Coming Soon : The shutdown of 3G

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

**LINK**

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/3g-shutdown-affect-seniors/

Interesting article ^^^

MichaelG

[AJWParticipant @ajw]

Progress!

My Mrs loves her 'old' phone.

Alan

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

I think that report is about the networks in the USA. If you search for U.K. info, the networks say 2023 or 2033. Not sure which is correct.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-59583783 

Stuart

Edited By Stuart Smith 5 on 28/03/2022 10:01:31

Edited By Stuart Smith 5 on 28/03/2022 10:02:25

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Worrying when a new-fangled technology becomes obsolete before I've learned how it works!

Michael's link refers to the USA but much the same story in the UK where the plan is to have complete 5G coverage by 2028 and for 2G and 3G to be gone by 2033.

Odd thing is there's an energetic campaign against 5G because many folk believe the radiation is harmful. This is despite there being no evidence of any danger. Meanwhile, many other are actively against green measures despite solid evidence burning fossil fuels is dangerously harmful. I bet there are people in both groups, wrongv about everything, wanting more coal power-stations and nothing to do with 5G!

Cause for concern that large numbers of people ignore evidence, preferring hearsay, pseudo-science, outdated information, vested interest, or political dogma. Lack of logic suggests the reptilian part of our brain is in charge, and it's reacting emotionally to fear of change and the high-stress of modern living.

As absolutely nothing is simple these days, it's not surprising we're all more-or-less irrational! No excuses though, it's unwise to let the reptile brain take decisions unless being attacked by a bear. Most problems are best solved by dumping pre-conceptions, analysing the evidence, coming up with a plan, and acting on it, adapting as necessary. Never confuse reaction with rational decision making!

Dave

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Following on from the slightly off topic post by Dave:

I think a lot of the mis-information is down to Facebook monetizing viewing/commenting/likes/dislikes on their videos. The huge group of free energy videos is a case in point. There is no way to make a real perpetual motion machine but there are many ways to fake them on a video. This monetization applies to people who post videos about 5G and then others who comment on posts about 5G. It also keeps the crazy concept of a flat earth alive on the internet. There are plenty of other conspiracy theories that follow the same pattern. Maybe schools need to introduce a new subject, how to spot nonsense on the internet.

Martin C

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

The 5G radiation is only a problem if you have been Covid19 vaccinated. Apparently it's the microchip in the vaccine wot does it… 

Edited By Hopper on 28/03/2022 11:28:28

[MikeKParticipant @mikek40713]

Posted by Martin Connelly on 28/03/2022 11:15:15:

Maybe schools need to introduce a new subject, how to spot nonsense on the internet.

Called "media literacy" and is starting to get implemented. My concern is that the larger set of critical thinking skills need addressed first.

Mike

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

the smart phones rely on just two operating systems giving a toxic duopoly in which one supplier makes a great profit from surveillance so as to target customers whilst the other exploits its duopoly to make very large profits by forcing updates etc.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Stuart Smith 5 on 28/03/2022 09:59:50:

I think that report is about the networks in the USA. If you search for U.K. info, the networks say 2023 or 2033.

.

.

Thanks, Stuart … Yes, I am aware of that: I just linked the article because it describes the situation from a different perspective [which is probably relevant to many forum members].

MichaelG.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Plenty of people virulently opposed to nuclear power despite lots of evidence that it is one of the safest ways of generating electricity, and works when the wind doesn't blow, even when it's dark outside.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

EE and Vodaphone are shutting down their 3G networks in 2023, my ancient Nokia 1100 and my Motorola Moto E both will be bricked. Now I have started researching a replacement and haven't yet decided whether to get a smart phone or one with buttons, some of the monthly deals are quite good value, both of my existing phone are pay as you go.

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Old Mart,

My previous Motorola phone died recently a d was replaced with a Moto G 60 s and due to no cell service out here is on 1p. Much to my surprise I discovered that it will accept WiFi calling despite 1p not officially offering that. And it's not a terribly expensive phone. Also picks up a signal way closer to home than the old one. No need to climb the hill first..

pgk

[Anonymous]

Couldn't be anything to do with selling more phones could it?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Anyone remember FAX ?? FAX Group 1 (1974) transmitted an A4 document in about 6 minutes. By the time Group 4 arrived, transmission speed came down to about 1 minute.

Today, who even uses FAX.??

Bob

[MikeKParticipant @mikek40713]

Posted by Speedy Builder5 on 28/03/2022 19:27:32:

Today, who even uses FAX.??

Lawyers?

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Bob, a lot of business still uses Fax, but Telex was used for years before Fax.

Regards Nick.

[Anonymous]

I have a device that monitors my pacemaker while I'm in bed and asleep and sends the data back to base via 3G (this is partly because the battery in this model is not lasting as long as predicted in some cases and this avoids having to frequently have it checked at the hospital; partly because it lets them stretch out the regular checkout period anyway which helps in this day and age).

I presume this won't work any more – although the change may come a bit later in Canada

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Appaently, TELEX is still used in some financial exchanges. Years ago, late 70's, I wrote a program to punch TELEX tape for all overdue purchase orders. The TX operator had a fit when we presented her with 900 ft of tape and a few hundred TX numbers to dial up.

Bob

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Here’s another little gem that I didn’t know about until tonight:

The copper landline network is due to be discontinued sooner than I thought :

**LINK**

https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/retiring-the-copper-network

MichaelG.

.

”We now send as much data every 10 minutes over the internet that was produced from the beginning of time to 2003 and it’s only increasing – so we need a network that can cope. ”

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/03/2022 23:25:30

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

2 days ago BT announced they were putting a hold on the change away from analogue phone lines when they finally listened to all the noise they were getting about the impact on the elderly and anyone who needed to call emergency services during a power cut and lived in a not spot. BT admitted the change was started too soon and they had failed to do a proper impact assessment.

Martin C

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

That’s interesting, thanks Martin

**LINK**

https://newsroom.bt.com/were-pausing-our-digital-voice-plans-for-consumers-while-we-work-on-a-more-resilient-rollout/

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ That said, and despite all the pious apologies and explanations:

” Like the shift from analogue to digital TV, in the long-term, the move to Digital Voice is both critical and necessary.

It’s not just BT customers who will need to make these changes, all home phone users, with any provider, will need to move to a digital system before 2025. At BT, we have 10 million customers to upgrade by then. “

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 31/03/2022 08:55:36

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

And the shift from A to D on TV was to purely release frequencies for the mobile phone wallies. Just like the BBC, land lines are becoming redundant. Big problem if BT are going to kill copper feed for T'internet, I'm linked to a box that they state isn't connected to fibre, and NEVER will be so stuck with a slow expensive service by yackety yack unless I change to super thieves.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 31/03/2022 10:44:46

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Martin Connelly on 31/03/2022 07:34:04:

2 days ago BT announced they were putting a hold on the change away from analogue phone lines when they finally listened to all the noise they were getting about the impact on the elderly…

Martin C

Just before the change from £sd to decimal money in 1971 I overheard two old ladies angrily listing the disadvantages.

One of them said 'They should wait until all the old people are dead." The logic is flawed!

I empathise with BT. They've been removing copper from the backbone network, between exchanges, for at least 50 years: first microwave links, later fibre-optics. I believe the backbone has been entirely digital for several years. It's much faster, highly resilient, easier to upgrade and low maintenance compared with copper technologies.

Upgrading the link between the exchange and consumers was a different problem. Ten years ago, almost everyone was connected to the exchange by Copper wires. Mostly in good condition and replacing it was a gigantic task barely worth doing in the early days of the internet.

Times have changed! Now most customers want more bandwidth and speed than Copper can provide. And the Copper infrastructure is ageing – wire hung on wooden poles in all weathers doesn't last for ever, and Green Boxes need to be replaced with bigger ones. With every passing year it make less sense to replace worn-out Copper with new. Time to bite the bullet.

Almost everyone benefits by going digital, but change always upsets someone. In this case, those who don't want to change, or can't cope with anything new. (I'm rapidly turning into one of them!) It's unfortunate that the gap between a simple analogue telephone and a full-function digital service is so big. Very much learning to swim by being thrown in at the deep end.

I'd have thought there was a market for a simple digital phone with battery backup that emulated a straightforward analogue phone. Unfortunately, the people who need simple devices are also unlikely to accept them. They'd rather the rest of the world went to pot than spend their money on learning new tricks!

Progress is always double-edged.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 31/03/2022 10:42:08

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Sadly Dave , ALL technology is not driven by necessity, most today seems to be down to gullibility.

Regards Ian

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