesgreen]

St George's Day? Hopefully this alert isn't the cover for a military coup by a shadowy ultra nationalist cabal.

 

[Purple Train]

St George's Day? Hopefully this alert isn't the cover for a military coup by a shadowy ultra nationalist cabal.

Shakespeare's ghost?

 

[Ediswan]

St George's Day?

3pm is when many of the customary parades and other festivities will be taking place. Hundreds of phones all going off at the same time in the same place, possibly while the local vicar is speaking.

 

[SargeNpton]

3pm is when many of the customary parades and other festivities will be taking place. Hundreds of phones all going off at the same time in the same place, possibly while the local vicar is speaking.

And for the people already in Wembley Stadium waiting for the start of the FA Cup semi-final.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

And for the people already in Wembley Stadium waiting for the start of the FA Cup semi-final.

16:30 KO for that one. However, it'll be around the start of the second half at both Bournemouth vs West Ham and Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur.

 

[jfollows]

And for the people already in Wembley Stadium waiting for the start of the FA Cup semi-final.

BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65178240) reports

The test had originally been planned for the early evening but was moved to avoid clashing with an FA Cup semi-final, which kicks off at 4.30pm.
The government was also keen to avoid a clash with the London Marathon, which starts at 9.30am on that Sunday.

 

[dosxuk]

Now that the timings have been published, it will be trivial for the organisers at large gatherings to make an announcement shortly before the test alert is sent, and to pause until it happens.

It would be impossible to find a time to send the test when nothing was happening.

 

[Lost property]

Now that the timings have been published, it will be trivial for the organisers at large gatherings to make an announcement shortly before the test alert is sent, and to pause until it happens.

It would be impossible to find a time to send the test when nothing was happening.

02.30 Sunday morning would be perfect then.

 

[Bletchleyite]

02.30 Sunday morning would be perfect then.

Sending them in the middle of the night is a great way to get everyone to turn it off entirely!

If I get one, ever, that doesn't relate to a genuine, severe and immediate threat to my life or property, during the period 2300 to 0700, then it goes off.

 

[Techniquest]

I'd best remember this for the 23rd and not factor in any cycling or whatever for that time. I definitely don't fancy it going off and it leading to an accident!

 

[bleeder4]

I've turned off wireless emergency alerts in my settings. I've no doubt the system will be abused, and will end up getting used for scenarios which really aren't life or death at all.. Plus I live in a floodplain by a river so it would forever be alerting me to a flooding risk every time it rains!

 

[Scotrail314209]

I’ll be in the airport for work when the alert goes off. That’ll be something to hear; hundreds of phones going off at once.

 

[najaB]

I've turned off wireless emergency alerts in my settings.

As is 100% your right to do. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[Trackman]

Conspiracy theorists are seriously having a field day with this. (I suppose the ongoing situation in Ukraine probably doesn’t help).

Lots of theories about the government using it to track your movements, that it’s only being done because World War 3 looms.

They all seem to miss the fact that it’s a tried and tested system which works relatively well all over the world… it’s nothing new.

Indeed.
I think it's 10 years in the making, it's not an overnight thing.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed.
I think it's 10 years in the making, it's not an overnight thing.

I think Grenfell was a bit of a motivation. A decision was made to change the policy from stay put to get out, but there was no way to communicate it to people inside the building.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Sending them in the middle of the night is a great way to get everyone to turn it off entirely!

If I get one, ever, that doesn't relate to a genuine, severe and immediate threat to my life or property, during the period 2300 to 0700, then it goes off.

My phone is off overnight every night anyway...

 

[Bletchleyite]

My phone is off overnight every night anyway...

I put mine in "do not disturb" mode with specific callers, i.e. family, allowed. I wouldn't want to turn it off entirely.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I put mine in "do not disturb" mode with specific callers, i.e. family, allowed. I wouldn't want to turn it off entirely.

I wouldn't hear it go off anyway - once I've taken my implant processor and hearing aid off for the night I wouldn't hear a thing...

 

[Intercity110]

Planned for it, news was talking about it, I was talking about it, I still got scared by it.

 

[najaB]

So, it's 15:02. I got an alert, dismissed it and the world didn't end.

Oh well.