> regular emergency call tests

This sounds like a huge waste of time for the dispatch operators if everyone starts to do such tests regularly.

On a similar note, it would be great (especially for these tests) if carriers provided a non-emergency / echo number that gets treated the same way as an emergency call (works w/o SIM card, gets preferential treatment, ...)

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leumon 13 hours ago | parent | next [-]

You can schedule test calls and call in the scheduled time slot (US only)

Test calls confirm that your local 911 service can receive your 911 call and has the correct location information. Test calls can be scheduled by contacting your local 911 call center via its non-emergency phone number.

In your preferred search engine, search the key words “emergency communications center non-emergency number" and include the names of the city or town, state, and county or parish in your search. Test calls may need to be scheduled and are usually based on the workload experienced at the PSAP.

For more information, visit the National Association of State 911 Administrators site.

Please do not call 911 to obtain the non-emergency number.

https://www.911.gov/calling-911/frequently-asked-questions/#....

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barbazoo 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

When phones are no longer considered reliable to make emergency calls in certain places, what alternative is there?

Sure it sucks for the operator to get a call, "Sorry, just testing to make sure emergency calling works, thanks, bye" and it would also suck, probably even more, for an individual to not be able to make an emergency call. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, hopefully someone improves the system, lol.

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kingstnap 5 days ago | parent | next [-]

You can't just say A less bad then B so we should all do A.

You have to consider number of A * badness A vs number of B * badness B.

If thousands of pixel users start doing test calls in mass you will actually start causing that unable to make an emergency call issue.

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barbazoo 5 days ago | parent [-]

And then maybe we will act and hold Google accountable for having a potentially lethal bug on their phone.

	▲	margalabargala 4 days ago \| parent [-]
		Or maybe not. And then everything is just worse.

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tgv 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Frequently calling the alarm number without a valid reason can be fined up to 6700 euro, or result in 3 months detention here.

So if Pixel still has this bug, that's just another reason not to buy a Google product.

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shawnz 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

What's the threshold by which a phone isn't considered reliable enough to make emergency calls?

I've never personally had an emergency call fail on a Pixel device, and I don't know the broader statistics of how often they fail for other people compared to other phones. Do you?

	▲	interloxia 5 days ago \| parent [-]
		For Australia, it needs to be on a whitelist. https://isthisphoneblocked.net.au/ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-03/brand-new-phones-unab...

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Hackbraten 5 days ago | parent | prev [-]

What I've done is write the dispatch center a friendly email explaining what I want and suggesting that they choose any off-peak time they find convenient.

A few days later, they called me and said that I could make the test call right now. Worked fine.