cell phone in rapid access safe

[Skiprr]

Also, home phone is nearby, but isn't adequate for when you decide to leave out the back.

You're right about prefering a cell phone, anyway. If you're dealing with a planned home break-in--as opposed to the neighborhood drunk staggering through your plate-glass window--the phone land-line may be cut. And even if it isn't cut, all a bad guy needs to do to disable your home phone once he gets inside is take one of the extensions off the hook.

[rm9792]

Charging shouldn't be an issue since the phone won't need to be powered on. The battery shouldlast for a long time. I'd simply check the battery on the phone the same day I check the safe's battery.

"off" is a bit of a misnomer. The display and buttons dont work but the phone itself is still drawing some juice and probably wouldnt last more than a couple weeks, depending on the phone. Like most modern electronics the circuit board stays active so it knows when to turn on by sensing the button press. Not like the old days with an actual mechanical off switch. 24/7 your house has probably a dozen "off" devices drawing power. Like someone else said, any cell is supposed to dial 911. I have several ATT phones that when the sim is out all they will do is dial 911 and says so on the screen.
I put mine on the nightstand to charge every night so no hunting it down.

[sar]

That actually simplifies matters quite a bit. I've got several "retired" cells floating around. I can put one of them to work as the extra phone. Probably good idea not to keep it in the safe. I can just leave it plugged in by the bed or near the underbed safe where it's easily accessible.

[rm9792]

I dont want to complicate matters but if you have a choice get a phone with a round charging end, not one of those flat ones that snap into place. Wouldnt want the phone jerked out of her hand and landing under the bed when the nightstand is resting on the cord!

[frankie_the_yankee]

1) In one of the Star Trek movies Scotty makes a keen observation. "The more they overthink the plumbling, the easier it is to stop up the drain."

2) Any cell phone that is turned on "pings" the system every minute or so to let it (the system) know where it (the phone) is. When the system receives this ping, it pings the phone back. This tells the phone how much (actually, how little) power it needs to put into the next ping to maintain contact with the system while maximizing battery life.

3) If your quick access box is made of metal, it will shield the phone from the system and disrupt this process. The phone will ping at max. power every time, trying to contact the system. The battery will run down in a hurry.

And sure, you could run a power cord for your charger through a hole drilled into the box. But see #1 above.

Just make a new habit. Plug your regular cellphone charger into an outlet next to your bed and charge the phone on this line every night. Simple. Easy. Cheap.

No need to create some Rube Goldberg contraption where a steel ball rolls down a ramp, tips over a bucket of water that activates some gears and wheels that ultimately drive a boot into your fanny and wake you (or your wife) up. You've already got cellphones. Use them.

Just do the simple thing and be done with it.

[rm9792]

As usual Frankie cuts to the core of the matter.

[sar]

Unfortunately it doesn't solve the issues I posted:
1) wife won't do it. period. I often work 24 hour shifts and am not there. Along with me at work is my cell phone.
2) Once done with 24 hour shifts(which usually extend to 30 or so hours) I like to NOT have my cell phone with me. People call it. Hour of day is not important to those who work through the night. As a result the only way to make sure it doesn't wake me or wife at 0300 is to leave it elsewhere.

Hence my wish for a completely separate phone that has no other duty but to live by the bedside and that has NOBODY who has its number. I didn't realize that any old phone would work. This is a much better solution than the prepaid thing. I can just plug it in and leave it by the safe or on the table and I'm done.

[troglodyte]

I was having some problems with the reception on my phone. I called tech support and they hit some magic keys and sent some updated download to my phone. Seems to work fine now.

What happens if you have an old phone with an out-of-date program? I can see me keeping an old phone plugged in for the zombies and when I had to use it having such poor reception it does no good.

Guess I'll call 611 tomorrow and find out.

[flb_78]

Unfortunately it doesn't solve the issues I posted:
1) wife won't do it. period. I often work 24 hour shifts and am not there. Along with me at work is my cell phone.
2) Once done with 24 hour shifts(which usually extend to 30 or so hours) I like to NOT have my cell phone with me. People call it. Hour of day is not important to those who work through the night. As a result the only way to make sure it doesn't wake me or wife at 0300 is to leave it elsewhere.

Hence my wish for a completely separate phone that has no other duty but to live by the bedside and that has NOBODY who has its number. I didn't realize that any old phone would work. This is a much better solution than the prepaid thing. I can just plug it in and leave it by the safe or on the table and I'm done.

You can't turn the ringer off?

I wouldn't trust the old cell phone thing, it may have been true with the analog phones, but once Ive removed the SIM card from my newer phone, the signal disappears. Unfortunately, the only way to test if your phone will call 911, is to dial 911 and they get a little upset if you call and do not actually have an emergency.

[Keith B]

Unfortunately, the only way to test if your phone will call 911, is to dial 911 and they get a little upset if you call and do not actually have an emergency.

Actually, they are usually pretty good about it if you tell them 'I am making a test call to ensure the cell phone I have set up for emergencies will dial 911' and thank them when complete. Takes all of 20 seconds, they know there is no emergency because you explained what you were doing, and they go on about their business.

I have a system that has to be tested monthly and they always are good if you tell them what you are doing, and make it quick and simple for them.